Evelyn Ameamu is a Right To Play Leader who regularly implements sport and play activities with children in Adafienu Junior High School in the Ketu District of the Volta region of Ghana.

Before having access to regular sport and activities, children in her community were more interested in farming and fishing than they were in school. Since the introduction of regular games, however, Evelyn managed to boost the interest of children in coming to school, and as a result, helped to increase school attendance.

To ensure the children’s attendance at school throughout the day, she strategically scheduled sport and play activities at the end of the day. “I often put my play sessions at the last periods of the school hours, so that children, whose main interest is just in the games,  end up  staying in school throughout the whole school hours  learning the other essential subjects,’’ shared Evelyn.

Her involvement with Right To Play also built her interest in sports and helped her identify her capabilities.  She is more active now as a teacher and leads school-based sport competitions. Her increased interest in sports made her an active member of her school’s male-dominated sports committee, and is known for her role in encouraging more girls to become involved in sports.

“I have realized that children can learn more during play and not just having fun. After playing the game ‘Three-Legged Race’ for example, I observed some of the children are being more helpful to each other. They easily offer to assist their fellow class mates in times of need. This is just one game, so you can imagine the other lessons the children are learning from the other sporting games as well.”

Evelyn composed a song about Right To Play’s HIV and AIDS prevention activities that she incorporates into her activities as another way of sharing an important message about the spread of infectious diseases, and showing compassion for those who are ill and need support:

“When the world suffers from HIV, there is a friend to rescue it. Erasing the pain; Bringing joy again. Saving the world from AIDS, making it a happier place. When life gets hit, There’s a friend to make it fit. Day by day, this friend will stay come what may; there is ‘Right To Play’.”

Through their experiences with Right To Play, Leaders like Evelyn become influential contributors to the development of children and are able to access other opportunities that become available to them, such as taking on a role of leadership within their community and contributing to the sustainability of sport and play programs for children and youth.