Can You Hear The Clapping?

Two amazing young women! Do you two hear a weird sound there, in good old Axim Town, coming from the Atlantic Ocean, just feet away from where you right now? Believe it or not, that is clapping and cheering from your longtime American friends!

Yes, Charlotte and Philomena, YOU HAVE DONE IT! You have graduated from Asanta Nursing School, and we are proud of you! We were delighted to forward to each of you the $300 Graduation Award, set up by our Board Member Leif Pederson before his passing. He intended this gift to be used by graduates to open a bank account, learn to manage money, and pay for transition costs after graduation. How proud he would be of both of you! 

What an accomplishment for two young women who, at age ten---in early 2007--- were both taken into the Western Heritage Children's Home as residents. You are somewhere in this first photo, part of a group of children who, for various reasons, had been identified by local leaders as OVCs---orphaned or vulnerable children. You became Western Heritage Home Scholars.

2007 photo of all the Scholars living in Western Heritage Home

Charlotte in her early school years,in her Manye Academy uniform

Philomena as a young student. She also attended Manye Academy

You have both worked hard and thanks to Western Heritage Home, the local Ghanaian NGO, founded and led by James Kainyiah and other local leaders, and with help from Ghana Together, you had financial support all these years. We owe a big thanks to ALL who helped fund your education. And a thank you to Manye Academy, especially Teacher and Headmistress Felicia Ackah. And to the new Axim Girls Senior High, which was established just in time for you to attend! Miraculous!!

As students at Axim Girls Senior High, with Maryanne Ward of Ghana Together

And, after graduating SHS, you made your way for one year selling water sachets and other goods in the local Axim market 

You were encouraged to follow your dream---nursing school. You applied and were accepted! And here you are in 2017 as students at Asanta Nursing School. just west of Axim  

And now, just last week, these two Scholars have graduated! Having done their practicums in the hospital in Takoradi, they are applying for hospital jobs anywhere in Ghana. We congratulation them and wish them well. 

Charlotte 

Philomena

WHH’s motto is “Making Leaders of the Least”...

...and with a lot of help from us, they are doing just that! On their behalf, and especially on Philomena and Charlotte's behalf, we of Ghana Together thank so much all who helped make this possible!! 

And yes, we have more students currently enrolled in various levels, including eight in college, nine in vocational school, and forty-seven in primary school. So, yes, we appreciate help!

 To help: http://ghanatogether.org/HTML/Donations.html

 2019 Annual Report/2020 Future Plans Letter 

 808 Addison Place

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Website: http://ghanatogether.org

Email: info@ghanatogether.org

SOMETIMES IT TAKES A TEAM!

Just TODAY we got the greatest news!

A few months ago we got a call from Paul LaGrange, a computer teacher at the Marysville, WA Mountain View Arts and Technology High School. He had a “gift”---more than 100 refurbished computer towers that had been donated by a local hospital!

Frankly, we were kind of skeptical! A “gift”?? Really? Should we even consider sending “junk computers” to AFRICA?? But we knew Paul! After all, he and his students had refurbished children’s computers for us in the past, and they are still working in what passes for the Axim, Ghana Children’s Library.


So…SURE, we’d take 110 refurbished computer towers with updated Microsoft Windows, newest open source office-type software, 220 volt electrical power capacity, and more. And since Paul is a genius teacher, he and his wonderful students got 110 of the towers to work perfectly. 

BUT, how to get them to Ghana? It was amazing! Wonderful Marysville FedEx folks taught us how to pack them in boxes properly. The School District had shipping pallets. Thanks to Dave A., FedEx’s social responsibility program kicked in to have them picked up at the high school and shipped to Maryland at no charge to us!

Students hauled in very large FedEx boxes

The towers had to be wrapped just so...

And there, Ebby Mienza., our Ghanaian ex-pat friend, worked with Prince & Sons Shipping who squished them into their container going across the Atlantic to Ghana at a very reasonable charge. And Prince managed to convince the good folks at the Port in Tema that computers for schools should be customs-free…


And from there James Kainyiah, our Western Heritage Home partner in Ghana, got them all the way to Axim. He sold some of them to buy screens and worked with Director Madame Safiatu Seidu and staff at the Community Development Vocational Technical School (CDVTI) in Axim to set up a newly-equipped computer lab, and…well, it's taken a long time to get all of this accomplished, but AS OF TODAY...

