GlobalGiving.org: Help Underprivileged Children in Ghana

Project Report

Philip Appiah — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:18:59 GMT

children

Dear Friends of PAAJAF,

We here at PAAJAF are much grateful to you for your generosity and selfless contribution and investment in the lives of underprivileged children at PAAJAF in Gbawe Community, Ghana. Your donations are making real changes in their lives - Erica, Abigail and Josephine.Please visit our website to read about these children and other children at PAAJAF: http://paajaf.org/recipients/.

The situation at Gbawe in Ghana.
Gbawe is the village of Accra, the capital city of Ghana with about 45% of Gbawe's residents are unemployed. There is a large number of young people in the area and youth unemployment is high. A lack of basic skills makes it difficult for individuals to secure employment and families continue to experience extreme poverty due to lack of education etc. Extreme poverty and low levels of literacy have had a negative impact on health. The rampant ill health is decreasing the ability of people to acquire and maintain employment and is trapping individuals and families in a cycle of continuous deprivation. Parents depend on their children in old age, so it is crucial that their children are educated to secure jobs in future. African women seem strong, however their social position is determined by their husbands and single women with families find themselves marginalised. If a child in the family succeeds then s/he will be able to help his/her family. But there is lack of support to these children. Without your support to these children at PAAJAF, please, let us imagine their future.

Thank you for investing in their lives and the concerns. We appreciate your support a lot. In January 2012, PAAJAF would be paying tuitions for the children at PAAJAF but no funding now. If you don't come in to support these children, they would be removed from school and this would be sad, I believe you would not like to hear this. Christmas is here and 2012 also is just at the corner. We would like to plead to you to share our project to your friends, co-worker, families etc. invest in the lives of children at PAAJAF. This Christmas, everyone will celebrate and thank the Lord for what he/she received in his/her life. Few will be thinking about the less privileged. I hope you and they are one of them. Merry Christmas!

children

Links:

PAAJAF Children

Project Update

Philip Appiah — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:03:42 GMT

Abigail Nyani

“I am 10 years old. I attend Melabet Academy at Gbawe in

Accra, Ghana. I am in stage six and my class teacher’s name is

Madam Millicent. I am a sponsored child of the PAAJAF

Foundation’s educational sponsorship. I like to read and listen to

music, and help out at home by sweeping and fetching water. I

am very grateful to PAAJAF for helping me to study.”

- Abigail, aged 10

Abigail is one of the beneficiaries that your donation to PAAJAF is helping to make a difference and add value into her life. PAAJAF is still sponsoring/paying school fees for the four children at PAAJAF. We intend to add another seven children for the year 2011. School has just re-opening and we have been able to pay the tuition for two children and we are calling for your help to reach to the other two and extend supporting hand to other seven children at PAAJAF.

Thank you

Philip Appiah

Links:

Video

Project Update

Philip Appiah — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 13:57:02 GMT

It is sometimes easy to put off things until tomorrow, but when tomorrow may bring illness or worse the meaning has a sense of urgency. The people who are helped by donations to the PAAJAF face a tomorrow everyday where there just isn’t enough to go around. Your support of this charity will ensure a child the right to live with hope for the next day.

Unfortunately, the school fees arrears of our current sponsored child still left unpaid and we here at PAAJAF is calling for help on their behalf.

Our client Group educational Circumstances

Children’s Education: Public schools in the area are normally very over-crowded. Due to the demography of the city (56% under 24 years) and the growing population (migration and natural increase), 24,500 new school places must be created in the basic school system (primary and junior high) each year for 10 years. Classes are generally twice the size of those considered acceptable in the Developed World. The teachers are therefore unable to give individual attention to any pupils in the normal school hours; this affects attainment levels. Whilst most Ghanaians have access to primary and some secondary education, there is a high drop out rate in primary school, especially for girls. The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 2006) stated that only 22.3% of females and 25.9% of males completed primary school in 2007.

Thank you to understand the impact.

