Introduction:
When 14-year-old Akosua Mensah walked into our BECE Relief Project registration in July 2024, she carried more than just her school bag she carried the weight of uncertainty, financial stress, and fear about her upcoming Basic Education Certificate Examination.
Today, just six months later, Akosua is a proud student at Accra Academy, one of Ghana’s most prestigious senior high schools, with a full scholarship. This is her story.
The Challenge:
Akosua’s family struggled financially. Her mother, a market woman in Community 8, Tema, could barely afford daily meals, let alone exam preparation materials. Her father had passed away two years earlier, leaving the family in financial hardship.
“I wanted to pass my BECE so badly,” Akosua recalls, tears welling up in her eyes. “But I didn’t have textbooks. I didn’t have past questions. I couldn’t afford extra classes. I was so scared I would fail and disappoint my mother.”
Like thousands of Ghanaian students, Akosua faced a reality where poverty threatened to derail her academic dreams before they could even begin.
The Turning Point:
That’s when Akosua’s teacher told her about The Chalk Talk Foundation’s BECE Relief Project a comprehensive program providing free revision classes, study materials, mock exams, counseling support, and even nutritional assistance during exam periods.
“At first, I didn’t believe it was real,” Akosua admits. “Free classes? Free books? Free everything? But my teacher encouraged me to register, so I did.”
What happened next changed everything.
The Transformation:
For three months, Akosua attended intensive revision classes every Saturday and Sunday. She received:
- Complete set of textbooks and past questions for all four core subjects
- Weekly mock examinations with detailed feedback
- One-on-one tutoring sessions for her weak areas (Mathematics and Science)
- Counseling sessions that helped her manage exam anxiety
- Nutritional support during the exam period
- All examination fees covered
- Transportation stipend to and from revision centers
But more than the material support, Akosua found something invaluable: confidence.
“The tutors believed in me,” she says, smiling now. “When I struggled with a Math problem, they didn’t give up on me. They stayed late, explained it different ways, until I understood. They made me believe I could actually pass—and not just pass, but excel.”
The Results:
When BECE results were released in November 2024, Akosua had achieved what once seemed impossible: she scored aggregate 6 six ones across all subjects. It was a nearly perfect score.
“I couldn’t believe it,” her mother, Auntie Ama, told us through tears of joy. “My daughter, who I thought might not even finish JHS, got aggregate 6! The Chalk Talk Foundation didn’t just help her pass they helped her excel!”
The excellent results opened doors Akosua never imagined. She received admission offers from multiple top schools and ultimately chose Accra Academy, where she’s now pursuing her dream of becoming a medical doctor.
The Ripple Effect:
But Akosua’s story doesn’t end with her own success. Inspired by the support she received, she’s now volunteering with the foundation, tutoring younger students preparing for their own BECE examinations.
“I know what it feels like to be scared and hopeless,” Akosua explains. “If I can help even one student the way the Chalk Talk Foundation helped me, I’ll be happy.”
Her younger siblings are also benefiting her 12 year old sister has enrolled in our Prodigy Exams program, determined to follow in her big sister’s footsteps.
What Made the Difference:
According to our BECE Relief Project Coordinator, Emmanuel Fiatsi, Akosua’s story isn’t unique it’s exactly what the program was designed to achieve.
“We see this transformation every year,” he explains. “These students have the intelligence and the drive. What they lack is access and opportunity. When we provide comprehensive support ot just books, but mentorship, counseling, and belief in their potential incredible things happen.”
The statistics support this: In 2024, 98% of students in our BECE Relief Project passed their examinations, with 67% scoring aggregate 12 or better. Compare this to the national average, and the impact is clear.
How You Can Help:
Akosua’s story was made possible by donors like you. The cost to support one BECE student through our complete program is just GH₵600 that’s less than GH₵2 per day for a year.
For GH₵600, you provide:
- Complete revision classes for 3 months
- All textbooks and study materials
- Mock examinations and feedback
- Counseling and mentorship
- Nutritional support during exams
- Examination fees
- Transportation support
Right now, 500 students are on our waiting list for the 2025 BECE Relief Project. Each one has Akosua’s potential. Each one needs someone to believe in them and provide the support that unlocks their future.
Will you be that someone?
Call to Action:
Sponsor a BECE Student Today
Your donation of GH₵600 can transform a struggling student into a scholarship winner.
DONATE NOW
Share Akosua’s Story
Help us reach more donors and students by sharing this story on social media.
Conclusion:
As Akosua prepares for her first term at Accra Academy, she carries a new kind of weight not the burden of poverty and fear, but the responsibility of opportunity and gratitude.
“I’ll never forget where I came from,” she promises. “And I’ll never forget the people who helped me get here. One day, when I’m a doctor, I’ll come back and help other students just like the Chalk Talk Foundation helped me.”
This is the power of the BECE Relief Project. This is the impact of your support. This is why we do what we do.
Every child deserves a chance. Together, we’re making sure they get it.
