I Was Able To Go A Distance.
Our team meets Clifford and his brother Philip at a guesthouse in Accra. They have traveled from their nearby hometown with Lead Social Worker Joseph to meet us. The guesthouse has a screened-in patio where we all gather with cold juice drinks. The boys have grown so tall since we saw them last and are grinning ear-to-ear.
We interview them separately, Clifford going first. He is the younger brother at 17. It’s hard to believe these boys were in our second rescue village in early 2014; they’ve been in Mercy Project care for right at 6 years. We remember Clifford having a difficult transition from the lake to the shelter, not quite certain of all the changes around him, though he doesn’t speak to that if he remembers. Instead, we speak of his academic success, how he’s matched his older brother in grade level as they both prepare for testing into Senior High School.
As a side note, this testing, called the BECE is an intensive 5-day exam each June that determines placement in the equivalent of American High School. The higher one scores, the better odds of attending his/her school of choice – which also translates to the better schools, the ones in which students have the greatest opportunity to excel to University and beyond.
There’s a lot of pressure riding on the exams, but Clifford could not be more ready for the challenge. His Headmaster says he’s one of the best students in his class of 25 and is eagerly working with him towards success; Joseph also has high hopes for his achievement. We are excited to hear more from this young man who continues to surprise us by how far he’s come.
You’re number 1 in your class – wow! You have done well. How have your teachers in school helped you be successful?
They give us notes to study at night.
Can you mention your favorite teacher? Why?
My Twi [Ghanaian language] teacher. He makes sure if he’s teaching that we are all happy in class.
What is your favorite subject? Is it the one you have the highest score?
Science and math, both. Yes. Sometimes... science is high, and math I am second position [in the class ranking].
When you grow big, what do you want to do?
Be a banker.
So math is important for that. If I give you my money, I want you to be good so that you don’t give me the wrong money!
[laughs]
Do you think Mercy Project has helped you? Can you explain how? In what ways?
Yes. They helped me be able to read, to speak English, to learn. Because of them, I was able to go a distance.
And you like learning?
Yes
You and Philip, you’re both in JHS 3 [Junior High School], so you’ll be writing your BECE in June?
Yes
What will you do to prepare for that... you will study?
Yes. I will study. Two days a week.
And maybe every day once it gets close?
Yes
Are there special meetings/sessions to study?
Yes
[Joseph adds] In school most times, when the examination is near, they organize special classes for them to keep them abreast with some of the tricks and things to expect.
In Yeji, they even go and stay there.
[Joseph] Even Eli and Albert [other Mercy Project children] – they told me when it’s about 3 months or 2 months before the examination, they will go and stay at the school and that every evening they will go to organized classes for them. Then in the morning of the exam, they will transport them to the center to go and write. And then come back and do that for the whole week [5 days of exam writing].
That’s intense. Do all of the students take the extra classes to prepare or just the top ones?
All in Form [JHS] 3.
So since you are the number 1 student in class, do you have any special privileges? Maybe did they give you a certificate or recognize you at school?
No
[Joseph] Most times, what they do is when they are done with the BECE, then they may do something for him.
Do you have any score in mind that you wish to make?
6! [the highest possible score]
Is it possible?
[Joseph] Oh yes, yes.
I think if Clifford gets a 6, he can choose any school!
[Joseph] So for the schools, we have a category A school, a B school, and a C school. You choose each one and the last school C will have to be in your vicinity. So in case you don’t get your A choice or your B choice, the last one will be where you go in your vicinity. If he gets a 6, any school that he chooses, it will be.
So if you get a 6, which school will you choose?
---- ----- in the Eastern Region. It’s a very good school.
If you could name one person who has encouraged you, supported you, helped you… which person will you name? Or if you have two?
My mother and Mercy Project
Any one person from Mercy Project?
Sister Cynthia [Social Worker]
Did she give you any advice that maybe you really took to heart, that you said “ok, I will follow this”? Can you say it for us?
She says to learn hard. And I should be obedient to my parents.
What about your mother? How has she encouraged you, supported you?
She also tells me to learn.
Did they tell you why you should do those things? Because what? Why is it important to learn and be obedient?
Because then people will like to help you.
Do you remember when we, when Mercy Project, came to Sabonjeda? What were you doing there?Sometimes fishing or otherwise nothing.
When we took you to ——— [transitional shelter], do you remember what you were thinking... or feeling?
I was thinking if it was not for Mercy Project, who will I be?
Who will you be?
Yes
If you see any children that are still working, or if you saw some boys fishing, how does that make you feel? Small children.
I feel sad.
If you could help them, what would you do?
I would like to help them study.
“I was thinking, if it was not for Mercy Project, who will I be?”