our story
our story so far
Right to Dream (RtD) is a registered charity in Ghana, the UK & the US. The Academy in Ghana was founded in 1999 by British social impact entrepreneur, Tom Vernon, who recognised the potential that sport could play in social development at an individual and community level. Tom’s vision recognised how sport could have the power to inspire, and combined with education, could help provide children from extreme poverty with the opportunity to build a better life for themselves, their families and their communities.
Starting on a small scale, training just a few boys on a dust pitch in Accra, the Academy has grown to the point at which it is today; a hugely successful fully residential international school, offering scholarships to talented children drawn from all over Ghana.
The focus and guiding principle of the Academy is that every talented child has the right to dream of a better, brighter future and can reach their full potential when nurtured through a carefully structured programme in a safe and healthy environment.
In March 2010, we officially opened the new RtD Academy, a US$1.5million purpose built facility, located 20km south of Akosombo in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The new Academy provides a home for our expanding programme, with specialist facilities and resources located onsite, to ensure our students can reach their true potential in life.
To date, we have worked with over 90 children and our graduates have followed various pathways after leaving the Academy. 38 graduates have been awarded full scholarships for their talent to leading universities, private boarding schools and colleges in the US and the UK whilst another seven RtD graduates have signed professional contracts for international football clubs. Other RtD graduates either train or work within the sports industry or have secured contracts with Ghanaian Premier League clubs. No matter which graduate pathway they pursue, all RtD graduates are expected to help others achieve their dreams and contribute to the development of their country and continent.
In summary, the programme at the RtD Academy in Ghana can be described in a few words: ethical, opportunity, excellence and sustainability.