ICYMI: Port Wash. Woman Buys School Supplies For Ghanaian Kids

SOGAKOPE, GHANA — Laura Russo, who is from Port Washington but studying abroad in Amsterdam, quite literally stepped out of her comfort zone when she headed to Accra, Ghana for a 10-week physical therapy internship. When she arrived back in June, she had no idea of the lasting impact her visit would have on the small Ghanaian village of Sogakope.

Ten weeks ago, students of Sogakope Primary School hardly had any school supplies. Parents couldn't afford them, and teachers had to pay out of pocket if they wanted their students to be able to do more than learn math with sticks in the dirt.

"If the teachers don't buy [supplies] out of their own salary, these kids don't even get an education, and that's not fair," Russo, 22, told Patch.

Ten weeks later, the children have 600 notebooks, 600 pens, 450 pencils, 10 packs of markers and crayons each, rulers and math kits that include a compass and protractor. The teachers received notebooks, as well.

Russo had visited Ghana to complete an internship and ended up enriching the lives of 140 students.

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