Big news, long overdue.
Untold International’s staff has grown by 50% as we brace for growth at our language arts center, Kasadwini Atenaeɛ, in Asisiriwa, Ghana, and look up north at a potential site for a new center. But more on that later; seeds have been planted, and now we wait for germination of those plans and dreams.
A 50% increase in staff? Indeed; we have added a third staff member position and filled it with an enthusiastic, ambitious teacher in Peter Fosu. And, we have filled the vacancy left by our original librarian, Kumi Kwadwo, with the dynamic Benedict Adjei Sarfo.
First, let’s meet Benedict Adjei Sarfo.
Embrace the Possible
A certified teacher with a background in economics and geography, Benedict loves to strategize and problem solve and brings a goal-oriented outlook to the daily challenges of running a library. He immediately set to work on increasing attendance, creating a library catalog of all materials, organizing the books into genre groupings so they would be easy for students to find, creating a welcoming and bright environment, and tackling solutions to the checkout process to ensure books get returned where they belong. Benedict observed how hungry students were to use the library for not only books but also for the puzzles and games as opportunities to socialize, compete, and learn valuable skills. He sees those learning activities as ways to bridge the gap between the students and the library itself and to engage more community members who may not be using what Kasadwini Atenaeɛ offers. One improvement Benedict initiated was the addition of new tables and chairs for adults, making the space more functional and comfortable to more than just small children.
While details and follow through may be his strengths, Benedict also thrives on big picture thinking and is excited about the future for African children and how Untold is making a crucial impact.
“This is what has made me love Untold; its initiative is to embrace our culture and invest in young children. It helps Africans to know who they are and what they want to do with their lives. Untold will have a great impact on the continent of Africa.”
Welcome to the team, Benedict!
Bringing Peter Fosu on couldn’t have been more serendipitous. Just when we needed to cover Mary’s maternity leave, along came a fireball of energy and ideas in the form of Peter Fosu. “Kasadwini Atennaeɛ has many mysteries and hidden gems. We will introduce them all to you.”
One of Peter’s many hidden gems is his passion for history and not just preserving the culture, but igniting a love for it in the students. And, he knows the community well because he grew up there. The son of a retired headmaster, Peter developed a love for books and learning at an early age and sees education as crucial in unlocking the world and opening up possibilities beyond one’s imagination.
He believes hidden talents lie within everyone and loves to help students discover theirs. Taking on the temporary full-time teacher role meant big shoes to fill, and Peter embraced the challenge with gusto. With a background in electronics and history, Peter has a versatility that’s been an asset to Untold; he can step into many roles and adapt and support the other staff members, all while maintaining his own wealth of ideas for how to grow and improve Kasadwini Atenaeɛ. And students have already shown an improvement in handwriting and writing skills through the workshops that Peter has been a part of.
Both Benedict and Peter see the need to increase adult involvement at the library and are teaming up with Mary to bring those ideas to fruition. We’re excited to see what’s next, and we can’t wait to share that with you.
Help us welcome both Peter and Benedict to the staff at Kasadwini Atenaeɛ and to the Untold International organization.
