A group of 10 schoolchildren from Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly in Accra recently returned from the Koster International Summer Camp in Kotovsk, Russia, where they had the opportunity to experience Russian culture, make new friends, and become ambassadors of Ghana. The initiative was part of the growing sister-city relationship between Korle Klottey and Kotovsk, designed to expose young people to international experiences that could broaden their outlook and contribute to their personal development. The children were immersed in an environment very different from what they knew in Accra, with the camp transforming into a classroom without walls.
During their stay, the Ghanaian pupils participated in various activities, including sporting events, cultural programs, language lessons, artistic sessions, excursions, and business simulations. They even took part in a regional sports festival involving 22 teams from municipalities across the Tambov Region, where football proved to be one of the easiest ways to break language barriers and build friendships. The children also visited the Kotovsk School of Arts, where they were introduced to the Gusli, an ancient Russian musical instrument.
The cultural exchange was not one-sided, as the Ghanaian children not only discovered Russian culture but also introduced their hosts to Ghana through a colorful dance performance during the camp's closing carnival. The Ghanaian students were also introduced to the Russian language through an interactive lesson organized by professors from Derzhavin Tambov State University, giving them a new way to communicate and understand Russian culture.
The children took part in educational excursions that exposed them to different aspects of life and production in the Tambov Region, including visits to the TАКФ confectionery company, facilities producing children's toys and tumblers, workshops for creative materials, and the Kotovsk city museum complex. They also visited the Tambov Regional Art Gallery for a painting masterclass, where they created their own still-life works.
One of the highlights of the camp was the Business Day, which challenged the children to put their entrepreneurial skills to the test through a practical business simulation. The Ghanaian team decided to set up a hairdressing salon and had to develop a simple business idea, attract customers, manage their operations, and make a profit. Working together, the young entrepreneurs successfully turned their salon into a profitable venture and emerged as winners of the competition.
The Ghanaian children also had the opportunity to interact with veterans, servicemen, and military heroes, giving them a chance to hear firsthand about experiences different from their own while learning important lessons about courage, discipline, service, and sacrifice. The initiative has been described by the Assembly as part of its broader effort to expose young people to opportunities beyond Ghana.
At the end of the camp, the Ghanaian children gained experiences that went far beyond certificates and photographs, having played football with Russian children, learned some Russian, discovered a centuries-old musical instrument, visited museums, factories, and art galleries, painted, danced, participated in a business challenge, stood at war memorials, and made new friends. The Assembly deliberately targeted public-school pupils, giving children who might otherwise have had limited opportunities to travel internationally the chance to experience another country and culture.
Key points
- The initiative aims to expose young people to international experiences that could broaden their outlook and contribute to their personal development.
- The program included various activities such as sporting events, cultural programs, language lessons, artistic sessions, excursions, and business simulations.
- The Assembly plans to expand the program in subsequent years.
