By Emmanuel Nyatsikor, GNA
Adaklu Kodzobi (V/R), Nov. 03, GNA – Members of the Hidden Story Project from the United States of America have rounded off a week-long visit to Adaklu Kodzobi with a cultural programme dubbed “By the Fireside.”
The event provided a platform for ambassadors of the Hidden Story Project and selected members of the community to share personal stories and narratives about their heritage.
The delegation was in the community for the launch of the pilot phase of the Hidden Story Project at the Adaklu Kodzobi District Assembly Basic School.
Sixteen pupils from the school were selected to serve as ambassadors of the Project in Ghana.
The Hidden Story Project was founded by Madam Betsy Benoit, Project Lead, and Mr Weston Cox, Technology Lead.
Mr Robert Tornu, Community Development Advocate, Programmes and Policy Advisor for Friends of Adaklu, commended the founders of the Project for their efforts to revive storytelling in Ghanaian schools and communities.
“Oral and traditional storytelling in Ghanaian communities focuses in preserving cultural heritage, passing down indigenous knowledge and bridging the gap left by modernization and digital media,” he said.
Mr Tornu appealed to teachers and community leaders to support the selected pupils to become worthy ambassadors of the Project.
He also encouraged the ambassadors to remain diligent in their studies and share the knowledge and skills acquired with their colleagues.
Madam Benoit expressed appreciation to the community for the warm reception accorded the delegation and pledged continued collaboration with the school to help develop the potential of the pupils.
Mr Charles Kugbeadzor, Head Teacher of the school, expressed the hope that the Project would strengthen relationships between the community and institutions and individuals working to preserve cultural identity.
He said the school would continue the “By the Fireside” initiative, which was traditionally used to teach younger generations about customs, values and cultural practices in Ghanaian communities.
Mr Kugbeadzor noted that the programme could serve both educational and entertainment purposes while helping to preserve indigenous knowledge.
TomorrowLabs develops the multilingual technology and digital preservation tools for the Project, while Campfire Tales leads story discovery workshops and coaching activities.
PROOF Media for Social Justice serves as the fiscal sponsor and partner of the Project, while Friends of Adaklu provides local knowledge and community connections in Adaklu.
Ho Technical University contributes Ghanaian language expertise and supports linguistic and cultural interpretation for the Project.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah