Joy Preparatory School opened in 2002 with just five children. The proprietor Mary Sarkodie, opened the school to serve parents in the community who worked on their farms.

Mary took her first loan of 500 Ghanaian cedis to support her school canteen and ensure students' safety by creating a first aid kit. She repaid her first loan, never missing a day of payment during that period. After repayment of the first loan, she took a second loan of 3,000 cedis to purchase the land where her school resides.

Mary said that if it had not been for the timely intervention of the IDP Rising Schools Program, she would not have been able to acquire the land she had been renting for her school. Joy Preparatory's attendance and enrollment have become more stable since participating in the IDP Rising Schools Program.