Western Heritage Home (Axim, Ghana) and Ghana Together (US) Finalize Plans for 2014

When Maryanne Ward, President of Ghana Together, visited Axim, Ghana recently, our Western Heritage Home associates discussed with her their project priorities for 2014.

This past weekend our Ghana Together Board met to discuss those priorities and finalize our own goals for this year.

We will continue to sustain these ongoing programs:

-Fund school tuition/fees/boarding and other costs for the original Western Heritage Home scholars who still need our help. We are so proud of Dorothy, who has graduated high school and has a teaching job (!), and Gifty, Philomena, and Charlotte who received full senior high scholarships from one of the oil companies working in Ghana.

-Fund 47 tuition scholarships to Apewosika Village Primary School, targeting the poorest families. We are grateful to Nana Adjow Sika, the Queen Mother, for working with Headmaster David to select and monitor these students.

-Continue to collect and ship books to the children’s library.

-Fund minor ongoing support for the soon-to-open children's computing laboratory (using the One Laptop Per Child machines), located next to the Children’s Room at the Library

-Help with some minor expenses as they arise on Heritage Building, now a hostel for senior high girls.

In addition, we will try to muster funding for this new project

...which looks a lot like our 2013 renovation project we are so proud of!

Remember this school building from Jan 2013?

 

...and how the WHH and the PTA with our help totally renovated it?

And how in Jan 2014, 80+ JHS students go to their classrooms in this very beautiful building?

 

Maryanne took this photo just a few weeks ago and happily received the heartfelt thanks of students, teachers, and parents

Built on that success, we plan a similar project at the Axim All-Girls High School.

WHH and local school leaders will renovate this old building that is structurally sound, per the Axim Municipality District Engineer, Mr. Hadden, himself...

 

 

 ...taking into consideration that the inside is in pretty good shape, not having been exposed to tropical rains, heat, and humidity...

 

 

...putting those same carpenters/masons/PTA members/very capable high school young women to work to clean it up, replace the roof, fix the masonry, replace windows, add mosquito netting, paint...

...mixing in about $11,000 help from Ghana Together...(yes, we can use some help with this)

...and give those high school girls...

• who eat all three meals at school
• study there
• basically live at school except for sleeping 
• and who ARE, after all, the future women leaders of Ghana...

A nice, clean, dry study/eating/assembly hall.

 

 

 

For more info about Ghana Together see http://www.ghanatogether.org

To contact us: info@ghanatogether.org

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Axim Community Development Vocational Institute (CDVI)

You may remember that Western Heritage Home, our partners in Axim, Ghana, renovated the CDVI Women’s Dormitory with our financial help back in 2013. We wrote about it about a year ago:

http://ghanatogether.blogspot.com/2013/04/done-scratch-dormitory-renovation-off.html  



Newly renovated women's dormitory

So, it was Maryanne Ward’s pleasure to tour the dormitory building and to meet our 12 scholarship students, eight of whom are living in the dormitory, with 16 in residence total.

The young women reported they LOVE living in the nice, clean dormitory, and promised to use their marketing skills (one of their classes is marketing) to spread the word to friends that there is a good place to live, now, for those who want to attend but live beyond walking distance.

Resident shows off her room, demonstrating her bednet (malaria prevention)

Students typically have few possessions.

 

 

 

 

The courtyard provides space for getting together, doing laundry, drying clothes...





Inner courtyard showing area for relaxing together, laundry, clothes drying, etc.

 Ghana Together sponsored scholarship students because we wanted to kickstart the dormitory and also help a few with major financial barriers. We awarded funds to Western Heritage Home, which in turn granted the funds to the CDVI Parent Teacher Association.

Eleven of the 12 scholarship students with a teacher

The CDVI staff traveled to outlying towns and villages in the municipality of Axim, and distributed brochures describing CDVI’s programs.

Many students applied. Staff and the Headmistress interviewed all of them and their families, short-listing those who had major financial problems—not an easy job.

They awarded 12 candidates two-year bursaries, including 3 young men. Eight women receive boarding and three meals at day for two years, or about $500 each. Four “day” scholars, one woman and three men, receive lunch for about $150 each for six terms (two years).

