Field Trip

Ending the school year in August 2014, your donations to the Akwakwaa Foundation completely funded the children’s visit to the Elimina Slave Castle and the jungle canopy walk at Kakum National Park. Included were all guide fees, entrance fees, and a big bus capable of holding about 100 children and several teachers. It was the first field trip for many of the children.
Boys board a new and modern looking tour bus early in the morningA young girl concentrates and grips the netting on either side as she walks on a narrow board across the top of the jungleChildren and teens dressed in school uniforms stand in front of a large old dirty white building with a turret

Personal Storage

During the Spring 2014 site visit it was observed that the children have no personal space for their meager collection of clothes. Consequently a large pile of clothes ends up in the dorm corners. With your donations, the Akwakwaa Foundation was able to partner with local Ghanaian non-profit Building for the Future Generation to construct shelves for the clothes. With additional funding, the Foundation will purchase individual clothes baskets for each child.
A heap of clothes and other belongings nearly bury a small table in the corner of a dorm roomShelves on a dorm wall, with two covered large plastic bins full of clothes and other belongings on each shelf
 

Playground

In 2012, the Akwakwaa Foundation partnered with Netherlands foundation Stichting Weeshuis Nyamekye te Akwakwaa Ghana to construct a playground for the younger children at Nyameche Children’s home near Akwakwaa, Ghana. Swings and four climbing structures within a fenced compound were built. Your donations supported the cost of 5500 cedi ($2,800 USD). Additional funding was provided by the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Alameda, CA in the US. It was a true international partnership with design from the Netherlands and on-site construction administered by Peter Dirkson (Netherlands) and Dick Rudloff (US).
Village children in front of a playground with swings and playhouses
When the Akwakwaa Foundation representative inspected the site in May 2014, it was observed that the older heavier children were using the swings quite vigorously. Concern for the children’s safety required more bracing be installed. We hired the village carpenter from Swedru (good sized town only 10 miles but an hour away due to the road conditions) to install additional bracing for the swings, and to date they are operating satisfactorily.

Several children playing on a sturdy swing set with a wood frame, and swings suspended from chains, in front of a brightly painted building with a corrugated iron roof

Christmas Party

Your donations to the Akwakwaa Foundation gave the children a unique experience. We partnered with several global and Ghanaian nonprofits to produce a December 2014 Christmas party for several orphanages located in the nearby villages, including Faith Needy. There was cultural dancing as well as food and presents. A wonderful and happy experience for all the children.
Two smiling young girls hold hands as they walk or dance through the crowd of partiersGrinning boys enjoy a meal
Children line up to see two Ghanaian men dressed as Santas in a large crowd of party children and adults