Last month, we proudly reflected on a milestone moment for Sabre Education. Twenty years of working alongside government, communities, partners and funders to strengthen early childhood education in Ghana.
Our 20th anniversary celebrations took place across two continents, beginning in Ghana in October 2024 and concluding in the UK in January 2025. Together, these events honoured our journey so far and reaffirmed our shared commitment to ensuring every child receives a quality start to learning.
Celebrating in Ghana
Our anniversary celebrations began on October 2024 at the Alisa Hotel in Accra. More than 100 partners, friends and champions of early childhood education joined us to reflect on two decades of progress and the work still ahead.
We were honoured to welcome Rev. Hon. John Ntim Fordjour MP, Deputy Minister of Education, alongside Mrs. Gifty Sekyi Bremansu, representing the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service. Their presence reflected the strong partnership between Sabre and government, which continues to be central to advancing play-based learning at scale.
We also recognised outstanding early childhood education champions whose leadership and advocacy have shaped the sector over decades: Rev. Sr. Elizabeth Amoako Arhen, Prof. Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Dr. Madeez Adamu-Issah, and Vida Barbara Ntow. Their contributions stand as a reminder that lasting systems change is built through long-term commitment and collaboration.
During the evening we celebrated the Brenu Akyinim, community where our first school was built, and featured a special performance by Gloria Asante from Accra College of Education.
Marking the milestone in London
The celebrations continued in January 2025 with a UK anniversary event at the Soho Hotel, bringing together donors, partners, trustees and friends who have supported Sabre’s journey over the past 20 years.
Guests heard reflections from our leadership, including CEO Susan Place Everhart, Executive Director of Sabre Ghana Tony Dogbe, International Board Chair Iain Walker, and former CEO Dominic Bond. We also premiered our impact film in the UK, showcasing how play-based learning is transforming classrooms and strengthening outcomes for children across Ghana.
During the evening, we honoured Sabre’s founder, Aubrey Malcolm-Green, whose early commitment in Brenu Akyinim laid the foundation for our work today. We also celebrated Sonya Hinton for over a decade of expert advisory support to Sabre’s programmes.
Looking ahead
These anniversary events were a powerful reminder of what is possible when governments, educators, funders, and communities work together with a shared vision. As Ghana prepares to scale play-based kindergarten teacher training nationwide, we remain committed to supporting this next chapter with evidence, partnership and care.
Here’s to the next 20 years of impact!