The parents had to commit to pay 60 cedis in tuition plus incidental expenses per term for six terms as their share (about $200 total). To put this in perspective, the official minimum wage in Ghana is 5.25 cedis or about $2.10/day based on a 27- day month (about $700/yr).

What happens at the end of the two years?  The families will have to pay all costs for the third and fourth year, if the student decides to continue. Most do, because they want to acquire skills in multiple trades, ensuring greater economic security. Some leave after two years to apprentice or go into small-scale businesses. Four-year graduates are eligible for polytechnic schools.

CDVI Women Strut Their Stuff at the Annual 6 March Celebration (Independence Day!)

CDVI is a trade school, with classes in catering/cookery, hairdressing, computer science, sewing/tailoring/fashion, entrepreneurship, marketing, basic mathematics/bookkeeping, English, home management, and women’s health. These trades are in demand in this region.

Cooking/catering class.

The government of Ghana supports these students. For example, students specializing in sewing/tailoring receive a “kit” upon graduation, containing sewing machine, scissors, measuring tapes, thread, and other items necessary to start a business or enter an apprenticeship.

Since our last visit in 2013, the government of Ghana has also completed a new classroom building that had been years in the making! Ghana is investing strongly in education at all levels.



New classroom buildings at CDVI, completed in 2013

 

And, Maryanne and James Kainyiah, her Western Heritage Home counterpart, were delighted to attend and speak briefly at the retirement celebration of Madame Hajara Yakubu, who served as Director of CDVI for 38 years. She will be missed. We wish her and her successor, Madame Safiatu Seidu, well.



Hajara Yakubu, giving her farewell speech to her beloved students.

Hajara is a dedicated educationist, and a lay leader in the St James Methodist church.. She is a skilled manager and orator. She has served on the Western Heritage Board since its inception, and has provided exceptional leadership to the community of Axim.

 

In her remarks, Hajara fulsomely expressed her thanks to Ghana Together and Western Heritage Home for our contributions to the school. And we, in turn, thank all of you.

 

To learn more, see http://ghanatogether.org

To contact us, email info@ghanatogether.org 

Dedication of the New Urine Diversion DehydrationToilet (UDDT)

Another wonderful day in Axim!

You may recall the news article we sent out a few months back about Jennifer and Paul of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of Engineers Without Borders traveling to Axim to launch the construction of a new low-impact toilet at one of Axim’s Junior High Schools.

EWB partnered with the local Axim-based NGO Western Heritage Home on the project. Ghana Together facilitated communication, shared knowledge of the town, and helped establish the relationship with Western Heritage Home, the local NGO.

Mr. Emmanuel Appiah, the local contractor, his foreman Alex, and his workmen have been working steadily on the project for about 5-6 months.
 
Now, since Colleen Mitchell of EWB and Maryanne Ward of Ghana Together were both in Axim, it was time to celebrate even though the toilet is not yet quite ready for use!

What a transformation!

You may remember the toilet currently used by about 250 students.

And this is the new toilet, swathed in ribbon, ready to be dedicated.

The PTA outdid itself by working with the School District to paint the classroom buildings and also the individual stones white to make the paths and welcome the guests.

 

The guests assembled. The school choir sang.

The school’s best dancers showed off their Ghanaian cultural heritage.

Colleen spoke about the toilet and the concepts behind the design, aiming her comments especially at the parents. Speakers included Mrs.Yawson, the Headmistress; James Kainyiah, Chair of Western Heritage Home; Fr. Paul Awuah of the nearby Catholic church; a student leader, and others.

Colleen Mitchell, of the EWB Pacific Northwest Chapter, Bellingham, Washington

The students gave a wonderful, real-life demonstration of “how to use the toilet,” which is markedly (!) different from their experience with their current toilet. They had received a lot of information and training, made posters, had class discussions, and now the time had come to show off their knowledge.

They carried two desks into the center of the school yard, and while a teacher asked the “troupe” questions, one of the boys (the “sitter”) leaped up on the desks (simulating one of the toilets) and acted out the answers--- how to squat (we’ll spare the details!) and actually use this new toilet! It was both informational and hilarious. The crowd loved it and he pulled it off perfectly.

