Accra, May 7, GNA - The management of Street Academy, a Non-Governmental Organisation has organised a party for its members to rais= e funds in support of a new school building complex in Accra. Mr Atta Lartey, Executive Director of Academy, said the Academy was established to provide educational assistance for school drop-outs and othe= r young people who did not get the chance to go to school. Mr Lartey said the academy caters for the needs of poor urban children who cannot go to school for financial reasons and that most of the children come from poor neighborhoods like Chorkor, Bukom, James Town and Osu in Accra.

He said the fund-raising was necessary because since its inception the academy lacked a well structured building to house the emerging students and this has created congestion.

He said the academy has set a target of 120,000 Ghana cedis for the school project and that this can be achieved with support from corporate organizations and individuals to establish a worthy learning environment fo= r the students. Mr Lartey said the Agricultural Development Bank has presented a chequ= e of 500 Ghana cedis and there are pledges from other organizations in suppor= t of the school complex.

He said the children who receive care in the Academy are given uniforms, basic school materials, and daily prepared meals. Mr Lartey said the Academy also provides sports, music and cultural training to help guide the children in the discovery of their talents. He said that the Academy also runs a skills program for young mothers without jobs who are trained in fashion design and making batik tie-and-dye fabrics.

Mr Nii Noi Abbey, spokesperson for Ga Mantse who chaired the ceremony advised students to learn hard to ensure they have brighter future. He therefore appealed to corporate agencies and other individuals to help donate in cash and kind towards the Academy school project to enable i= t accomplish its objectives.