A new chapter of learning has begun for pupils of the Adabraka Presbyterian School as Standard Chartered Bank, under its Youth Literacy Skills Project, inaugurated a newly refurbished reading centre for the school. The facility, launched in partnership with United Way Ghana, is set to serve as a hub of knowledge, exploration, and inspiration for hundreds of young learners.

Over the past two years, Standard Chartered has organised literacy clinics in underserved schools as part of its employee volunteering programme. To ensure the sustainability of these efforts, the Bank formalised its approach through the Youth Literacy Skills Project, a structured programme that provides students with guided weekly reading sessions to sharpen their literacy skills.

The initiative falls under Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, the Bank’s global youth empowerment programme dedicated to equipping young people with the skills, resources, and support they need to thrive and drive impact within their communities. By investing in literacy, the Bank believes it is laying the foundation for future leaders who will drive Ghana’s growth.

Delivering the opening remarks at the ceremony, Madam Lydia Offei, Headmistress of Adabraka Presbyterian School, expressed her gratitude, saying that the library will be a centre for learning and exploration, a place that will imbue in our students the love for reading while also improving their academic performance. She expressed her gratitude to Standard Chartered and its partners for investing in the future of the children at the school.

The newly refurbished reading centre is stocked with a diverse range of books for all levels, from beginner to advanced readers, to help children discover new ideas, build skills, and unlock their full potential. In addition, the Bank donated a computer to the school to support efficient library management.

At the event, the importance of the initiative was emphasised by Asiedua Addae, Head, Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing, Standard Chartered, who underscored literacy as the cornerstone of opportunity. She highlighted that for over two years, staff of the Bank had been visiting schools with United Way to read to children every week. The improvements seen in these students were noted as the reason for creating a structure that ensures lasting impact. The newly inaugurated reading centre was therefore presented as a symbol of the Bank’s ongoing commitment to equipping young Ghanaians with literacy skills.

The event also featured a speed mentoring and reading session with pupils, further reinforcing the Bank’s dedication to building confidence and curiosity in young learners.

The ceremony was attended by a section of the Bank’s management team, including Yvonne Gyebi, Head Wealth and Retail Banking and Anthony Dickson, Head, Audit. They were joined by the Ghana Education Service Director, senior representatives from the Ghana Library Authority and Faustina Abbey, Executive Director of United Way Ghana.

With the inauguration of this reading centre, Standard Chartered has reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing a culture of reading, one that empowers young Ghanaians to grow into leaders, innovators, and change-makers who will shape the nation’s future.