Happy New Year

Philip Appiah — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 06:16:43 GMT

Dear Friends of PAAJAF,

Happy New Year! The year 2011 has just commenced and PAAJAF wishes to express its gratitude to you for your generosity and contribution to our projects. The year 2010 has marked three years of continuous struggles and commitments to make a difference in the lives of underprivileged children, youth and women.

PAAJAF owes 2010’s achievements to your generosity that allowed us to pay the school fees for neglected children and provide literacy education (non-formal education) for adults who did not get a chance to attend school in Gbawe Community.

For the year 2011, we are delighted to inform you that we will be carrying on PAAJAF projects and are depending 100% on your donations both cash, in-kind and partnership. PAAJAF urgently requires an office space to coordinate a team of local and international volunteers and to manage programs of the foundation; an amount of $13,500 is needed. Having an office will enable PAAJAF to: enlist local volunteers in a professional setting, meet with and support program participants, have contact with a variety of stakeholders engaged in PAAJAF work, use ICT and other equipment for global networking, and maintain an effective filing and storage system.

We appreciate that you take an interest in helping disadvantaged children, youth and women in Ghana to break free from the cycle of poverty through becoming empowered, informed, skilled and educated citizens.

****************************************

GlobalGiving.co.uk’s ‘Top 10 Wins’ campaign

GlobalGiving UK will be launching Top 10 Wins Campaign which begins on 1^st March to 14^th March 2011. This campaign will award the 10 most successful fundraisers among PAAJAF with prizes worth £2,250. Over the two week period of the campaign, PAAJAF needs to identify and reach out to its networkers and encourage them to get giving! Please support our project and help it towards one of the Top 10 rewards.

Each participating project must raise at least £500 from 25 donors to be eligible for a bonus prize (for both top fundraiser and top donors prizes). It is crucial to get you informed and involved in this project, because without your help, the Paajaf organization will not be able to get anything done. The 1^st Prize for the top fundraiser is £500 and top numbers of donors will additional get £25.

We would like you to mark this matching opportunity on your calendar and support PAAJAF to provide scholarship education for underprivileged children in Ghana.

Terms and Conditions:
Donations should be made at GlobalGiving UK website to the project below:

http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/pr/2700/proj2607a.html

GlobalGiving USA - Bonus Day: March 16!
On March 16, http://www.globalgiving.org/ (GlobalGiving.org USA) PAAJAF’s partner organization will be matching 30% all online donations up to $1,000 per donor per project! There is $75,000 available in matching funds on March 16. PAAJAF wishes to inform and encourage its networkers to know about this opportunity for PAAJAF and donate to its projects on that day – March 16^th 2011.

In addition to the 30% match, GlobalGiving USA will offer $1,000 bonus to the project that raises the most funds that day and $1,000 bonus to the project that receives donations from the most individual donors!

Terms and Conditions:
- Matching will applied up to $1,000 per donor per project on March 16, 2011 between 12:01am and 11:59 pm EST (GMT-4) until matching funds run out;
- There will be $75,000 available matching funds;
- Only online donations (credit card or paypal) are eligible for matching to the following projects:

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/vulnerable-children-in-ghana/

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/after-school-program-for-70-children-in-ghana/

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/office-for-paajaf-project-in-ghana/

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/global-youth-conference2010/

Thank you.

Philip Appiah

Co-founder/Executive Director

Project Update

Philip Appiah — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 18:44:24 GMT

sponsored Children

Dear Friends of PAAJAF,

Many thanks for your contribution to PAAJAF Foundation to run a project that response to the educational needs for underprivileged children at Gbawe community and in rural areas of Ghana.

The project strives to provide quality education for the children in needs, to improve their health and social conditions, attitude changes and increased self-esteem, an increased sense of belonging within the communities. Although, the year 2010 was great challenged for us due to reduce of funding. Two of the four children PAAJAF is sponsoring school fees were not pay and it is sad to announce this to you. It is our prayer that the year 2011 will be the year of grace and God’s favor for you (our donor) to excel in all things to enable you to embark on your generosity to reach out to children in need in Gbawe Community in Ghana.

