Journeys Through Play: Ghana

Play is more than a game, it’s a pathway to purpose.

In Ghana, Future Stars nurtures young talent, turning play into opportunity. We talk to Shadrack Donkor, the relentless energy behind Future Stars Ghana.

How does Future Stars use play to help young people build confidence and take more control over their own choices and futures?

With us, play is often where confidence begins.

In the Buduburam community, many children face challenges long before they are ready. At school, play gives them space to breathe, laugh and simply be children. Whether it is a football match, a group game, or a creative activity, these moments help the children in our school feel safe enough to try, speak up, and believe in themselves.

Through play, they learn how to work together, make decisions, and keep going when things do not go their way. Over time, these small experiences build confidence and resilience. For the 150 children in our primary school, play is not just fun; it’s how they start to see new possibilities for themselves and their futures.

How do you measure the long-term benefits of your work, both for individual participants and for the wider communities you support? 

At Future Stars Ghana, we measure long-term impact by looking at both progress over time and real-life outcomes. For individual children, we track school attendance, learning progression, confidence and participation in class and play. We also pay close attention to softer indicators such as leadership, teamwork and self-belief, which are often first expressed through play and everyday interactions.

Beyond the classroom, we stay connected with families and the wider Buduburam community to understand how our work is shaping attitudes toward education, child wellbeing and opportunity. As children grow, we follow their transition into higher levels of education and continued engagement in school. Over time, these outcomes help us understand not just what children achieve academically, but how they grow into confident, capable young people who contribute positively to their communities.

Can you share an example of a young person whose journey shows how play has opened doors to a new opportunity for them?

One of our students (Hariel) joined Future Stars Ghana at a young age as a quiet and withdrawn child. In the classroom, she rarely spoke, but on the football field, she began to shine. Through regular play and team sports, she found a space where she felt confident and supported.

She learned how to work with others, lead small teams and believe in her own abilities. Hariel later grew to become the captain of the girls football team and displaying her leadership abilities.

As her confidence grew through play, it began to show in other areas of her life. She started participating more in class, setting goals for herself and taking pride in her learning. Today, she is one of the most engaged students at our primary school and her teachers see her as a role model for younger children.

What started as play opened the door to self-belief, leadership and a clearer sense of what she can achieve.

Play can simply be just to have fun. What’s the main game the children play and do you (or one of the team) ever get dragged in to take part!

The most popular game among our students is football, which seems to bring out their energy, teamwork and competitive spirit like nothing else. You will often see the whole playground buzzing with children passing, chasing and cheering each other on… and yes, the staff definitely get dragged in!

It is hard to resist when 150 children are calling you onto the field. Some of us are better at it than others, but it is always worth it we get to laugh, join in their joy and see firsthand how play builds confidence and leadership.

As a football fan and a Manchester United supporter; we always play “rep your team” on Fridays together with the children where we divide ourselves into our various clubs we love and play a mini premier league at school.

A huge thank you to Shadrack for bringing such energy, clarity and lived experience to this piece. His stories from the ground don’t just inform our readers — they ignite a deeper understanding of how play is transforming young lives in Buduburam. At Gandys, we’re proud to stand behind this mission — championing the power of play and the young futures it helps unlock.

Outro: Every Gandys product supports grassroots change. We’re proud to be a B Corp. That means we don’t just talk impact, we live it. Through long-term partnerships with charities like Ghana Future Stars, we invest in real people doing real work, in places that matter. Start your year with intention. Carry community with you.