Four schools in cocoa growing communities in the Ashanti Region have benefited from new school infrastructure.The facilities were funded by the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), in partnership with Nestle and ETG/Beyond Beans to enhance students' access to quality education and provide water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities.At Ntinanko R/C 'A' Basic School in the Bewkai Munic­ipality, a new three-classroom block with an office, store­room and staff common room was inaugurated and furnished with 120 mono desks, four teachers' tables and chairs.The school also received a five-seater water closet (WC) and a mechanised borehole with overhead tank.Similarly, Pewodie D/A Basic School in the Adansi North District had a three-unit KG/Nursery and had its office renovated and furnished.The school received 100 tables and chairs each for the KG, three cupboards, four ta­bles, and eight chairs for teach­ers, as well as a four-seater WC toilet and mechanised borehole with overhead tanks.Agogooso D/A Basic School in the Adansi North District also benefited from a two-unit classroom block and its office refurbished and furnished, as well as a five-seat­er WC toilet, mechanised borehole with overhead tank, and 50 tables and chairs.Agyeikrom D/A Basic School received a refurbished three-unit classroom block, furnished with 80 mono desks and three sets of teachers' tables and chairs.The Nestle Central and West Africa Business Executive Officer, Ms Salome Azevedo, stressed Nestle's commitment to the well-being of communi­ties linked to their operations.She urged the pupils to make the most of the upgraded school environment, complete with improved WASH facili­ties, and fully dedicate them­selves to their studies.The Country Director of the ICI, Mr Mike Arthur, said the initiative was an example of how to reduce child labour and poverty in cocoa growing communities."Providing WASH facilities is also important and can help ensure children, especially girls, stay in school," he explained.The Bekwai Municipal Director of Education, Mrs Leticia Obeng, praised the initiators of the project and pledged to ensure the facilities would be highly maintained.The Headteacher of Nti­nanko R/C Basic School, Mr Stephen Kofi Akomaning, expressed appreciation to the initiators of the project and also promised to see to the maintenance of the facility. FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, KUMASI