our story

The Story of Promise Land Ranch School

In 2005, John Essien had a dream to make education available to all children of Ghana. The problem is that education is not a free public resource in Ghana. All schools require tuition payments for students to enroll. Born and raised in the community, John knew first-hand of the poverty caused by average incomes of just $42 per month. Many parents cannot afford the high tuition fees while living on low household income. The result is many children lack access to receiving a quality education.

Without school to attend, many children will begin working as early as 5 years old to help support their families, thus severely limit their ability to grow into their full-potential.

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God called John and his wife, Tara, on a journey of faith to make this dream come true.

After five years of prayer, planning, and gathering support from friends, family, and local churches, Promise Land Ranch School began receiving the first students in 2010. Initially, preschool was the only grade offered to 15, 2 and 3 year old children. One additional grade per year has been offered since the first cohort of students. Now we provide preschool through ninth grade education.

Today, Promise Land Ranch School has over 250 enrolled students! These students attend Promise Land Ranch School tuition-free and are provided uniforms, books, supplies and new shoes. Promise Land Ranch School is famous within the Ningo/Prampram School District for providing quality education and is known by the locals simply as “Promise”.

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Promise Land Ranch School exists to provide poor children free Christian education, experience the power of God in their lives and impact the world around them with the Love of Jesus Christ.

 

The Greater Need

John and Tara realized that the need was greater than education. Children were coming to school hungry and without food. Educating a hungry child is more challenging. They added breakfast and lunch for their kids. Another need was quickly identified: too many children were coming to school in tattered clothes with no shoes. John and Tara prayed and shared this need with their family, friends, and church members who got to work raising funds for uniforms and shoes for all the kids.

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A few years later the need for transportation became apparent when too many children were not able to make it to school consistently. This was particularly apparent during the rainy season. John and Tara didn’t know where the funds would come from but trusted God to provide. Once again, by the grace of God money was raised to purchase a school bus. The bus became a huge blessing for many kids by providing transportation to keep them in school.

Promise Land Ranch has two buses and needs funding for two more buses.

We are currently operating out of the classrooms seen here but need a larger, safer and more permanent campus, which is in progress of being built now. “Promise Land Ranch School” purchased six acres of land in 2008 with anticipation of building this campus. Construction began in 2017 building out this new campus and was completed in 2023. The vision and plan is for a three story building for Nursery through High School which is now in progress.

 

How You Can Help

In order to turn these dreams into reality, we need your help!

Some suggestions …

  • $10 for a new desk

  • $25 for a new uniform and shoes

  • $50 for classroom supplies

  • $1,000 one year salary for a new teacher

  • $6,000 for a school bus (two more are needed) 

  • $15,000 beautiful futbol/soccer field

  • $20,000 technology center & “Addison’s Library”

  • $150,000 building the new Promise Land Ranch School campus

 

These amenities can serve a dual purpose first for our students and second generating income to support Promise Land Ranch School ongoing operations. The futbol/soccer field will also be able to host soccer clinics. The school buses will also be able to rent out during the weekends. 

We have seen the joy of these children learning how to read, write and do math. We know their potential and want to help them make their best life possible.

Will you join us?