Rising Star Leadership Academy located in the small village of Kabile in the Jaman North district, Bono region of western Ghana. The school is home to 21 dedicated teachers who educate 150 K-8th grade students daily. Our school has transformed from a basic structure into a multi-classroom complex with a computer lab/library, garden, soccer fields, and a play structure. We built a well to provide reliable potable water, a rarity in this area of Ghana. Our curriculum is creative and experiential, encompassing academics, business development, sports, arts, and vocational studies.

The school was founded by Michael Obah and Laurel Fanya in 2013. Obah is originally from Ghana, and Laurel is from Humboldt County, CA, where they currently live. Despite their busy lives in California, raising children and maintaining their careers and various projects, they are deeply committed to the school's success. They ensure that it serves the wonderful students with a diverse and experiential curriculum and supports gender equality by employing female teachers. Obah is a public school teacher in California, and he also remotely directs and acts as principal for Rising Star.

Rising Star Leadership Academy offers a fantastic secular education with a dynamic curriculum that integrates academics, sports, creative arts, technology, and practical skills development. We champion women's empowerment and leadership, and aim to promote environmental sustainability and biodiversity preservation, and foster economic empowerment and self-sufficiency through future programming. Our interest in promoting local food consumption will create a healthier environment for our students, teachers, and the ecosystem, reducing reliance on processed foods and agribusiness.

Our School at a Glance

Our Founders

Innovative Education