Then to cut the ribbon...

Inspect the facility inside and out...

Clearly, Fr Paul Awuah approves!

Receive a new dress as a thank-you gift...
 

And dance!

We didn’t catch a good photo, but at the end the students danced joyously for at least a half hour before Mrs. Yawson -- the energetic, talented Headmistress -- called it a day!

So far as we know, this is the first UDDT toilet built in Ghana. It is an experiment and the EWB team will be talking monthly with Mrs. Yawson and also Mr. Appiah during the first year of operation.

Colleen spent two weeks working daily with the contractors, fixing some design details on the spot. Mr. Appiah will be getting a new set of the most up-to-date engineering drawings with all changes incorporated. Already we have had inquiries from District Engineers and others about using the concept elsewhere.

Madame Stella Adjei, Headmistress of the Axim Girls High School invited Colleen to speak to her students on engineering as a profession.

Ghana Together has been involved in this project from inception, and we are very proud that we were able to “midwife” it.

We’ve asked Colleen to write a semi-technical article which we will post on these pages, especially for others in Ghana who are interested in this UDDT design.

It was such  joy to experience the excitement and gratitude of the students, teachers, local leaders, and especially the parents.

Now there is a lot of joking about the day (maybe next week?) when the toilet actually opens for business! Who will get to do the first "pee?"

We ourselves vote for Mrs. Yawson who richly deserves the honor for her dedication to the project, working with her students on the science underlying the design, and her obvious enthusiasm for her job!

 

http://ghanatogether.org (click on "News" and scroll down for the prior article)

Contact us at: info@ghanatogether.org 

Dedicating the Renovated JHS Building

Our last news update featured the Junior High School classroom building Western Heritage Home renovated with help from Ghana Together and the school's PTA.

With Ghana Together’s Maryanne Ward actually in Axim, and the building finished and ready for students, it was time for a dedication!

We all gathered  to celebrate in front of the be-ribboned building.

 

The PTA members were seated on the left. The dignitaries at the head table included James Kainyiah, Chair of Western Heritage Home; Mrs. Abby, the Headmistress of the school; Mr. Baidoo, the Municipal Chief Executive;, Queen Mother of Upper Axim; The Rev. George Abraham, pastor of the St. James Methodist Church; Maryanne Ward of Ghana Together, and others. The students gathered on the right.  All were seated and shaded by canopies.

 

 

The students sang.

 

 

James spoke about the project, the crucial importance of education, and the role Western Heritage Home is playing in the Axim community.

 

 

Maryanne spoke briefly, somewhat at a disadvantage because the electricity failed at the very moment she reached for the microphone. (This is Ghana where the “lights” are on a lot more than they used to be, but are still erratic.) That plus the American accent...

Maryanne in one of her dresses received as a gift from local folks.

 

The guests walked over to the building where Rev. Abrahas held a scissors. James put his hand on Rev Abraham’s hand, Maryanne’s came next, and then came the hand of Nana Adjow Sika II and together we cut the ribbon!

The entire crowd filed in to admire the completed classrooms. They really do look just splendid! By next morning, the students were moved in and having classes.

 

Mrs. Abby will move her office to the renovated building, leaving her current office/storage area as a much-needed staff room. They have been sitting under trees to meet, eat their lunch, etc.

The two classrooms house the entire JHS Form 2 class---82 students---who up to now were meeting halfdays only in split shift. Now they will put in a full school days! Shown here are most of the students who took a break from their studies a couple of days after the dedication

A great day!!

http://ghanatogether.org

info@ghanatogether.org

Million thanks from James Kainyiah's email and camera this morning...

"The is the JHS building. This is the finished work. Million thanks to Ghanatogether and its donors and contributors. James"



Taken yesterday, Jan 8, 2014

 

 

Remember how it looked this time last year?

 

 

 

Although intended originally for JHS use, school officials are considering whether it would be better used for kindergarten level. With tuition-free primary education now offered, the kindergarten classes are huge.

