To the kids of Chelsea Public School in Wakefield, Quebec, having a classroom or school books or even paper and pen, can be taken for granted. But they know that there are millions of children around the world that cannot count of these essentials for a good education. The kids of Chelsea decided to do something about it. Since 1994, the school has twinned with Dagbamete school and the Chelsea kids raised the funds to build classrooms and headmaster’s quarters.

Under the tutelage of African drummer Kathy Armstrong, the Chelsea kids have learned about the music and dance of Ghana. They have performed on numerous occasions in Quebec and in Ottawa.

From the beginning, Chelsea kids have exchanged letters with penpals in Dagbamete, helping them to develop a keen sense of the world at large and how they can make a real difference to the lives of those less fortunate.

Kathy Armstrong has taught African drumming and dance to North American children for years. Members of Kathy Armstrong’s Baobab Youth Performers African music and dance group will be travelling to Dagbemete in 2001.