A Student Drawing in Cape Coast. Photograph by John Schaidler.
ZSP Students and Teachers - Nima-Maamobi Library. Photographer Unknown.
A Student Drawing in Cape Coast. Photograph by John Schaidler.
Emily and a Student at a ZSP Storytelling Workshop - Nima-Maamobi Library. Photograph by Ibrahim Saani.
A Student at a ZSP Storytelling Workshop - Nima-Maamobi Library. Photograph by Ibrahim Saani.
ZONGO STORY PROJECT
Employing the story as the primary learning and teaching platform, the Zongo Story Project aims towards three primary goals. The first goal is to elevate proficiencies in oral, written and visual forms of literacy. Rather than compartmentalize speaking, writing, reading, and drawing, there is research that shows one form of literacy helps raise the performance of the others. Thus, this project seeks to work across these various ways of understanding the world to foster a deep, local literacy that moves from what students see and interpret around them, to more abstract concepts and knowledge building. The second goal is to develop skills for creative thinking and problem-solving. Instead of an emphasis on facts and rote memorization within the classroom, this project encourages thoughtful analysis, questioning, reflection, and application to everyday experience. In turn, these critical modes of thinking and problem-solving help students gain entrepreneurial agency, inventively contribute to improving their world, and link what is to what could be. The third goal is to learn from local histories, landscape heritage, material culture, and contemporary societal concerns. Rather than learning from imported textbooks that have little local and personal relevance, this project is designed to build up a rich library of books with which Ghanaian students can identify. In addition, students will gain not only an increased awareness about where and how they live, but also the capacity to bring about meaningful, positive change in their communities.
Authorship (Independent): Zongo Story Project Co-Founders, Program Coordinators, and Teachers Emily Williamson and John Schaidler
2019 ZSP Storytelling Program
In our 2019 twelve-week storytelling program, we held class every Saturday afternoon from 2:30-5pm at Nima-Maamobi Library in Accra, Ghana. We had approximately 50 students attending on a regular basis. Emily created the curriculum and served as the lead coordinator and teacher. The library staff helped Emily with teaching, administration, and sharing their valuable perspectives on local organizational and teaching strategies. Ibrahim Saani helped Emily recruit students, receive parental permissions, purchase and coordinate weekly supplies, and offer valuable advice about the program and curriculum organization. From the United States, ZSP Co-Founder John Schaidler helped with fundraising and public outreach throughout the project.
Authorship: Zongo Story Project Co-Founders and Program Coordinators: Emily Williamson and John Schaidler; Community Coordinator: Ibrahim Saani; Nima Maamobi Gale Community Library Staff and Teachers: Kathy Knowles, Melody Darteh, Gloria Acheampong, Hassana Ibrahim Adongo, Winifred Obeng Kyeremeh, Samuel Baah, Francis Akologo, and Martin Adjei Legend; Special Guests: Enock Happy Nkrumah, Kamal Shaibu Larry, Hawa Ali, Martin Adjei Legend, Ruby Goka; Adama Yakubu, Abdul Kadir Usman, Hajia Hanatu, Nicholas Wayo, Francis Akologo, Kofi Ofosu, Baba Ngida West African Traditional Band; 2019 ZSP Students; Funded by ZSP Donors.
*To download our work in-progress anthology “We Are All Ears”, please follow the link here.
A Student Drawing in Cape Coast. Photograph by John Schaidler.
Students at a ZSP Storytelling Workshop - Nima-Maamobi Library. Photograph by Emily Williamson Ibrahim.
A Student Drawing at a ZSP Storytelling Workshop - Nima-Maamobi Library. Photograph by Emily Williamson Ibrahim.