The year 2010, is the year of projection to pay the arrears school fees that were not settled and pay the four children school fees for the year. There is nothing that we can do without your support. You can make a difference from any contribution; every donation makes a difference, please, tell your friends, family members, co-workers etc. to come to our aid to bring hope and make a difference in lives of hopeless children.

We here at PAAJAF wish you all a merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.

Sincerely,

Philip Appiah

Project Update

Philip Appiah — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:26:21 GMT

Dear Friend of PAAJAF,

This is to let you know that, the project Help Underprivileged Children in Ghana is ongoing . Due to the lack of funding last three months, we could pay two of the children PAAJAF is sponsoring, education tuition. And it is now outstanding and we are calling for your help.

We have three other projects at Globalgiving and would like you to know:

1. After-school programme for 70 children in Ghana 2. Non-formal Education for people in Ghana 3. Global Citizenship Youth Conference

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMME FOR 70 CHILDREN IN GHANA

The After School Program - is a Children’s Network that will provide a bridge between young people and their future. Specifically, it will be a necessary link between children and their community

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Currently, there are no clear after-school programs in the community. As such, school-aged children are unable to access the assistance that they may require for full development. Due to this, they suffer various setbacks, in terms of their academic, social, physical, and creative achievement.

How will this project solve this problem?

We are embarking on a new program to assist children in the community. Labeled ‘Children’s Network’, this after school program is geared towards elementary school children to help supplement and compliment their learning As this is the start of the pilot project, we are targeting the elementary school students of who attend a local public school in Gbawe. We understand that after school tutoring is expensive, especially for students from low-income families. We also understand that there is a void of programs that nurture positivity and creativity of children and thus the need for such a program to assist such students. The intended program is being designed in four areas in mind: academics, socialization, creativity, and health promotion.

Potential Long Term Impact

The project will be beneficial to children and Student tutors.By sharing knowledge and skills to the younger children they will learning valuable life skills that will assist their own lives academically, socially, professionally and the children.

As a way of motivating the participating children and also to provide some kind of nourishment, we aim to include a snack program into the program. It is with this component that we seek your assistance. We would appreciate your help with providing snacks for the children through any donation of snacks or funds that can be used to provide snacks for them. **************************************

NON-FORMAL EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE IN GHANA

This project is aimed to provide literacy education for 100 adults in Ghana. Students learn how to read and write English and Ghanaian language, basic math and basic health information.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Many people in our community did not complete school and that there are no places to access computers for free in Gbawe. Some of them also did not attend school. They seem been ignored in our society and this changing world. They find it difficult to identify English alphabet and even the local dialect, lack of basic health information and going to Bank to open account and access bank information is a big challenge for them.

How will this project solve this problem?

Creation of community centre to provide non formal education for our parents and youth who could not get chance to complete school and those did not go to school at all. We will use this community center to offer English, math and health classes.

Potential Long Term Impact

The project strives to provide knowledge that can improve people's health and social conditions, attitude changes and increased self-esteem, an increased sense of belonging within the communities.

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GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP YOUTH CONFERENCE

To bring the future world leaders together under one umbrella to network, share learning, and form partnerships that could boost the potential to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Recently, we have received a large number of requests from our project participants to expand our work internationally. The Paajaf youth have expressed a desire to learn about development and share knowledge with other youth around the world. This event presents the opportunity for them to develop a good cross-cultural understanding among youth internationally.

How will this project solve this problem?

This event presents the opportunity to reach and educate approximately 120 young people internationally, raising awareness the Millennium Development Goals and the importance of citizen participation in global development

Potential Long Term Impact

•To promote global citizenship. •To recruit participants into Paajaf’s upcoming Children's Network Programme, Teen Centre and Youth Journalist Programme.

We are in need of potential donors and partners for the conference and other projects in here.

