Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana

Building work is continuing on the kitchen and dining hall, and the damage caused by the storm earlier in the year has been repaired (see photo).

We were disappointed to learn that Madame Agartha, who had been unwell for a couple of months and had not been able to look after the children at the Centre, has now decided that she will not be returning to work there.

Misthy recently attended a 5-day workshop on ‘Managing an Orphanage’, organised by the Department of Social Welfare in Ghana, and will be looking to make the necessary staff appointments as soon as possible.

We are delighted that David and Tom, 2 volunteers from the UK, will be visiting the Centre for the month of November, and we are sure that they will help the project to develop for the benefit of the children. We hope that, in particular, they can review the current state of the accommodation block at the Centre and help to make improvements to the facilities.

Thank you for your interest and support, and we look forward to sharing more news about the project soon.

The storm (referred to in our previous project report) unfortunately damaged the water tank beyond repair. Misthy has submitted a claim for compensation for the loss to a regional fund (which is unlikely to make a decision for a
number of months) and is investigating other avenues for funding a further replacement tank. The damage to the dining hall building, although quite extensive, can be repaired; and further funds have been sent to enable the building work to continue.

We have been concerned to hear that the qualified child carer, Agartha, has been unwell for a couple of months and has not been able to look after the children. We wish her a speedy recovery, so she can return to the Centre and
rejoin the other care workers.

Paul, our volunteer who visited at Easter, was able to help Misthy to spend some funds sent from the UK on school bags for the children at the Centre and a sewing machine (see photo). In addition to updating us on progress at
the Centre, Paul observed the wide range of activities undertaken at the Misthy Cee Educational Complex, including pottery (see photo).

Although the Centre remains heavily dependent on outside financial assistance, Misthy and the staff (with help from the children wherever possible) are keen to develop projects to make the Centre self-sufficient, such as growing some of their own food (see photo).

We have a number of supporters in the UK who are keen to visit the Centre later in the year, and will be meeting with them soon to agree the best way for them to help the project develop for the benefit of the children.