Accra, Aug. 19, GNA-The St Nicholas Foundation has launched an appeal to businesses, philanthropists, churches and community organisations to support the restoration of the original building that housed St Nicholas Preparatory School when it was established in Tema New Town in 2012.
The Foundation is seeking approximately GHS1 million to rehabilitate the two-storey structure, which has been declared unsuitable for teaching following an independent structural assessment.
According to the Foundation, the building, constructed around 2008 beside the St Nicholas Orthodox Church, served as a centre for church and community activities before becoming the school’s first classroom block.
The assessment identified significant deterioration caused by prolonged exposure to the coastal environment, requiring structural reinforcement, masonry repairs, damp-proofing works and refurbishment of adjoining washroom facilities.
As a result, two kindergarten classrooms serving about 50 children have been withdrawn from use.
Mrs Deborah Eleazar, Trustee of the St Nicholas Foundation, said restoring the facility would enable the school’s youngest pupils to return to safe learning spaces while preserving an important part of the institution’s history.
“The Original Foundation Building represents the generosity of the maritime community and the belief that education can change lives. Restoring it is not simply a construction project. It is the continuation of a promise made many years ago,” she said.
The Foundation said engineers estimated that restoration works could be completed within two to three months once funding was secured.
It noted that constructing a new facility of comparable size would cost about £130,000 and take between eight and 12 months to complete, making restoration the more cost-effective option.
The building and school are linked to the long-standing relationship between Ghana and the Greek maritime community.
The Foundation said the vision behind the project was strongly influenced by Captain Panagiotis N. Tsakos and the Tsakos family’s longstanding connection with Ghana.
It added that the Tsakos family and associated foundations had supported St Nicholas from its inception and continued to do so, while the Efthymiadis family and donors from Ghana, Greece, the United Kingdom and the international maritime community had also contributed to the school’s development over the years.
Since opening in 2012, St Nicholas Preparatory School has served 276 children and produced 65 graduates.
Known by many residents as “the Greek School in Ghana,” the institution provides education and welfare support to children in Tema New Town.
In addition to classroom instruction, the school provides two meals daily for pupils and basic healthcare support, while the Foundation continues to assist learners as they progress to higher levels of education.
The Foundation is calling on corporate organisations and individuals to support the restoration project through corporate social responsibility initiatives, sponsorships, grants and direct donations.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade