In Ghana, many schools lack essential Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs); basic things like chairs, tables, and textbooks and writing boards, chalk etc. are not readily available to students.
Schools in rural areas in particular still utilize traditional blackboards, which pose health risks and inconvenience to both students and teachers in terms of usage and maintenance culture. These blackboards are constructed from cement painted with black chemicals that facilitate clear writing for students. However, the chalk dust produced during lessons poses health problems for both teachers and pupils, while also soiling their clothes and uniforms.
Regrettably, Yikene Primary School has fallen victim to this predicament, with all classrooms from basic one through six using blackboards.
Access to safe water is a fundamental human right. However, millions of people worldwide still lack this essential resource. In response to this global challenge, the Future for Africa Water Project has emerged as an outstanding example of how dedicated individuals and organizations can transform communities and improve the quality of countless lives in a region that is in dire need.
Creating sustainable access to clean water for the most vulnerable population remains an issue of great concern here in Ghana. Despite many interventions being made by various national and international stakeholders on Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) issues, it seems there is still a lot more to be done in this regard. Lack of access to water interrupts every facet of community livelihood; people, education, health and economic activities (Future for Afrika water report, 2022; p3).
Women and children suffer the most in this instance because they have the responsibility of getting water for the house and family on daily basis. They usually have to walk some kilometers to get water, which affects their lives daily. Women cannot actively engage in economic activities due to this challenge, and children especially girls, loose track and focus on school, making them dropout eventually.
The initiation of the Future for Africa Water Project came out from rural areas critical situation where access to clean water posed significant challenges. Due to inadequate water supply for many years, numerous health problems arose alongside hindrances to economic development. Recognizing this pressing issue, visionary individuals collaborate with local NGOs like Future for Africa and international donors to create a sustainable solution.
The objectives of the future for Africa Water project are to
Provide potable drinking water to identified rural communities in the Upper east region of Ghana.
Improve livelihood of local communities in the northern Ghana.
Educate rural communities on community water and sanitation issues.
Improve the attendance and performance of school children in public basic schools.
Provide technical support in communities on how to manage boreholes.
Engage rural communities in sustainable ventures that will help them to maintain broken boreholes.
To achieve these objectives the following measures were put in place. Drilling Boreholes: The boreholes were drilled as they provided reliable underground water sources. Impact on Health and Well-Being: Future for Africa’s transformative project has had profound impacts on community members health status, since it reduced significantly prevalent illnesses caused by contaminated drinking-water sources, which directly or indirectly affected residents well-being. Economic Growth: Accessing stable fresh-water sources catalyze agricultural growth in these communities where farming thrives. It increased crop production capacity, supporting both farmers families’ livelihoods, alongside boosting commercial activities related directly or indirectly with agribusinesses. Sustainability And Community Ownership: One aspect unique about Future for Africa’s innovative approach towards solving scarcity issues involving freshwater resources is our focus on sustainability through promoting community involvement/ownership, training village residents on maintenance/repair skills while fostering pride/responsibility among stakeholders interested in long-term success prospects even beyond immediate benefits accrued so far.
The impressive achievement demonstrated by Future for Africa’s comprehensive approach towards addressing freshwater scarcity shows what can be accomplished when passionate individuals collaborate with organizations/communities, sharing their vision for change-making positive impact possible. With help and support of some passionate individuals, the organization has built seven (7) boreholes for some communities that were in dire need of clean water. Our partnership with ASODH, a French based organization, gave us the opportunity to drill for Gumbaare Balungu and Kpariwaa, two communities in the Bawku west district. They now have access to clean and portable drinking water. In total, we have constructed nine (9) boreholes spread across local communities within the region. Tongo Foe, Soe, Karemenga, Tongo Baahre are some of the communities that have benefited from our water project.We look forward to making access to clean water easier for more communities and their inhabitants.
Accessing fresh water is not only a basic human right, but also a foundational building block necessary for achieving healthy societies globally; therefore, efforts like these undertaken by Future for Africa offers hope for other communities facing similar challenges to see brighter future ahead too!
