Cherembo Junior High School –
Education That Creates Lasting Change
Four Years Later. A Project That Continues to Transform Lives.
In 2022, Madamfo Ghana, together with the Reiner Meutsch Foundation FLY & HELP, completed the new Cherembo Junior High School. The project included not only a modern school building but also a reliable water supply, sanitation facilities and hygiene education.
Four years later, our impact assessment demonstrates the lasting success of this investment. The school has become an important educational centre for Cherembo and the surrounding communities, providing many more children with access to quality education and better opportunities for the future.
Project Overview
Cherembo is a rural community in the Pru West District of Ghana’s Bono Region with approximately 3,150 inhabitants. Most families rely on small-scale farming for their livelihood.
Before the project, students attended classes under extremely poor conditions. Lessons took place in a severely deteriorated building that offered little protection from rain or heat. Classes were frequently disrupted, and the school lacked both access to clean drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities.
The Challenge
Before the project, the school faced several major challenges:
- Unsafe and deteriorated classrooms
- Frequent disruption of lessons due to weather conditions
- No access to clean drinking water
- No sanitation facilities
- Poor hygiene conditions
- Low examination pass rates
- High dropout rates
- Increased risk of teenage pregnancies
- Difficulty attracting qualified teachers
Project Implementation
Between January and July 2022, the following facilities were constructed:
- Three fully equipped classrooms
- Staff room
- Administration office and storage room
- School furniture
- Computer and printer
- Mechanised borehole
- Eight-seat toilet block with urinals, a changing room for girls and an accessible toilet
- Hygiene education for students and teachers
The completed school was officially handed over to the community in August 2022.
Sustainable Impact
Our 2026 impact assessment clearly demonstrates the long-term success of the project.
Student enrolment increased from 89 to 200, while the number of permanent teachers grew from two to seven. Examination results also improved significantly, with the pass rate increasing from approximately 20% to 50%.
Teachers and community members also report a calmer learning environment, higher student motivation and increased confidence among parents in the quality of education.
Long-Term Results
The project’s impact extends far beyond education. School dropout rates and teenage pregnancies have declined, particularly among girls, who now have far better opportunities to complete their education. At the same time, Cherembo has developed into an important educational centre for the surrounding communities.
This project demonstrates that investments in education continue to create opportunities and improve lives for many years after completion.
Project Cost: approximately €61,000
Funding Partner: Reiner Meutsch Foundation FLY & HELP