HERE WE ARE! 

CDVTI now has a beautiful new computer technology lab with updated computers! 

Oh the places he'll go....!!

We've been proud to help Western Heritage Home support CDVTI for many years. We fund tuition for about ten students a year. We've renovated both girls and boys dorms. We worked with local carpenters to provide beds, for the boys dorm.

We funded a urine diversification/dehydration toilet for the guys. We’ve hosted two workshops---one by Days for Girls and the other on leadership. We provided a set of about a hundred books on construction, electrical work, etc.

It’s been a good partnership and we see this computer lab as vital to preparing these students for their vocational training. Ghana is rapidly modernizing, and computer tech training is essential! 

Thank you so much to all who helped make this possible!! 

To help: http://ghanatogether.org/HTML/Donations.html

 808 Addison Place

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Website: http://ghanatogether.org

Email: info@ghanatogether.org

YOU GUYS ARE FANTASTIC!

Back in June we sent out a News Update asking you, our WHH Scholars, to do your level best in school and wow!…you have really come through! Year after year, you original WHH Scholars have amazed us!

Wonderful students you surely are! 

On behalf of so many who have helped you students over the years in your schooling, especially to James Kainyiah and the Western Heritage Home NGO, the Axim headmistresses/masters/teachers, and so many American friends, we say we are proud of you Western Heritage Home students. 

YOU INSPIRE US! 

And we know if you were able to meet up face-to-face with this wonderful group of folks who have been supporting you, your shouts of thanks would be deafening (and maybe a little Ghanaian drumming and dancing, too)!

Congratulations to these Western Heritage Home Scholars on their graduations and more!!

Gifty graduated from Axim Girls Senior High School in 2017. She worked until this month in the market, selling various goods, such as scarves, shoes, jewelry, etc., earning her way and helping her Mom with her younger siblings. But James Kainyiah and other leaders in Axim saw her abilities and encouraged her to go further. She applied and as of this month was matriculated into the University of Education, Winneba, to study for her Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Education. Wow!

Emmanuella graduated from Ghana National College, an academic senior high school with a special program for students with vision disabilities.  She has been accepted into University of Education, Winneba, to a 4-year program in Special Education. This is especially wonderful, given that she has a vision disability herself. Winneba is known for its program for students with special challenges.

Ernestina graduated from Axim Girls Senior High School. She supported herself by working at the Lou Moon Resort, near Axim, for one year. She liked the work and saw an opportunity! She has been accepted into Takoradi Technical University to study for a Diploma of Technology in Tourism.

George graduated from the Community Development Vocational/Technical Institute, specializing in Welding and fabrication. He was accepted into the Engineering Department to study for a Higher National Diploma in Welding and Fabrication.  

Peter continues in his TTU program in Medical Technology. Earlier this year he completed an internship at a hospital in Takoradi.

Larmin continues his study for a Higher National Diploma in Welding and Fabrication.  

TTU Scholars George (far left), Ernestina, Larmin, and Peter

Charlotte and Philomena are beginning their final year at SDA Nursing and Midwifery Training College. 

Ben starts his first year of Junior High at Manye Academy, and his sister Gladys begins P6, her last year of Primary School.

ALL of the above students have been getting support from us, via WHH, since their early primary years. They started out as "orphaned or vulnerable" children in the WHH Children's Home.

At the Community Development/Vocational Technical Institute, Western Heritage Home has selected nine students who need assistance---5 electrical, 1 plumbing, 2 fashion/sewing, 1 catering. Two original Western Home Scholars ---Frederick (4^th from left, back row) and Godwin 2nd from left)--- are learning electrical skills (much-needed in Ghana). 

And we still support students in two privately-run schools in isolated fishing communities. Ghana has done a terrific job in making school K-12 tuition-free, but some children whose parents are involved in fishing and live right on the coast are not within reasonable walking distance from government schools. 

