Global Partnerships Ghana
Building Relationships While Rebuilding Communities
Global Partnerships Ghana
Building Relationships While Rebuilding Communities
Global Partnerships Ghana
In Partnership with the Island Community of Azizakpe, Ghana
GPI’s Global Education Project encompasses multiple initiatives with the shared goal of sustainable, multi-pronged access to education for the students at Azizakpe Island Elementary School. Our GEP’s comprehensive educational program provides the following services to over 120 students in Pre-K through 6th grades: basic skills instruction, enrichment activities, curriculum development, staff professional development, differentiated and English Language Learner instruction, educational materials, school-based breakfast and lunch program, construction of bathroom facilities, and a school medical office with medical emergency funds.
The Covid-19 crisis has greatly impacted the Azizakpe island community that we serve. Given the cancellation of our 2020 and 2021 service trips, the community has been without desperately needed donations of food, clothing, school and medical supplies, and monetary support. Without our support, the only school on the island has closed down, leaving children without an education and the free meals that GPI provided. In December 2020, GPI donated money for basic food rations. Eighteen families received bags of rice, sugar, and bottles of cooking oil. Please refer to our Home and About Ghana pages for more information related to the Covid-19 crisis in our adopted community.
GPI is committed to the ongoing furtherment of clean water access on the island of Azizakpe, Ghana through portable water filtration systems and a large water well. With bucket donations from Home Depot, in 2017 GPI created 23 portable water filtration systems which were placed in multiple community locations. The individual straws used in the systems require yearly replacement, while the entire systems have a five-year lifespan. The following year, GPI built a centrally based community water well to serve the basic cleaning needs of over 500 residents (Phase 1). Our future plans include the implementation of a desalination process in order to provide clean drinking water (Phase 2).
GPI has pledged to build 14 communal latrines dispersed throughout the island community of Azizakpe, Ghana. Most of Azizakpe’s residents use the restroom in open areas, causing the spread of disease and parasites. Diseases caused by open defecation include intestinal worm infections, typhoid, cholera, hepatitis, polio, trachoma, and others. Open defecation also causes toxins and bacteria to be dispersed into the ecosystem. During GPI’s service trip in 2019, we built an outhouse with two separate single ventilated, improved pit latrines (VIPs), centrally located for access to all community members. Our future plans include building five more facilities to be dispersed throughout the island.
GPI supports the development of community-based micro-businesses in Azizakpe, Ghana, specifically targeting female empowerment. Common resources in Azizakpe are coconuts, mangos, and fish, with coconut oil sales being the primary income source for many families. The process of making coconut oil is complex and requires many hands. Oftentimes children cannot attend school since they must help their families with their businesses. Whereas families in the fishing business have more stable incomes, their equipment is often outdated and in need of repair. GPI’s micro-business development program focuses on sustainable practices, resources, financial management, and cultural capital. GPI sponsors local women through apprenticeship, entrepreneurial, and other educational opportunities. We have established the Sister Dreams Initiative, which includes a small group of women who create and sell coconut and shea products.
GPI’s newest endeavor will be to assist the local island community of Azizakpe, Ghana, in building a boat to be used for commerce and other needs. The local Women’s Coconut Association needs a reliable boat for access to open trading markets on neighboring islands. The boat will benefit the entire community, given that revenues from the sale of coconut and other locally sourced products will support the economy as a whole. The boat will also be a transportation source, which will allow for broader access to other resources such as medical assistance and fishing.
In addition to our larger projects, GPI provides members of the Azizakpe island community with donations of clothing, hygiene supplies, over-the-counter medications, sporting equipment, and toys. We receive both monetary and goods-based donations from local and national sources. Along with our other sponsors, our local Rotary Club has pledged monetary donations, while Nike has donated shoes and clothing.
GPI has also created Laweh’s Legacy, an annual memorial fund to support families who have lost a loved one. Laweh was just four years old in 2017 when our group first arrived on the island. Our high school volunteers fell in love with the sweet smiling boy who was always on hand to share hugs. Sadly, the following year our group learned that Laweh had passed away from a curable illness due to lack of access to medical assistance. Through this and long-term future projects related to medical support, GPI is committed to improving the quality of life for all members of the island community.