Your support equips teachers like Matilda with the necessary skills to bring the joy of learning to children with cancer during their hospital stays. This helps ensure that there is a minimal gap in their schooling and ultimately prepares them for a seamless readjustment to a happy, healthy childhood.
Meet Matilda
Matilda has been a teacher for 29 years and has spent the past nine teaching children with cancer on the day care ward at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Ghana.
Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, supported by World Child Cancer, has provided Matilda and the other teachers with ongoing specialised training on how to teach and support children at the hospital.
Matilda highlights the importance of education for children with cancer:
Even the sight of [the teachers] gives the children relief when they are sick...they are not left idle and can carry on their normal schooling.
Hospital schools are different from normal schools in that, while there is some group work, all children are treated individually based on their strengths, health, and ability. However, teaching resources can sometimes be limited in these schools; Matilda explained that there were many issues before World Child Cancer started supporting KBTH. “There were not enough resources, and the hospital is still in need of more books related to the curricula planned by the teachers, but we have so much more now”
There’s now a TV and I have a pen drive, so we put nursey rhymes on and shows that teach maths. The children love it. They enjoy the cartoons and learn from the colours and shapes.
Reflecting on her experience teaching at KBTH, Matilda cited a five-year-old girl who broke her hand and had her fingers amputated, yet still lights up when she can learn from the teachers.
We asked Nulifa what makes her wake up in the morning to do a near-impossible job. The answer was simple;
After you work you see the children happy, and you feel that joy from them.
Naa’s Story
We first met Naa in 2016 when she was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumour at 7 years old. In 2021 the cancer returned and Naa underwent treatment again. She has battled cancer twice and is now back in school.
Read moreJoseph’s update
We first met Joseph in 2019 after he was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Find out more how he is doing after his successful treatment.
Read moreKayin’s story
Kayin was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. He is now working as a carpenter and is feeling happy and strong.
Read moreRebecca’s Update
Read more about our catch-up with Rebecca after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana six years ago.
Read moreHassan’s story
14-year-old Hassan from the Machinga district of Malawi was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) last year.
Read moreDiscover More Stories…
Naa’s Story
We first met Naa in 2016 when she was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumour at 7 years old. In 2021 the cancer returned and Naa underwent treatment again. She has battled cancer twice and is now back in school.
Read moreJoseph’s update
We first met Joseph in 2019 after he was diagnosed with Leukaemia. Find out more how he is doing after his successful treatment.
Read moreKayin’s story
Kayin was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma. He is now working as a carpenter and is feeling happy and strong.
Read moreRebecca’s Update
Read more about our catch-up with Rebecca after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana six years ago.
Read moreHassan’s story
14-year-old Hassan from the Machinga district of Malawi was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) last year.
Read moreTiwo’s story
Five years after developing cancer and two years of treatment later, six-year-old Tiwo is doing well
Read moreFranklyn’s Story
Meet Franklyn, now 17, who is fully recovered from cancer and dreams of becoming a doctor to help others
Read moreRebecca’s Success Story
Rebecca is now able to return to school after undergoing cancer treatment through World Child Cancer in Ghana
Read moreMy road to recovery
Prince went on to become a childhood cancer advocate and help many other children just like him when he recovered from leukaemia. Read More
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Meet Estaphanie, who is excited to start university after being forced to take time out of school following a cancer diagnosis
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Bulu is looking forward to following in his brother’s footsteps getting back on the football field
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Oscar was six years old when his mother noticed a swelling on his tummy and took him to a traditional village doctor
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