The Future for Africa Health campaign is an initiative to collaborate with various Health centers and CHPS compounds through the Ghana Health Service to provide free healthcare services and education to remote communities with the Upper east region. These are part of efforts by the organization to promote healthy lifestyles and healthcare awareness among the general public through effective and targeted health education and screening.
In retrospection to the various activities that we undertook within the year 2021, we are excited to share with you in this report highlights and impact stories of our focal developmental areas; Education, Health, Water, Sanitation as well as Sustainable livelihood interventions. In the next pages, we have shared insights on some major projects’ activities, impact stories and interesting accomplishment within the year 2021. Click Here to Download Report.
Fulfilling a Dream, Creating a better Tomorrow, Today!
We launched Our Sponsor a Child Project in January 2021. This project seeks to create great opportunities for Children in our working community to enjoy life long learning.
At Future for Africa we believe every child is unique and deserves the chance to dream, to achieve incredible things and to look forward to a wonderful future. By becoming a sponsor you’re helping break the cycle of poverty for your sponsored child in GOD’s Love Children’s Home, Nongre Craft and Culture Foundation and Our surrounding communities.
Animations of Some of the Shortlisted Children to benefit from this project.
Leaving a Legacy ! Become a sponsor today and you’ll help boys and girls have equal access to a loving home, a nutritious diet, healthcare and quality education. And with 100% of every euro or cedi you donate going directly to our project in Ghana where your sponsored child lives, you can be sure you are making a lasting difference.
When you sponsor a child with Future for Africa, you’re not just helping one child – you’re making improvements that benefit everyone in our growing family, our surrounding community and beyond.
Watch: Reasons you should be a sponsor!
“You will discover that you have two hands. One is for helping yourself and the other is for helping others.” – Audrey Hepburn
With a minimum donation of 25 Euros every month, you could be making a difference in the life of your sponsored child in our community. You also get the opportunity to connect with that child, make meaning support to his or her life and access to their progress.
” The smallest deed is better that the greatest intention” – John Burroughs
Are you interested in helping or collaborating with us on this project? Kindly send Us an Email to : Future4afrika@gmail.com. You can also send us a direct message here and we’ll send more information about this project.
The perineal storms that usually bring down straw structures in Bolgatanga came in again this year and unfortunately destroyed some part of the ATOANONGREKOMA Center where the children have been having their class and educative activities. Following this development, gathering became impossible for the children here. It was prudent to find a lasting solution thus renovate this part of the center to help the children with a conducive place to sit for their classes and educative activities through and beyond this pandemic period.
It is indeed refreshing to see that the temporal straw structure (Cafeteria/Classroom) which was brought down by storm has been raised into the a much conducive place. We’ll like to specially mention Francesca Bertoncelli and all other individuals whose generous and meaningful contributions have brought back some smiles and hope to these children. The new structure is in great use now!
Meanwhile, Plans are clear and help is needed to completely rebuild the other parts of the the Center into a conducive, stronger and permanent place through the NONGRE Pupils Shelter Appeal For Funds. Any form of help is appreciated to make this a reality.
We were selected among 60+ Global Non Profits and Charity Organizations doing amazing works around the world at this year’s edition of the biggest volunteer fair in Madrid Spain, #volunfair20 . Each year Volunfair brings together thousands students, investors and philanthropists where they network and interact for possible collaborations.
As first time participants at this years event organized at Escuela Industriales UPM, it was a great opportunity to meet prospective volunteers, interns and partners for our projects. We shared more insights and information of our work in Bolgatanga to scores of students and attendees of the fair.
Our team was represented by our Executive director, Our Spanish coordinating team and some dedicated past volunteers. We are grateful to all who passed by our stand, we look for to collaborating in the nearest future.
Special thank you to @volunfair for giving us the opportunity to be part of this great network and family of exceptional change makers.
13 June is International Albinism Awareness Day, aims to stop the persecution and murders of people with albinism. We wish to use this write-up to create more awareness on the subject and encourage all to treat people living with albinism with love. We also share our story with Ayimpoka. – Written By K. Nayang Samuel (Project Coordinator FUTURE FOR AFRICA)
In Africa the subject of albinism is being trivialized,even though there may be more of them in Africa than in any other continent. According the figures given by the National Organization of Albinism and Hypo-pigmentation (NOAH), about One in every 18,000 to 20,000 people has a form of this skin condition in the United State. In Africa these figures seems to be higher.
