60 Students - 15 Computers
After a long flight to Ghana and several hours traveling along dusty roads to Akim Kwameng, our Journey team arrived eager to spend time at the Two Pennies Training Center. One of our goals during the trip was to help Helina launch the next phase of the program and begin introducing students to the educational opportunities available through the center.
Our first day at the Training Center was a Tuesday. Twenty-four students arrived, most of whom had participated in the Training Center’s earlier programs. Many knew exactly where to go and what to do. We spent much of the day helping students create email accounts and gain access to educational resources such as Khan Academy.
Caleb surrounded by eager students on our first day.
On Wednesday, a heavy rainstorm swept through the area, and no students came. In Ghana, heavy rains can quickly change plans, and we assumed things would return to normal the following day. - They did not.
On Thursday, more than 50 students arrived. By Friday it was 60.
The excitement was wonderful to see, but it also revealed a challenge. Students of different ages and academic levels were all trying to participate at the same time. Some needed help creating email accounts. Others were ready to begin online learning. With only 15 computers available and far more students than expected, it became difficult to provide meaningful instruction to everyone.
The Training Center was clearly meeting a need in the community. The question was how to meet that need effectively. Over the weekend, our team met with Helina to discuss what we had observed. We also met with local headmasters and teachers, seeking their advice on how to move forward. Together, we developed a plan to begin the program with more structure and manageable numbers. Rather than trying to serve everyone at once, we asked local educators to help identify students who would benefit most from the opportunity.
Beginning the following week, older students would attend on Mondays and Wednesdays. Younger students would attend on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Fridays would be reserved for new students who were recommended by their teachers and schools. The new structure immediately created a better learning environment. Students could receive more individual attention, expectations became clearer, and Helina was able to focus on helping students succeed rather than simply managing a crowd.
With the chaos reduced, we began to see what the Training Center could become.
Some students who had never used a computer before were learning basic skills that many of us take for granted. We watched students learn how to use a mouse, click and drag objects across a screen, enter numbers correctly, and navigate educational websites. Others began working through lessons on Khan Academy, building confidence with each success.
Just as encouraging were the students who stepped forward to help. Several older students began assisting younger learners, patiently showing them how to complete tasks and navigate unfamiliar technology. What had started as a room full of students competing for attention was slowly becoming a community of learners helping one another grow. Yet even after the schedule was established, something unexpected happened.
Additional students continued showing up.
Many already knew there would not be a computer available for them. Still, they came. A few asked if they could simply read a book. Others volunteered to help younger students learn. What began as a challenge of managing numbers started revealing something deeper—a genuine desire to learn.
Nancy working with younger students amid the chaos of the third day.
While we would love to provide opportunities for every student immediately, we also recognize that long-term success requires a strong foundation. As an after-school program, the Training Center needs structure, clear expectations, and manageable numbers while Helina gains experience leading and growing the program. Over the next year, we will continue working with local schools and evaluating how we can responsibly expand opportunities for additional students.
Our Journey team departed Ghana the following Wednesday, but the story did not end when we boarded the plane. Karen Grey, who leads the Training Center Committee in the United States, has continued to participate virtually with students and staff. Since then, students have been asking if they can read aloud to her online. What started as an effort to create email accounts and introduce educational technology has already begun creating something much more valuable—relationships that encourage students to keep learning and growing.
The overwhelming response during our first week reminded us of something important: the need for educational opportunities is far greater than we imagined. More importantly, it revealed a hunger to learn that cannot be measured simply by the number of computers in a room.
Students Reading to Karen
The computers, books, and classrooms are important, but what encouraged us most was seeing students eager to learn, older students willing to help younger ones, and relationships forming across continents. These early signs give us hope that the Training Center can become much more than a place where students access technology. It can become a place where young people are encouraged, challenged, and equipped to discover their God-given purpose and potential.
Please continue praying for Helina as she leads the Training Center, for Karen as she continues to invest in students from across the ocean, and for the young people whose enthusiasm reminds us why this ministry matters. We are excited to see what God will do through these students in the months and years ahead.
As we reflect on our week at the Training Center, we couldn’t help but think of Jesus’ words: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:14). While our challenge was limited computers rather than unwilling hearts, the lesson was much the same. We never want a lack of resources to become a barrier to a child who is eager to learn, grow, and discover the purpose God has for their life.
