How Girls in Wa Are Staying in School — And Changing Their Communities

In the Upper West Region of Ghana, one in three girls does not complete primary school. The reasons are familiar — early marriage, household responsibilities, long distances to school, and the quiet but persistent belief in some communities that a girl's education is a luxury, not a right.

Kaapuori Alliance Pathways is changing that, one community at a time.

Since launching our Girls' Education and Retention Programme in Wa, we have worked with 14 community schools, trained 32 teachers in gender-responsive teaching methods, and supported over 180 girls with learning materials, mentorship, and psychosocial counselling.

Fati's story

Fati is 13 years old and in her fifth year of primary school. A year ago, her family was preparing for her to leave school to help with farming and domestic work. Her teacher, trained through our programme, noticed the signs early — falling attendance, withdrawn behaviour, incomplete assignments.

Through our community liaison team, we held conversations with Fati's family. We explained the long-term economic value of keeping her in school. We connected her mother with our women's savings group. Within a month, Fati was back in class — and she hasn't missed a day since.

"I want to be a nurse," Fati told us during a visit. "My teacher says I can. Now I believe it too."

What your support makes possible

Every donation to Kaapuori Alliance Pathways funds real interventions — school supplies, teacher training, community engagement, and the ongoing mentorship that keeps girls like Fati in the classroom. A gift of GH₵ 250 sponsors one girl through a full term of our programme.

We are committed to transparency: 80% of every cedi goes directly to programme delivery. You can read more about how we use funds on our Donate page.

Together, we are not just keeping girls in school. We are building the next generation of nurses, teachers, engineers, and community leaders in the Upper West Region.