Final year students of the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Tamale Technical University have staged a community drama project in Demali to spotlight the community’s long-standing need for a hospital facility. The performance, which formed part of their final examination in theater communication, was attended by lecturers, community leaders, and residents on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
Through the play, the students depicted the struggles families face in accessing healthcare, particularly during emergencies. The drama presented scenes of expectant mothers, and children whose lives are often put at risk because of the absence of a health facility nearby.
Beyond the performance, the students demonstrated their solidarity with the people of Demali by donating ten bags of cement to support the community’s effort towards building a hospital. This gesture was warmly received, with residents describing it as a sign of true partnership between academic\ and the community.
Lecturers who witnessed the project commended the students for going beyond academic requirements to contribute tangibly to the welfare of the community. They noted that the initiative showcased how communication can be a tool for advocacy and development.
The Chief of the Community, expressed deep appreciation, emphasizing that, the drama and the donation had reignited hope for better healthcare access and calling on other stakeholders, including government and NGOs, to build on the awareness created by the students.
He added, that the project not only fulfilled an academic requirement but also left a lasting impact on the people of Demali, showing how education can drive community change. He encouraged all the community members to make good use of the opportunity by collectively contributing to the establishment of the health facility.
Elders of the Demali community expressed honest gratitude to the students for coming to share in their story and using drama to highlight their health challenge. They said, through the students time, creativity and support, the drama has open their eyes and given them hope that their situation can change while calling on stakeholders for collaborations that will bring lasting improvement to the community.
For many of the final year students, the project marked both the end of their academic journey and the beginning of their professional careers as they emphasized that, they are now prepared to impact differently into the society using development communication approaches to solve practical issues for development.