Ayimpoka
In South Africa for instance, One out of every 4,000 people has this form of skin condition and perhaps One out of 5,000 people in Nigeria. Tanzania also has a high rate of albino citizens than it is being speculated. According to the BMC Public Health journal, it reported that one out of every 1,400 people has this condition. A country with over 50 Million population, meaning the albino community in Tanzania is about 30,000 but the Albino Association of Tanzania think otherwise, they are of the conviction there could be even more, about 150,000.
These statistics goes to indicate that the albino community forms a significant part of society and hence must to be given the needed reception.
It is however sad that in Africa, the stories about People with Albinism are not always pleasing. This sect of people will not be given the congenial environment to relish their dreams and protect their dignity but are often stereotyped, with an ocean of myths surrounding their physical existence.
Whiles Some people are of the strange belief that Albinos are not born and exist out of thin air, others also nod to the sad notion and speculation that Albinos do not die and hence posses some form of magical powers that make them immortal and live forever. Very Silly perception, isn’t it?
Moreover, it is very fretful to read article stories about how some unscrupulous and obnoxious characters in some parts of Africa, who in the quick to make riches decide to used these vulnerable individuals to perform abominable human sacrifices and rituals.
Body parts of these Albinos are used to quell some gods to make these callous and greedy ingrates rich.
The Ghana Association of persons with Albinism (GAPA) have raised genuine concerns in the past about how some communities in the Brong Ahafo and Eastern Regions of Ghana have wrongfully treated Albinos in these areas. There simply wouldn’t allow people with such conditions to live amongst them.
In a nutshell,Albinism is an inherited genetic condition. It occurs when one of several genes that produces or distribute Melanin is defected. This may be as a result of the absence of melanin production or reduced amount of melanin production. This defective genes may pass down from both parents to the fetus and cause Albinism. The condition is an inherited disorder that is present at birth. The chances that a child being born with Albinism are very eminent if parents of the unborn child are with the condition or perhaps carry the gene for Albinism.
People with this condition usually have an absence of color in the hair, skin and eyes. Their hair, skin, or eyes have lighter colors than normal. They usually have difficulty with vision which may include crossed eyes and photophobia(sensitivity to light). This may also cause a persistent and involuntary rapid movement of the eyes. In worse cases, individuals with the condition may be impaired in vision or probably go blind.
There is no possible cure for this condition, people born with this unfortunately live with this forever. However, people living in hectic climatic regions like Africa can relieve symptoms and prevent excessive sun damage.
There are sunglasses that can be worn to protect the eyes from the suns ultra violet rays. Protective clothing and sunscreens are also available and to guard the skin, and also enhance good vision.
It is very advisable for Albinos to limit their outdoor activities due to the sensitivity of their skin and eyes to the sun. Consistent exposure of the skin to Ultra violet ray may cause skin damage or skin cancer. Vision may also be lost in some people.
OUR STORY
Some few months ago, During our Outreach activities in rural communities, some volunteers spotted a little girl in Sumburugu community a few miles away from our volunteer house at Yikene in Bolgatanga, Ghana.
Ayinpoka is her name, a beautiful Albino girl. She is Four year old and the last born of four. Her elder brother who is second of the Four children has a similar condition. By inexplicable happenstance her two other elder siblings are without the condition.
Their parents however, are also not with the condition. Even though they are not Albinos but the possibility is that they could be carrying the gene for Albinism.
Ayimpoka with Her Mother.
It is very interesting to notice this kind of differences even among members of the same family.
Little Ayinpoka’s story may not be too different from what other Albinos go through in Ghana.
What actually brought Her to our special notice was that, aside her unfortunate state, little Ayinpoka was plagued with sores and blisters which made her very uncomfortable. Her mother explained that, little Ayinpoka was restless most of the time.