Respectfully, Philip Appiah PAAJAF Foundation

Grassroots Education at its Best

Lorraine O'Neil — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:35:03 GMT

English Class

Alex, the fifty-something, volunteer teacher for the Pajaaf Foundation, wrote on the board: When to use “has” vs. “have”? What is the difference between “pit” and“pet”? Make sure you can pronounce your “ar” sounds…car, star, bar…etc. About twenty students sit in groups ordered by their English proficiency. Alex goes around and addresses each group, helping pupils (ages eight to mid-forties) complete the appropriate assignments. While they work Alex stands at the front of the class the conductor of a beautiful cacophony of English.

The students that benefit from the Pajaaf Foundation’s English classes commit to attending classes three nights a week(Mon, Wen, and Fri). The Pajaaf Foundation rents the schoolroom, the English lessons are free and open to whoever would like to attend, and all teachers are volunteers. The Foundation has been offering these classes for three years to over 65 pupils; one can sense the camaraderie in the room that has developed over years of traversing the complex English language.

Alexis and I talked with Hannah and Madam Dina, two ladies that have been learning English from the Pajaaf Foundation for two years. Both wanted to learn English so that they could be more competitive in the job market. They were shy at first, but after a few minutes they were speaking splendid intermediate English. Hannah who looks like she is in her mid-twenties sells tea, and Madam Dina hopes to open her own business as well as one day visit her brother in England.

The Pajaaf Foundation also gives scholarships to vulnerable children for them to attend private school (school with under 50 students per class). We met two of the four children who the Pajaaf Foundation currently support. In this post I will introduce Josilene. She is an orphan; and lives with her aunt who has four children besides her. Josilene has a mischievous smile, which is even more adorable since she is missing her two front teeth. She kept poking me while I was sitting at the desk and then running to hide. I believe she is only five or six years old, and can already say many simple English phrases. It is important to see the community taking care of its orphans.

Both Alexis and I strongly endorse the Pajaaf Foundation. Philip, the Ghanaian co-founder we met, was inspired to start the foundation because he had to work three jobs to support his own way through school. When he got out of school he wanted to reinvest in his community and give children and adults the opportunity that he never had – a free, quality education. The Pajaaf Foundation is grassroots development at its best, an individual who sees their community in need, and then takes it upon them self to help meet the community’s needs. If you are looking to invest in a worthy grassroots organization with little to no overhead expense, look no further.

Lorraine and four other In-the-Field Travelers are currently in Ghana before they are making their way to Mali and Burkina Faso. They'll be visiting more than 30 GlobalGiving projects in the next month. Follow their adventures at http://itfwa.wordpress.com/.

School is Fun

Group Shot!

Project Update

Philip K. Appiah — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:31:29 GMT

children,education,welfare,women

Dear Friends of Paajaf,

Once again, we here at Paajaf would like to thank you all for your generous contribution towards Paajaf Project. We would like to update you about the development and differences your donation has brought into the lives of underprivileged children and women here at Gbawe in Ghana.

As per our audited financial report and statements reported, last year 2009 and at the beginning of the year 2010, Paajaf was operating with a negative balance of GH¢ 63.17 ($43.59). When we had no hope and you came in to support the foundation to reach the children we intend to serve. We here are accountable to you and once again much grateful to you all for the care and concern demonstrated.

We have been able to pay the school fees for all the four kids we are sponsoring through education and settled all the salary arrears for our adult literacy education facilitators, we are much grateful to you again for this support . The total of school fees paid for the four children amounted GH¢ 202.00 representing USD $ 144.29 with the exchange rate of GH¢ 1.40 for January to this month April 2010 including an arrears of $50.00 making it $194.29 USD. Facilitators’ salary also amount $ 350.00 USD including arrears of $ 150.