34 Students, Grades 4-6, Apewosika Village School (Christ the King Academy)

Maako Village School - students most in need

Parents have to make hard choices if they have multiple children in these isolated private schools. Often, when a child finishes 3^rd or 4^th grade, they drop out so parents can support younger siblings. So the older boys go to sea to help Dads with fishing and girls help Mom in the market, or with fish processing, or helping care for younger siblings. 


So, while at end of 4^th grade they have basic skills, we have given support to kids in grades 4-6 so they finish primary school. At end of grade 6, they are usually capable of walking the distance to a government junior high. They can read, do quite a bit of math, and other learning, which helps them to be capable of understanding what it means to be a citizen in a democracy, understand basic skills such as how to use a bank, read instructions, measure, etc.. And they are then eligible to attend Junior High and eventually Senior High.

And we are grateful that we are helping both girls and boys. Our favorite Ghanaian chief, Awulae Attibrukusu III, Lower Axim Traditional Council, inspires us by saying frequently, “Educate a girl, educate a family.” YES!!

Chief Awulae, about two weeks ago, celebrating

 his birthday and the Kundum Festival!

And on another front---FYI. We'd like to share a little story---

Our readers know that over the years we’ve helped out with the Axim Girls Senior High. They were founded about 11-12 years ago, with around 20-25 students in two classrooms in an old abandoned school building. We gave them 25 scientific calculators as an “aspirational” launching gift. We followed that with a fairly modest set of science materials--- microscopes, human skeleton, measuring instruments, and much more---thanks to retired Skagit Valley College instructor Jerome Chandler and his “science friends.” 

That first set of scientific calculators-in Jan 2011

And in a couple of years in, when we saw the girls sitting on the ground having lunch or doing homework, we worked with Kikam Tech Institute, supplying the materials, etc., and thereby enabled those vocational students in a nearby technical school, to get credit for renovating a building and providing tables and benches for a lunch/dining/assembly space for Axim Girls students. 


And when the oil company provided a classroom building with computer lab, we worked with Unleash Kids to provide Internet-In-A-Box, with Wikipedia, Khan Academy math/science videos, health/medical info, and maps, and we bought and installed solar panels to power it. And then we helped out with a photocopier/printer, and fixed a damaged school bus. 


Most of the real work was done by Ghanaians---especially Principal Theodora Appiah, and so many teachers---some doing their national service, required after graduation from university,  because they have skills in science, math, etc.

Now, believe it or not, thanks to Ghana's government efforts, schooling is now TUITION-FREE, K-senior high at government schools! And even boarding supported, if distance is too far. They now have two large classroom buildings (with restrooms!), and a large dormitory building! Note: Their first dormitory was the Western Heritage Home building we funded, thanks to Boeing and so many others. 

And from that humble beginning back a decade ago, they just enrolled almost 600 girls as of this term. Wow! We of Ghana Together helped them do a few things that were needed, but for which the skills or resources weren't quite available there. 

This is one example of our efforts which are ongoing and targeted directly at local needs. Our approach is to figure out what they really want to do and what in their own estimation they really need. And if it’s beyond their own capacity—whether because of lack of funds or skills, or iin some cases, not even knowing what IS available---and if it stands up to lots of questions and listening from us, seems to make sense, is within OUR means, and has a chance of being sustainable, we try to help them do it. And no, we haven't had the funds for the "big" stuff, like a new school, but we've been able to help nevertheless. 


We follow a fairly formal “project management” process: What is the goal (begin with the end in mind!)? How much will it cost? Is there a detailed budget? Who is going to be responsible for what? What are the specific steps/plans? What are the milestones? 
  
It seems to work, thanks to hard work by the local Ghanaians involved. A good example of that is the WHH Operations Manager, Evans Arloo. Graduated from a two-year college-level program in education, supervising WHH day-to-day, and engaged in other work, with his beautiful wife who is a nurse and two beautiful girls, he makes it happen! Skilled in Whatsapp, Camscanner, photography, financial management and bookkeeping, and general business skills, he keeps it together!

Arloo, as he's known, with two students. 

He traveled to every school, met with students and administrators,

 saw not only to tuition, but school supplies, personal needs, etc. Thanks Arloo!

And so another school year is launched! We thank you, who we like to call our "investors", for the 64 students we and WHH are able to support for the 2019-2020 school term. We are so grateful. 

Our simple but totally felt ...

