Dodowa, Aug. 11, GNA – A US-based philanthropic couple, Drs. Santana and Karen Williams, has donated a new children’s playground to The Potters Village, a shelter and school for orphans and abused women located in Dodowa.
The gesture forms part of their continued support for vulnerable children in Ghana.
The visiting couple had previously paid the medical bills of eight women at the 37 Military Hospital’s Maternity Ward, amounting to over GH₵18,000.00 as part of their 30th wedding anniversary celebration.
The couple also donated sets of curtains to the hospital’s gynecology unit to enhance the comfort and privacy of patients.
Drs. Santana and Karen Williams, who had also helped to fund a borehole, a restroom facility, laptops, and classroom furniture for the orphanage, formally handed over the playground as an addition to the children’s development.
Dr. Karen Williams appealed to Ghanaians and the diaspora to contribute to the care of disadvantaged children and women.
“We’re just going to challenge you to do your part for this orphanage, for women that have been battered, and for those who are less fortunate,” she said.
Dr. Williams urged Ghanaians, both at home and in the diaspora, not to wait until they had abundance before helping, but to support the vulnerable with whatever little they could afford.
Nana Ama Adu Owusu, Director of The Potters Village, described the playground as an essential facility for fostering the holistic development of the children.
She explained that play was a vital part of childhood growth, contributing not only to physical fitness but also to social skills, creativity, and emotional well-being.
The new playground, she noted, would provide a safe and stimulating environment where the children could learn, interact, and thrive.
The Director said they had made efforts in previous years to provide such facilities, but they could not sustain it because of financial constraints.
Ms Owusu emphasized the vital role of play in early development, describing the playground as more than just a recreational space.
She stated that “Childhood is so important, and play has a crucial role in that development. We thank them for not denying these children their childhood.”
The Potters Village currently houses 82 children, though it supports over 200 in total, offering education from preschool through primary level.
Older students attend junior and senior high schools in the surrounding community, with some continuing to university or vocational training under the shelter’s guidance.
GNA
Edited by Christian Akorlie