Sister Carolyn Anyega

 

I am Sister Carolyn Anyega, born in Kisii, Kenya. I am the sixth born of nine children. I have four brothers and four sisters. My father died in 1997 and my mother is living.

In 2005, I was missioned to form community with the sisters in Sunyani, and teach in Notre Dame Girls Senior High School in Ghana. I teach English to our freshmen as well as serve as assistant principal of the school. Sister Ann Coleman from St. Louis, Missouri, also teaches with me in the school.

Teaching is a wonderful experience for me. I like to teach the freshmen to help them transition from Primary/Junior high school to Senior high school, as well as lay down a solid foundation in their high school studies. This is particularly essential in studying a language. Most of the students come to senior high school with very little knowledge and practice of the English language. It is wonderful to see their progress!

Notre Dame Girls Senior High school has 8oo students and 40 teachers. We face many challenges as we enable these young women to get an education. There is no library (structurally nor books), class textbooks or science equipment. We have only 10 toilet rooms for use in the academic area. The students have to eat in shifts due to congestion in the dining hall, which is also used for all school gatherings and Mass three times a week. Many parents struggle to pay their daughters’ school fees. Only about 1 percent of students get government and Cocoa Board scholarships. Without staff accommodation, effective supervision by two teachers who stay with the students in the boarding house is difficult.

I am very grateful for my rich experience of life and service as a missionary to Ghana.