Project Details

Samuel Odotei Memorial Hall

In May 2026, under the flag of TrueNorth Trust, current and ex members of 99 Squadron, Royal Air Force, will travel to the Northern Region in Ghana for a project that will change lives in the community of Sakpe, as well as their own. They will build a Community Education Centre in honor of their colleague and friend, AS1 (T) Sam Odotei, who sadly died on duty in January 2025. This Project reflects Sam’s Ghanian heritage and his core values of helping others. Sakpe is a rural community made up of small subsistence farmers and the Community Education Centre will facilitate educational programs aimed at teaching local farmers how to blend traditional farming with modern methods with the aim to maximise yield and improve living standards by building on local culture and tradition. We have partnered with a local Foundation, Best Way Farms, who will help deliver the build and ensure the project’s lasting aims are met by delivering the planned educational programmes through the Center, as well as maintaining the continued community engagement and involvement.

The TrueNorth Trust Team needs to raise a total of £99,000 to be able to deliver this project and in May 26, they will spend two weeks in Sakpe to build the Centre themselves, working closely with Best Way Farms and the local community. Throughout the year, group members will be organizing fundraising activities that will make this project possible and will allow them to impact the lives of the community members in Sakpe, as well as their own. The Team have named this Project ‘Samara Tenax’. This is a combination of Sam – in memory of their colleague and friend, Samara – a seed with wings, and Tenax – from the 99 Squadron Motto of ‘Quisique Tenax’ which means ‘Each One Tenacious’

Project Aims

Through building the Centre and continued partnership with Best Way Farms, the project plans to achieve the following aims:

Smallholder farmers' knowledge on how to access good quality seeds, inputs, equipment, and eco-friendly technologies are improved.
Farmers and their households’ adoption of sustainable, healthy water management, sanitation, and hygiene practices are improved.
Chiefs, community elders and farmer group leaders' access to Conflict Resolution and capacity building is improved.
Farmers' awareness of the long-term benefits of child education to future agricultural outcomes and well-being is improved.
Farmers' adoption of sustainable land and water management practices for environmental conservation is improved.
Farmers increased their understanding of agriculture, climate-smart practices, and agroecology.
Community gender equity and inclusion of youth in agriculture and rural development is improved.
Farmers’ market access and supply chain linkages are improved.

Project Updates

Oct. 24, 2025: A Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle challenge raised £6,082 for this project. In an extraordinary show of endurance and teamwork, a group of five cyclists from the RAF and Boeing undertook the iconic Land’s End to John O’Groats challenge - covering 1,572 km (982 miles) over 13 cycling days, with a staggering 16,024 metres of elevation. Supported by three dedicated drivers, the team faced multiple mechanical hiccups but persevered to finish this challenge in support of Samara Tenax.
Oct. 1, 2025: A pool swim, the distance of the English Channel (both ways), raised £2363 for this project. In a remarkable display of grit and determination, Sgt Jonny Coundon and AS1(T) Owen Webb from the RAF 99 Sqn each took the challenge - covering 68 km (42 miles/2832 lengths of the pool) with a target time of 8 weeks and a rough goal of an average of 354 lengths per week. Both swimmers completed the full distance, in 23 physical days of swimming and under target at 7 weeks, in support of Samara Tenax.