We reported to you that the foundation wanted to setup a Thrift Store (Used Women and Children Clothing Store) in Gbawe community to serve as a mean to sustain our projects. We are much grateful to Leabo Vang, a volunteer in United States, who worked tirelessly to collect and shipped one box of women clothing to us. Leabo is still working on this volunteer project to collect and ship children and women used clothing to Paajaf. Apart from cash donation, Paajaf welcomes In-kind donations and our doors are opened to all who want to do the same. Paajaf is an inclusive enterprise and together we can make a big difference.

Our Challenges- among our challenges, the following are very urgent needs and we are appealing to the general public to come to our aid to reach the underprivileged children at Gbawe in Ghana.

1.Fund to pay the children school fees for the next term - which starts from May to July ending 2010.

2.Salaries for the teachers and project administrative staff

3.Fund to ship children and women used clothing and used goods (Paajaf has identified an organization who wanted to help but we have requested to $7000 USD for the shipping the goods to Ghana - We are in need of sponsors and donors.)

4.Lack of children used clothing and used goods for our Thrift Store

Other challenges include:

1.Sponsorship or partnership is needed for full implementation of the scholarship school project

2.Fund to buy plot of Land for putting up the building to accommodate the children or rent premises

Strategy

1.Creation of a Used Clothing and Small Household Goods Shop

2.Setting up Used Clothing and Small Household Goods Shop Run and Operated by youth and Women

3. Only using proceeds to provide scholarship and education for more underprivileged children

We the photos attached are the children Paajaf is sponsoring. You can also see them at our website: www.paajaf.org. Would you please, fill free to post our comment about this report and our project - Paajaf is inclusive enterprise and we accept and value all inputs.

Many, many thanks once again, for you support, care and concern.

Respectfully,

Philip Appiah

children,education,welfare,women

Project Report

Philip Appiah — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:36:35 GMT

Dear Friends of Paajaf,

It is honour for me to present to you the update of the project you donated to. Your participation to learn about the betterment, happiness and fulfilling lives for orphans, underprivileged and undeserved children in Ghana and in Gbawe community has brought many life changing in their lives.

We are much grateful to you all for the continues support to Paajaf Foundation on our Project to provide aid to underprivileged and undeserved children in Ghana and in Gbawe. Paajaf seek to maintain fairness, accountability and high rate of integrity in operations. Due to this, I write hereby to present to you an audited report of operations as at June 30 2009. Please, read the attach document. The foundation operated at income loss of $48.59 USD. We projected to acquire plot of land to build scholarship school for underprivileged children but the foundation was unable due to the hard hit and recent reduce funding. Four kids as we reported in the financial report. We have been able to settle three of them school for September to December 2009. One outstanding fee to be paid is $50.00 due to the lack of funding. Our Adult Literacy Education which has brought many positive impact and life changing on their families and also on many kids in our community has been put on hold since there is no fund to pay the facilitators salary. An amount of $150.00 is in arrears as facilitators salaries.

OUR CHALLENGES

1. Fund to support the children in next year 2010

2. Salaries for the teachers and project administrative staff

3. Sponsorship or partnership is needed for full implementation of the scholarship school project

4. Fund to buy plot of Land for putting up the building to accommodate the children or rent premises

5. Fund to ship children used clothing and used goods

6. Lack of children used clothing and used goods for our Thrift Store

STRATEGY FOR THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECT

1. Creation of a Used Clothing and Small Household Goods Shop

2. Setting up Used Clothing and Small Household Goods Shop Run and Operated by youth and Women

3. Only using proceeds to provide scholarship and education for more underprivileged children

OUR URGENT NEEDS

1. Help with shipment cost of used goods from United States and other countries to Ghana for our Thrift store to sustain the project.

2. Used clothing and small household goods for needy people of all ages

Once again we are much grateful without your help nothing could be done.

Sincerely,

Philip Appiah

Attachments:

Paajaf_Financial_Statement_Updated_Version_2.pdf (PDF)

A Postcard from Help Orphans & Other Vulnerable Children in Ghana

Sheila Leonard — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 20:35:58 GMT

Sheila Leonard is an intern at GlobalGiving. This summer she traveled throughout West Africa and visited a number of GlobalGiving projects. On June 15th she visited "Help Orphans & Other Vulnerable Children in Ghana." When asked what she would tell her friends about this project, Sheila said: "Incredible: You need to see this!"

