The funds raised by this project will go towards the construction of a Youth Development Centre in Damang, Ghana. The village of Damang is in the Eastern Region of Ghana and has the country's highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS, and as a result, the highest number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
With over 200,000 Ghanaian children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS, this Youth Development Centre aims to provide support for at least some of these kids, by giving them a place to live, food to eat, and academic support.
This project will be overseen by a local Ghanaian NGO, Volunteer Partnerships for West Africa (www.vpwa.org), with which I volunteered in the summer of 2010. VPWA was founded and is run by Hayford Siaw, the penultimate social entrepreneur trying to make a positive impact on his local community and throughout Ghana. With Hayford's drive, determination, and focus on sustainable development there is no doubt that this project will thrive and continue to grow for years to come.
The project site has already been chosen, nearly an acre of land has been purchased, and volunteer architects are currently in place, itching to begin construction.
This project is the first step of a multi-phased plan to grow the infrastructure in the region. Internally generated funds, raised through volunteer placement fees, will eventually allow for the construction of a school, as well as a solar institution that will teach locals how to work with solar energy in order to devise more cost effective and environmentally friendly means of running their local businesses.
If you'd like more information about this project, or want to have a look at the current and future plans for this work, please don't hesitate to contact me at: andy@vpwa.org.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this effort and please spread the word!
- Andy Rosenhek
*** A plaque will be put up at the Centre to recognize all donors who have contributed $50 or more to this project. If you have made a donation anonymously but would like to have your name included on the plaque, please send me an email (andy@vpwa.org) ***
*** To see a video of the architects going over the plans with local builders at the build site, please see this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX37lHh180I ***