Eric Nyarko had been dreaming big ever since that day he made the decision to build a library for the children of Aburi. But as he quickly discovered, dreams were not always easy to achieve, no matter how hard you worked.
The small library in his school was growing. With the help of his friends, Eric had gathered a collection of books—old and new, donated by kind-hearted villagers. The bookshelves in the classroom were filling up, and more and more children were coming to read. The whole school buzzed with excitement every time Eric organized a reading session. The children were learning, and they were eager to learn more.
But as the weeks passed, things started to change.
It was early one morning when Eric arrived at school to find a group of children standing outside the headmaster's office, murmuring among themselves. He walked over, curiosity etched on his face."Kofi, what's going on?" Eric asked his friend.
Kofi glanced over at Eric, his face troubled. "Eric, the headmaster says we can't use your library anymore. He says the books are not good enough."
Eric's heart sank. "What do you mean? We've been working so hard. The children love reading these books. We can't stop now."
Kofi lowered his voice. "I don't know exactly what he said, but it doesn't sound good. He says we need proper textbooks, not just any old books."
Eric stood still for a moment, the weight of the words pressing down on him. How could they stop him now? He had worked so hard, and now the headmaster was saying they couldn't use the library anymore. The thought of the children losing this opportunity made his heart ache.
Without wasting another second, Eric marched straight to the headmaster's office. He knocked on the door with more force than he'd intended. "Come in," the headmaster called, his voice stern as usual.
Eric stepped inside, his chest swelling with determination. He wasn't going to let the headmaster take away what he had worked so hard for. "Good morning, sir," Eric said, standing straight, his small body trembling slightly.
The headmaster looked up from his desk, his face unreadable. "Ah, Eric, what brings you here today?"
"I came to talk about the library, sir," Eric said, his voice steady. "I know the books aren't new, but the children have been using them. They love reading them, and we're learning a lot from them. Please, don't take it away."
The headmaster leaned back in his chair and folded his arms. "Eric, you mean well, I can see that. But these books you've collected—they're not enough. Some of them are torn, others are too old. The government expects us to use proper textbooks, not just old books that are falling apart. If we want our children to succeed, they need better materials to study."
Eric's heart sank even further. He had heard stories about how schools in the big cities like Accra had everything—new textbooks, well-paid teachers, and clean classrooms. Why couldn't his village have that? Why couldn't the children of Aburi have the same opportunities?
"But sir, if we don't have these books, how will we learn?" Eric asked. "How will we become smart? How will we help make Ghana great?"
The headmaster sighed deeply. "You don't understand, Eric. It's not enough to just want something to happen. You have to show that it can be done. You have to prove that your ideas are worth investing in. If you really believe in education, you will find a way to bring those textbooks here. But it will take more than just good intentions."
Eric stood silently for a moment, trying to understand what the headmaster meant. This wasn't just about wanting something—it was about showing that the effort was worthwhile. His heart still burned with the desire to make things better for his friends, for the children of Aburi. He couldn't let them down.
"Okay, sir," Eric said, his voice determined. "I'll do it. I'll find a way."
The headmaster nodded. "I believe in your spirit, Eric. But remember, this is not an easy task. Don't expect it to be."
That evening, as Eric walked home, he couldn't stop thinking about what the headmaster had said. He had started with so much hope, but now it seemed like the road ahead was full of obstacles. How could he get new textbooks? Where would he find the money? He was only five years old, after all. What could a boy like him do?
When he arrived home, he found his grandfather sitting on the porch, as usual, watching the sun set over the hills. Eric sat next to him, his face full of worry.
"Grandpa," Eric began, "the headmaster says the library won't work unless we get new books. The ones we have are too old, and he says the government won't give us any more. What should I do?"
His grandfather looked at him with gentle eyes, his face calm despite the world's many struggles. "Eric, my son," he said, his voice low and wise, "this country—this great Ghana—has always faced challenges. But it is the ones who are willing to fight for what is right who make a difference. You are on the right path. But to change things, you must be strong, and you must find a way."
Eric felt a spark of hope inside him. His grandfather's words gave him the strength he needed. He couldn't give up now.
The next day, Eric gathered his friends and told them, "We're going to raise money to buy new books. We can't wait for someone else to do it for us. We will show everyone that education is important, and we'll prove that we can do it ourselves."
His friends were hesitant at first. "But how?" Kofi asked. "We don't have money. We don't even know where to get books from."
Eric smiled. "We'll organize a fundraiser. We'll sell food, tell the people of Aburi what we're doing, and ask for their help. If they see we care, they'll help us."
So, the children of Aburi worked together. They sold palm nuts, roasted plantains, and jollof rice at the market. The villagers were impressed by their enthusiasm, and many of them donated money. By the end of the day, they had raised enough to buy a few new textbooks for the school. It wasn't much, but it was a start.
When Eric walked into the school with the new textbooks in his hands, the headmaster couldn't help but smile. "Well done, Eric," he said. "You've shown that you're serious about this. We'll put these books to good use."
Eric beamed with pride. The first challenge had been tough, but it had only made him more determined. If he could overcome this obstacle, there was no limit to what he could do for Ghana