Sefwi Nkonya is situated in Sefwi-Wiawso Municipal District, Western North Region. It is close to the communities of Abrabra and Sui. In Sefwi Nkonya where cocoa is grown , farming is the major economic activity.
Nkonya Spot was founded with an aim of improving the literacy skills of learners and to transform them into socially engaged citizens. The Spot aspires to empower learners with innovative ideas and skills, enabling them to assume leadership roles and address pressing societal challenges through critical thinking and creative solutions.
In collaboration with Akotia Daniel, Yussif Zainab, Rev. Seth Okanta, and Seth Oppong, a literacy club was established in the school. Later, Tetteh Enoch Young and Daniel Okyere joined the team. Catalysts participated in the EduSpots regional conference, where they received valuable learning materials. Building on this momentum, Catalysts organized a book drive and fundraising campaign to support the library project.
The Catalysts dedication was rewarded as the Spot qualified for EduSpots’ library maintenance grant. This crucial funding allowed Catalysts to kickstart the library project. Today, the Spot serves as a vibrant hub for students, Catalysts, and learners from neighboring communities, offering a haven for learning and growth.
In Sefwi Nkonya, there is a gap between male and female students in terms of academic performance and personal motivation. Majority of the female students could not express themselves in English and also lacked the confidence to speak in public before joining the Spot. This reflected in their engagements in class activities and subsequently poor outcomes in academic activities such as exams.
In addition, Catalysts observed that most of the girls were absent from school during their monthly periods as they did not have access to the necessary materials like pads to take care of their menstrual hygiene and had little knowledge on menstrual hygiene practices.
To combat this, they birthed the Ignite Stars, which allowed Catalysts to equip the girls with valuable knowledge on good communication skills and menstrual hygiene, among others. Alongside this, girls were paired with mentors that have been able to guide them to set realistic goals and help them meet their set goals. Catalysts also looked for several opportunities and platforms to assist in achieving their aim of empowering the young girls in Sefwi Nkonya. EduSpots has provided the Spot with essential resources and information that have revitalized the spirit of the girls- The Ignite Stars .
In 2023, the Spot did several activities and events like EduKidz and EduLit (reading and writing session, public speaking, pick and act, talents exhibition, spelling bee, quizzes, and role play). Ignite Girls strand offered empowerment sessions, skill training, career options awareness, public speaking, personal and menstrual hygiene education, sexual and reproductive rights education, sexual and gender based violence advocacy, movie night and safeguarding training for all.
In 2024, they have been having club activities, events on career guidance, digital skills workshop, world book day celebration, and launching of the period project. Today, children are passionate about reading and the library has become their second home, a stark contrast to the early days when the library period was seen as an opportunity for leisure or early dismissal. Learners currently take leadership roles in school confidently and lead amazing leadership initiatives due to their improved writing, speaking and reading skills . Thanks to two sustainable period grants from EduSpots in 2023 and 2024, the Spot has been able to provide girls with menstrual hygiene products. This includes reusable pads and a ‘pad bank’ stocked with disposable pads for emergencies. Nkonya’s inclusive training, which has addressed stigma issues, has helped boost girls’ confidence. The May 2024 Spot Lead Digital Skills Workshop equipped learners with digital knowledge, empowering them to create impressive digital content and unleash their creativity
In the future, the Spot plans to fully engage in EcoSTEM activities, equip the school with desktop computers or laptops for IT sessions, and establish a science laboratory to facilitate practical learning experiences. These initiatives aim to cultivate scientific problem-solving skills and foster creativity and critical thinking among learners.
During last year’s graduation, this was the inspiring message from a few of the Ignite Girls Group members :-
“I have learned during the event that my inner abilities matter. It does not matter how I look or the dress I wear. I believe that I can achieve more than just the certificate I received” (Benedicta Boadi)
“During the Ignite girls’ graduation, I was motivated by the information shared. I promised myself to be focused and determined to reach greater heights” (Denkyi Doris)
“Discipline and determination were my key takeaways. The graduation talks taught me to be responsible and give back to my community” (Dede Joyce)
“On behalf of other parents here, I want to say thank you for all the opportunities given to our wards. Your project is well understood and we will try our best to help in its longevity journey. It is good to see the involvement of the boys,” says one of the parents in this year’s Ignite Equity’s period project launch.