By patricia wilkins | CEO
Every child deserves a safe place to go when school is not in session, a place where they can feel protected, discover new interests, build friendships, and simply enjoy being a child.
At BASICS International, we are bringing that vision to life through Camp Aklowah, our developing youth leadership and experiential learning center in Ghana's Shai-Osudoku District.
Located on nine acres of land, Camp Aklowah is being designed as a safe, welcoming environment where children and young people, particularly those from underserved communities, can participate in educational, recreational, creative, and leadership-building activities outside the traditional classroom.
As BASICS International celebrates 25 years of empowering communities, Camp Aklowah represents an important investment in the next generation.
Significant Progress on Construction
We are excited to share that Camp Aklowah continues to take shape!
What began as a vision is gradually becoming a physical space where children will have room to learn, play, and grow.
Several important construction milestones have been achieved:
Technology and learning facilities: Our technology building has been roofed, bringing us closer to creating dedicated spaces for digital learning, innovation, and practical skills development.
Residential and support facilities: Caretaker and security accommodations have been roofed, supporting our plans for ongoing site management and supervision.
Water and sanitation: Two boreholes have been installed, and washroom facilities are part of the developing infrastructure.
Outdoor learning spaces: Three traditional palaver huts have been constructed, creating spaces for group discussions, storytelling, mentoring, and outdoor learning.
Additional infrastructure: Work has progressed on technical buildings, a two-bedroom house, and a security booth, with doors installed in parts of the development.
These milestones represent meaningful progress toward establishing a safe, functional environment for children and youth.
More Than a Camp: A Different Kind of Learning Experience
Camp Aklowah is being developed to offer children experiences they may not otherwise have access to.
Our vision goes beyond traditional camping activities. We want young people to experience learning through exploration, creativity, teamwork, and practical engagement with the world around them.
Planned activities include outdoor recreation, environmental education, technology and digital literacy, arts and culture, leadership development, teamwork, and life skills.
For children growing up in densely populated urban communities such as Chorkor, Camp Aklowah will offer something particularly valuable: access to open green spaces, nature, and opportunities to learn outside their everyday environment.
We also envision Camp Aklowah serving children from surrounding rural communities, helping connect young people from different backgrounds through shared learning experiences.
Our Next Priorities
Although we have made substantial progress, additional work is needed before Camp Aklowah can fully welcome children for regular programming.
Our immediate priorities include completing a functional kitchen and dining facilities, developing safe sleeping accommodations, securing mattresses and essential furnishings, improving lighting, providing shaded gathering areas, and completing landscaping and outdoor activity spaces.
We are also working toward developing a central pavilion and additional recreational and learning facilities.
These investments are essential to creating an environment that is safe, comfortable, accessible, and appropriate for children.
Looking Ahead to 2027
By Pat Wilkins | CEO
By patricia wilkins | executive director
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