"On Monday, June 15 I visited an Adult English Education class in a small suburb of Accra, Ghana. Often on my site visits I am presented to the beneficiaries with immense grandeur and respect. Since classes had already started, he ushered me to a seat and I observed the twenty student English language class. After a few photos and awkward looks from the young children, offering to help and the project leader Philip shot me an incredibly thankful smile. I listened to an intermediate level student on her reading and pronunciation of workbook stores. About four levels of English were being taught in one classroom. As a former ESL teacher, watching people diligently learn the language of the 'first' world always brings tears to my eyes. The students were so eager and diligent with their work, but switched off laughing and chiding each other for mixed up words or forgotten tenses. The teachers were friendly but firm, and clearly saw the two hours as devoted solely to education and work. This too was a refreshing outlook on time for those of us accustomed to intense scheduling and efficiency. Paajaf took education and their students’ time very seriously and worked to maximize the benefit for students young and old in the one classroom with multiple teachers, workbooks, and studies happening simultaneously. After class, Paajaf presented me with a beautiful kente clothed, with the words 'Thank you Sheila Leonard from the Paajaf Foundation' sewn into it. After a month of long bus rides, people begging for money, harassment on the streets, heat, and sometimes unbearable hotel conditions, I nearly cried from this sweet gift and their pride. We all shook hands, took pictures, and as darkness settled in, Philip and five children from the classes walked me to the 'trotro' or bus back to Accra. It was my third to last day in Ghana and for the first time, I really didn’t want to go home.

"The best thing about Paajaf Foundation was their ability to work with their beneficiaries’ needs. The sun sets at 6pm the lack of electricity prevents teaching after six. However, many of the students work until 4 or 5 and can’t get to school until 6. Paajaf recently negotiated another classroom from a local church and began classes that immediate Wednesday from 6-8. I rarely saw results that quickly in West Africa (or at home for that matter!!).

"I was incredibly impressed with this organization and urge you to donate, or comment if you want to hear more. Phillip, thank you for your hospitality!"

Accountability Report

Timotheos Mavropoulos — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:01:32 GMT

Dear PAAJAF Donors,

On behalf of the PAAJAF Foundation I would like to inform you that the Accountability Report regarding the funds received during the Global Giving April 2009 Challenge is now ready. We would also like to underline that our strivings to improve the lives of underprivileged children and women are constant and that you will be well-informed with regards to every development that follows.

Links:

Join our group on Facebook!

Attachments:

Accountability Report (PDF)

PAAJAF Scholarship Fund in Action

Timotheos Mavropoulos — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:58:03 GMT

Scholarship Fund in Action

We would like to thank our Donors for their generous contribution to the cause of international peace and development. The funds that we managed to raise during the Global Giving April Challenge are currently used to provide scholarships for the underprivileged children in Ghana.

Since accountability and trust are of major importance in every philanthropic activity, we would like to present you with the relative evidence of how the funds are used.

We would also like to underline that our strivings to improve the lives of underprivileged children are constant and that you will be well-informed with regards to every development that follows.

PAAJAF scholars

Links:

Join our Group on Facebook!

Attachments:

Scholarship details (PDF)

Funds Allocation

Timotheos Mavropoulos — Wed, 13 May 2009 17:12:19 GMT

We would like to inform our Donors that the funds our Project received until now will be allocated as follows:

40% will be allocated to the Adult Education Project

30% will be devoted to the Sponsor-a-Child (Scholarship) Project

30% will be managed as a Passive Fund to respond to any urgent needs with regards to the Projects above.

Project Coordinator

Timotheos Mavropoulos — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:37:03 GMT

Timotheos Mavropoulos is in charge of the Project Coordination and Communication

Links: