RtD Celebrates the End of Year & Annual Award Ceremony
December 2010
OLD AKRADI DECEMBER 2010
The Right to Dream Academy in partnership with Vodafone Ghana was in particularly high spirits on Friday as celebrations were in full flow for the holiday season and the annual end of year Award Ceremony. Guests, staff and students all gathered for the joyous occasion which made for a remarkable conclusion to both the school term and 2010.
As part of the celebrations, the Right to Dream (RtD) students performed an enthusiastic adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Directed by Louise Vernon, with the assistance of Academy boys Geoff and Abu, the cast had all been rehearsing intensely over the past 6 weeks to ensure that an energetic and professional performance was delivered. Students helped staff to design creative costumes from local materials and arranged live music to accompany the play. It was a wonderful occasion which clearly demonstrated the students’ artistic flare and was the first time that some of the students had had an opportunity to be a part of any organised drama. In addition to this, the students performed a dance routine and arranged display boards as part of their learnings from the term’s school project 'The Influence of West African Culture on World Culture'. Projects on this topic were carried out on a variety of different areas which included dance, music, fashion and politics providing a perspective that is often overlooked.
The RtD Award Ceremony began with the presentation of four scholarships to new Academy students. This event is significant as it recognises the potential that students have to offer and demonstrates the commitment and support that RtD will offer through their scholarships. Further awards were presented to current students and graduates across all of the key focus areas of the Academy ethos – academic achievement, football skill and personal development and leadership skills.
RtD’s CEO, Anna Hegley, said, ‘the end of year awards ceremony is always a highlight in our Academy calendar and an opportunity to celebrate the success of our students and graduates and the impact of our programme. Prior to this year’s event our students performed a fantastic version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and incorporated other aspects of their project work too. The awarding of scholarships to four new students was a special experience for all involved, with a number of the children becoming overwhelmed with the opportunity being offered to them. We were delighted to be joined in our celebrations by graduates who had returned to Ghana for the holiday period and to receive personal video messages from the US and UK for those who were unable to make it in person – a real highlight for current students. I congratulate all of the award winners and encourage all our students to continue to work hard and going forward to build on the successes of 2010 and making 2011 our best year yet!’.
For images of the event please visit our facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=271899&id=88799484030&saved#!/pages/Right-to-Dream/88799484030
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For more information,please contact:
Susie Daniell, Development Officer susie.daniell@righttodream.com tel:0200510072.
NOTE TO EDITORS
This year the Right to Dream Academy signed a three-year partnership agreement with Vodafone Ghana, enabling RtD to continue to deliver world class coaching and a specialised programme of personal development, education and leadership skills to some of the brightest but underprivileged young football prospects in Ghana.
To date, four RtD graduates have signed professional contracts for European Clubs – two senior internationals, one turning out for the Black Stars at just 19 years-of-age, three junior internationals; and a further 24 continue their studies whilst furthering their football ambitions on full scholarships at leading universities, private boarding schools and colleges in the US and the UK. Other RtD graduates either work within the sports industry or have secured contracts with Ghanaian Premier League clubs. In addition to mentoring students at the Academy, they also assist at local development projects on a voluntary basis.