 

OK with us! We trust their judgment.

 

Good job all!

 

http://ghanatogether.org

info@ghanatogether.org

2013 Ghana Together Wrap-Up

Most of you have by now received our Annual Update Letter, either by US postal mail or by email. If not, you can access it here.

A few comments:

First, we apologize to Jerome Chandler, whose name was inadvertently left off the "Directors" list at the bottom of the letter that was mailed earlier. One of those complete mysteries---Jerome has actually been on our Board since the get-go and of course, has been the driving force behind all things "science." And such a vital force he is!!

Second, we want especially to thank all who have done the hard work of collecting, packing, and shipping children's books (3035 now, by exact count). Some sixty of you have donated One Laptop Per Child Computers (OLPCs). Some of you have helped refurbish those computers. Others have given scientific calculators, science and other educational materials, lightly used laptops, and, of course, money.

And on the Ghanaian side, we thank James Kainyiah for his many visits to Axim and his constant oversight of all the projects; the Axim community volunteers who helped process the books at the Children's Library; the headmistresses and other school leaders who found rooms, security arrangements, supervised contractors, and generally put the resources to work.

We thank Francis, who for five years or more has been the faithful watchman, protecting the property and seeing to the safety of both people and materials at the Heritage Home in Axim. 

The parents of Apewosika School and the central area JHS, through their PTA associations, supported their scholarship children, and helped at the JHS construction site.

We especially thank Chief Awulae Attibrukusi and the Nzema East District Assembly and District Chief Executive for their ongoing support.

You'll see in our letter our plans for next year. Of course, after eight years, we have learned that working in Africa, one can expect surprises! Our model is to work mostly through leaders in Axim. What a lot we have all---Ghanaians and Americans---learned from each other!

We wish you all a really good 2014!

Directors Maryanne Ward, Tom Castor, Louise Wilkinson, Jerome Chandler, Sue Pederson, and Rich Ward

info@ghanatogether.org

http://ghanatogether.org

Engineers Without Borders Builds New UDDT Type Toilet in Axim, Ghana

More than two hundred students in one of Axim's Junior High Schools have been using this toilet for some years. It was built by parents with what they could muster.

Enter the Northwest Washington Professional Chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB), located in Bellingham, WA.

Some of members had been in Axim on a water assessment project in 2009, and they couldn’t help but notice that lack of TOILETS is a major deficiency, especially at schools.

So, they researched, wrote proposals, made drawings, convened meeting after meeting, applied for funding…

And, finally---SUCCESS. EWB members Paul A Randall-Gutter and Jennifer Mueller travelled to Axim in late October 2013 to start construction.  They brought back some great photos!

Paul Randall-Gutter, Contractor Emmanuel Appiah,  Jennifer Mueller, and James Kainyiah, Chair of Ghanaian host organization, Western Heritage Home
 

Fr. Paul Awuah Leading the Groundbreaking Ceremony
 

After about two years of very hard work by the EWB chapter, a new low-impact, urine-diversion-dry-toilet (UDDT) is being built right this minute at a Junior High School in Central Axim, thanks to these extraordinary engineers.

 

 

They also trained students and teachers in the concepts behind this UDDT toilet, which is a new design for the Ghanaians in Axim and perhaps in Ghana.




Students with their new raised garden bed. A Ghanaian National Service worker is coming to help them with a seed nursery and compost pile (Note: Ghanaian university students do a year of national service after graduation)
 

Students creating posters that explain the concept of the UDDT type of toilet

This EWB chapter is doing an absolutely wonderful job on this project---not only seeing to the construction, but keeping costs within "Ghanaian parameters" for future locally-funded applications. They searched the world's best practices for a design that works without water or electricity, and has been tested in several similar countries, including several hundred schools in Kenya. They paid special attention to  accommodate the needs of girls of junior high age.

Also, the team went to a lot of effort to include training and lots of involvement and input from the local folks who will actually use the new toilet. (You can read more about the team here).

We of Ghana Together (US) and Western Heritage Home (Ghanaian associates) are proud that we helped mid-wife the project.