Seeing her condition dampened the spirits of those volunteers.It was really bad. They could not let her go, something needed to be done to arrest the situation. Saying bye to Little Ayinpoka that day was very difficult, but we promised to visit again.
We were extremely glad when some volunteers who worked in our health and childcare project decided to help out. Every other day, they visited the little girl. Wounds were thoroughly cleaned and creams applied.
We were ready to make life turn around for little Ayinpoka.
In the case of little Ayinpoka, we realized that, she wasn’t given the proper care for those sores to be treated.
Apparently her parents were completely naive about some of the best and simple measures to relieve Ayinpoka’s pains. Her parents did not take her to clinic often and no sunglasses were provided her to protect her precious eyes,may be her parents couldn’t afford the bills that came with it. But to us,that wasn’t enough reason for the little angel to go through such an ordeal.
A volunteer attending to Ayimpoka.
Future For Africa decided to make little Ayinpoka a great focus. Future For Africa has taken up a daunting task to see to the welfare of the little angel.
Together with some other well meaning volunteers, we have turned a life around.
Today,little Ayinpoka has been put in school, Her long woes are over and she can now join her other little friends in the classroom.
Ayimpoka’s first day at school.
GOING FORWARD..
The Albino community needs to be embraced as part of our own. They are no different from normal skinned people. Those silly myths and superstitions about their existence are just balderdash and those perceptions must be erased. We need to encourage them to be with us so they do not feel being stigmatized by society. They need all the love and care any other person will need.
People living with this condition should not be totally jilted by society. It is important that Albinos are given the opportunity and integrated into every facet of our societies. So that they can amply grow
It is very important to stress the need to intensify education on the subject of Albinism, To burst all the funny myths about Albinism.
Moreover, lights need to be thrown on available measures to relieve the symptoms of the condition.
Again, it will be expedient for well meaning bodies and organizations, Governments and stakeholders of social development and modernization to rethink, and design policies that will benefit the Albino community and give them the necessary attention either than the status quo.
Structures must be strengthened to promote Green Economy, Accessibility to modern technology and given the right tutelage and training, persons with Albinism will be able to benefit from labor mobility and globalization. Our world is fast growing and developing and we can’t afford to deprive the albino community from this evolution.
Established in February 2014 but legally registered (D.S.W. / 7133) in 2016, F4A operations covers Northern Ghana with the headquarters in Bolgatanga, the regional capital of the Upper East Region. F4A approach is working through strong partnerships with civil societies,institutions and using volunteers, to reach out to the deprived and vulnerable children and families in its operational areas. (The organization also seeks to promote intercultural awareness, tolerance and communication of our Youth.)
Our Projects Education HealthCare Child Care Water and Sanitation Women Empowerment Construction
Future for Africa gives opportunity to all persons to contribute to community growth. Join Us !
General Requirements: We require no formal qualifications, however, volunteers or interns should be over 17 years old. Special consideration is given to individuals below 17 years old and who are traveling with a team, group or family. Volunteers should possess the following attributes:
1. A reputable background; 2. An ability to work under minimal supervision; 3. Creativity and motivation to part take in projects that will benefit the community; 4. Good communication skills; 5. Ability to adapt to different cultures; 6. Friendliness and a desire to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged children and their communities.
Women and children suffer the most in this instance because they have the responsibility of getting water for the house and family on daily basis. They usually have to walk some kilometers to get water, which affects their lives daily. Women cannot actively engage in economic activities due to this challenge, and children especially girls, loose track and focus on school, making them dropout eventually.
Drilling Boreholes: The boreholes were drilled as they provided reliable underground water sources.
With help and support of some passionate individuals, the organization has built seven (7) boreholes for some communities that were in dire need of clean water. Our partnership with ASODH, a French based organization, gave us the opportunity to drill for Gumbaare Balungu and Kpariwaa, two communities in the Bawku west district. They now have access to clean and portable drinking water. In total, we have constructed nine (9) boreholes spread across local communities within the region. Tongo Foe, Soe, Karemenga, Tongo Baahre are some of the communities that have benefited from our water project.We look forward to making access to clean water easier for more communities and their inhabitants.
