Saving for Future: Excellence Kids Club Leads a Powerful Change in Semanhyia

By Vivian Adu, Communications Officer

Beyond the winding dirt roads and the mighty Afram River, which can only be crossed by ferry after a long journey, lies a quiet community called Semanhyia.

It is not the kind of place that often makes the headlines. With just over 1,300 residents, the village has long been defined by struggle: child labour in nearby fishing communities, teenage pregnancies, child marriages and the heartbreaking loss of childhood dreams. But today, the story is different. The children of Semanhyia are rewriting their futures, one cedi at a time.

These children are not wealthy. Their families are farmers, fishermen and small-scale traders, many of whom are just scraping by to survive. But they have rich imaginations and are determined to succeed. With the support of World Vision Ghana and its partners, a spark was ignited that continues to burn brighter each day.

Founded in 2021 as part of the Savings for Transformation programme, the Excellence Kids Club is an exceptional children's savings group with the powerful mission of instilling the habit of saving in young minds while building a brighter tomorrow. With their parents' consent, each child contributes one Ghanaian cedi every week — just 20 pesewas per share, five shares a week. No more. No less. And it is with these small contributions that dreams are growing larger than life.

Although it is a modest sum, the discipline, planning and purpose behind each contribution speak volumes.

With the support of World Vision and its partners, this remarkable club now has 64 members: 33 girls and 31 boys. Each of them has eyes that shine with purpose and voices that carry dreams beyond the horizon. Aged between 8 and 15, the children have become an inspiring force in a place where poverty once silenced possibility.

'I save so I can help my mum and also buy my books,' said Elizabeth, the club's president, with a confidence that belies her years.

In a shining example of their impact, the Excellence Kids Club pooled their resources and donated GHS 1,000 (+95 USD) — money they had carefully saved — to support the renovation of a local primary school. The funds were used to make blocks for the refurbishment of the school, an act that has earned them a place in the community’s history with pride.

You would expect children this age to be shy. But not these ones! They conduct meetings with the discipline of seasoned professionals. They speak clearly, take turns respectfully and hold each other accountable. Their records are neat and tidy, their roles are clearly defined, and their ideas are full of imagination and purpose. 

“It’s not just about the money. We believe that if we save little by little, one day we can do big things,” said Charlotte, who serves as the group’s Vice President. 

What makes their story even more inspiring is where they are doing it. The Afram Plains are not easy to access. Yet, despite the fact that many adults have lost hope in this remote setting, the children are thriving.

The Excellence Kids Club is changing not only their own lives, but also the culture of their community. Parents who once struggled to see a way forward now look on with pride.

World Vision’s support has opened the doors, but it is the children who have walked through them with courage and confidence. Through child-centred activities such as clubs and reading camps, the organisation is encouraging participation and leadership among the youngest members of the community.

From the smallest hands come the strongest movements. In Semanhyia, a new chapter is being written, not by foreign aid or government policy, but by children armed with purpose — one cedi at a time.

The Excellence Kids Club is more than just a savings group. It is a beacon of what is possible when children are believed in and believe in themselves.

If you ever find yourself crossing the Afram River on the long, bumpy ride to Semanhyia, be sure to visit the Excellence Kids Club. There, in a modest classroom or under a mango tree, you will find a bright future full of smiles, laughter, hope and promise.

In Semanhyia, excellence is no longer just a dream. It’s a way of life.