Not our “baby" but we helped:

…find from the many schools with not-so-good toilets, one that held good chance of success, including leaders and students open to the idea, and also just the right slope of land for this first "test" toilet. (The slope...we hope! The engineers said “think urine DIVERSION…” yikes!)

… took the EWB initial proposal with us to Axim, convened meetings there with key leaders we have built relationships with over the years, and got agreements signed by responsible persons for their share of the proposed project

JHS Toilet Leadership meeting convened by Maryanne Ward of Ghana Together and James Kainyiah in Jan 2012. James and Fr. Paul Awuah at far left. Mrs. Yawson, the Headmistress, center. Others include teacher and parent representatives.

…tucked in drawings on a subsequent trip and worked with James Kainyiah, the Chair of Western Heritage Home (local NGO and host organization), to find contractor Emmanuel Appiah

... tried our best to explain the UDDT concept and the drawings to Mr. Appiah (we are far from engineers here…), and get his buy-in to take on the project

Contractor Emmanuel Appiah on left with associates, James Kainyiah in blue shirt in center. They are holding copies of drawings and technical details (Feb 2013)

…worked with Mr. Kainyiah to keep key leaders in Axim informed and involved, like Mrs. Yawson, the school’s Headmistress, and Fr. Paul Awuah, who is not only a Catholic priest but a dedicated community leader

…and generally helped facilitate communication overall. Along the way, after eight years of working together, we have built relationships with the Axim community, and also have become minor experts in understanding Ghanaian accents (English, but combination of African and British...), phoning Ghana, texting Ghana, emailing Ghana, wiring funds to Ghana...and just plain talking things out. 

James Kainyiah is especially to be thanked for tirelessly seeing to most of the details on the Ghanaian side...not an easy job.

James Kainyiah on his cellphone, maybe talking with us!  

Our mission statement includes this item:

…to link Ghanaians with charitable, educational, non-governmental, and non-profit organizations and resourceful individuals that foster personal independence and self-sustaining solutions for community social, health, and educational improvement.

A mouthful, but we mean it. We are absolutely delighted that this EWB project is coming to fruition and we were able to give it a boost!

Stay tuned for the news update about the completed toilet!!

For more information about Ghana Together see http://ghanatogether.org

To contact us, email info@ghanatogether.org

PTA Starts the Moving-In Process in Axim, Ghana JHS Public (Government) School

We thought we would post a progress update on the JHS school renovation project in Axim, Ghana, that we featured in our last News Update of August 29.

You may remember that before work started, back in August, the building looked like this---it was completely unusable.



JHS Building, August 2013



Work has been ongoing since then. The exterior, as you can see below, is finished.

As you can imagine, both students and parents are very excited about this renovation. In fact, last week, as a work project, the PTA moved school desks and benches into one room of the building, even though it is really not yet ready for use. Then, they held their meeting there, too.

PTA Members Gathering for Work Project and Meeting in Renovated School Building. Looks Good!!!



PTA Members with some Students After their Monthly Meeting in Front of Building. The PTA Chairman is shown in white caftan in the foreground
 

At their monthly meetings, the PTA members who can donate small amounts of cedis to help pay for various school improvements. While this is a hardship on some, it also increases parental commitment to their children's education.

PTA Parents Contributing Small Donations of Cedis in the New Classroom. They had just moved in these desks and held their meeting here.
 

With the exterior finished, carpenters are finishing up work on the interior. They removed the broken ceiling tiles, and are installing a new ceiling. The entire  building, inside and out, is being painted.

Broken Ceiling Tiles

Ready for New Ceiling

When all the skilled work is done, the PTA will be back to give the place a good cleaning, move in all furnishings, and make sure everything is in order for their "wards" and their teachers.

With energy and good luck the building will be ready for students on November 1!

Ghana Together's friend, partner, and basically the brains behind this project is James Kainyiah  (who is becoming an AWESOME photographer). He sent this picture which he titled, "Students Anxious To See Their School Building Completed!" And so they are.

Thanks, you all.
 

For more info about Ghana Together, go to http://ghanatogether.org

To contact us, email info@ghanatogether.org