A MUSSELBURGH woman who spent time living in homeless accommodation after leaving school is helping children in West Africa with special needs.

Stephanie Mackinnon, 23, is working in Ghana on a three-month volunteer placement at the Yumba Special School, in Tamale in the north of the country.

And she has launched a fundraising campaign to help them after seeing first hand the extraordinary work which is being done by the teachers at the school.

Stephanie, a former Ross High School pupil, volunteered for the placement in Ghana after spending time in homeless accommodation across East Lothian.

Stephanie said working in the underdeveloped country has taught her to appreciate the services available to people in Scotland.

She said: “I didn’t do as well as I would’ve liked to at school.

“After I left I moved to Musselburgh and lived around East Lothian a lot in homeless accommodation.

“To gain some valuable experience apart from general working experience, I decided I’d like to help others in a less developed country. My experience in Ghana has taught me to appreciate things in life and not take the systems we have in place in the UK for granted, such as education and health care.” Yumba Special School was set up in in 2004 to work with children who have learning difficulties and mental health problems.

The school focuses on teaching the children life skills through vocational classes rather than a more conventional education. The school is the only one of its kind in the city. Stephanie said: “In Ghana, most people with disabilities face stigma and discrimination. They are often regarded as a financial burden, unproductive and cursed.

“Without this school many of the children would be locked away at home and would be completely written off by their families.

“I have gained a lot of experience in working with children with complex needs. The children I have met are amazing people I’ll never forget.” Yumba School has a core group of teachers that have the knowledge, experience and motivation to teach children with special needs. But Stephanie said they struggle to find funds for teaching and learning materials to help them enrich their pupils’ lives.

She is appealing for help from home to fund the important work the school does in Ghana.

She said: “Without these teachers in place, the children would not find Yumba such a happy environment that they enjoy and look forward to attending five times a week. Unfortunately, due to a significant lack of teaching and learning materials, the teachers find it difficult to teach the children adequately.

“The money we raise will go towards life skills communication packs for the children.” Visit www.facebook.com/pages/YUMBA-School/355955011246387