"Thank you."

_______________________

Ghana Together

808 Addison Place

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Website: http://ghanatogether.org (click "News" for earlier News Updates and to subscribe)

Email: info@ghanatogether.org

OK, you wonderful students, time to do your part!

Hi all,

We want to catch you up on what's going on with Ghana Together/Western Heritage Home efforts in the Axim area of Ghana.

As of this second term in Ghana’s 2018-2019 school year we have 74 students on scholarship.

We support 40 Primary level P4-P6 students at Apewosika Village School (Christ the King). The school is a private school, in a pretty isolated fishing area, with no government school within reasonable walking distance for primary school kids.

Apewosika Village School (CTK) P4-P6 scholarship students

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We support what in the US would be 4th-6th grade students because typically, as families send younger kids into kindergarten and early grades, they can’t afford to pay tuition for all their school-age children. So, around P4, these older kids---who now know the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic---often must leave school for financial reasons. The boys go with Dad to help with fishing and the girls to the markets with Mom or help with younger siblings at home.

We want these CTK students to achieve P6 at a minimum. At that level, they are functionally literate and numerate, not only for work and general adulthood life, but also to participate as citizens in a democracy---read ballots, understand banking, communicate with family and friends via written cellphone messages, pass their skills on to their own children, etc. So, we work with leaders there to select those students who are vulnerable to dropping out because of their family's financial struggles.

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We support 15 primary students at Maako School, another very isolated private school serving an ocean-side fishing community.

At Maako, leaders choose students of any age/grade whose fathers are away fishing most of the time, all along the West Africa Atlantic Coast. The moms come into the school every few days with small amounts of money garnered from their cassava and other crops to pay "school fees." They struggle to keep their precious children in school--their highest priority after basic food needs.

Students at Maako School

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Our Western Heritage Scholars Ben and his sister Gladys Quayson continue in upper primary at Manye Academy. They are orphaned, and we provide not only tuition but room/board and basic health/hygiene necessities and small pocket money. 

We give heartfelt thanks especially to Headmistress Felicia Attah for all her help for so many years with so many WHH Scholars, especially these two.

Western Heritage Scholars Ben (P-5) and Gladys (P-4) 

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We support 12 students at the Community Development Vocational/Technical Institute in Axim. CDVTI trains young men and women of high school age and older in various vocational trades, such as hairdressing, catering, home management, business skills, computer tech, electrical, welding, construction, etc. They recently added these last three programs which appeal more to guys, so to encourage that program, we've sponsored a few more guys than gals this year.

Sponsored students at CDVTI, in various technical/vocational training programs

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Two of our Western Heritage Home Scholars---Charlotte Armah and Philomena Mensah---are in their second year of nurses training at Asanta Nursing/Midwifery College.

Charlotte Armah left) and Philomena Mensah

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And two of our WHH guys are at Takoradi Technical University---Larmine in welding, and Peter in computer science.

  Kingsley Larmine (left) and Peter Assuah

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Emmanuella Dein is now in her final year of Ghana National College's special senior high school program for functionally blind students, such as Emmanuella.

She is thriving, both academically and musically as part of the school choir. She has worked so hard and the College has done a wonderful job helping her, a functionally blind student, achieve her goals! 

We thank Kathryn Roe, of Anansi (and of Bellingham, WA), who also sponsors students in GNC, who has visited Emmanuella from time to time and kept up with her progress, since GNC is in Cape Coast, and distant from Axim.

Queen Mother Nana Adjou Sika and Emmanuella Dein

We show Emmanuella with her wonderful Queen Mum, Axim Queen Mother Nana Adjou Sika, who we lost late last year. Nana loved Emmanuella, and "mothered" her for years, emotionally and with some "tough love", too. What a loss to the entire community, especially the young women. We are so glad she lived to see Emmanuella well into finishing senior high!

We are proud of every one of you students! Western Heritage Home joins us in saying we are so totally grateful for all the folks who have helped us with donations. Sometimes we get emotional, wondering how it is people can be so generous and caring for students so far away!

Ghana Together

808 Addison Place

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Website: http://ghanatogether.org (click "News" for earlier News Updates and to subscribe)

Email: info@ghanatogether.org