Current students, Collins and Francis, interview RtD graduates
July 2011
Our Interview with RtD Graduates
The Right to Dream Football Academy recently welcomed three graduates from the United States of America (USA). These three students, namely: Oscar Umar (Kent School, to attend Vanderbilt University), Bernard Abigali (Kent School, to attend Hobart College) and Atobrah Ampadu (Hotchkiss School, to attend Westmont University). We met with them to find out how they feel about being in Ghana and visiting Right to Dream.
From Left to Right: Collins, Oscar (Kent School Grad), Teche (Hotchkiss bound) & Abtobrah (Hotchkiss Grad)
Moreover, two Academy students of Right to Dream who go by the names of Collins and Francis interviewed these graduates. During the interview, Collins asked, “How has the Academy changed you?”
Bernard said “During my time in the Academy it wasn’t like this” (he looks around). “Now you have good facilities, great pitches, excellent staff… you have everything here you need to have a great future. And hopefully, someday it will grow and become bigger than it is right now.”
On the same boiling hot afternoon, we got the chance to ask Oscar “What do you think about the new boys at the Academy?” He said they “are really nice and sharp”. Atobrah added that “the new boys are better than the old guys”, we laughed in surprise. He continued “which is good because that means the academy is improving all the time”.
Consequently I asked each graduate: “How do you spread the name of Right to Dream in America?”
Bernard said “Everything we can do we do to give back for the opportunity we have had. The best thing for us is to create a good name for the Academy in America so that more boys can come and get a great education so they can come back to Ghana and give back.”
Atobrah responded, “When we play football (in America) we have our Right to Dream bands on our arms, we also to talk to people and explain what Right to Dream is and how it has changed our lives for the better.”
“The Academy has done a lot for us so each day in the US its something we think about, something I’m thinking about, figuring out how I can give back and help others”.
In summary, we really enjoyed talking to them and learned about how to give back in our conversations, and how to advise the young ones.
Thank you to Oscar, Bernard and Atobra for speaking with us. We hope you come back soon!