Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana

Volunteers from the UK, Tom C and David E, spent the month of November at the Centre and were able to help in a number of ways, including:

• buying a large selection of tools, some necessary plumbing items and paint

• repairing bunks & building a 14-foot ladder (with help from older boys on both tasks)

• buying 25 mattresses in Kumasi with Misthy’s help

• repairing and painting ceilings, & painting walls

• tidying up the damaged water tank with a strong lid & erecting it on top of a 5-foot high base

• making 2 lengths of guttering linked to the tank so that rainstorms would top it up, and fitting a fixed hose that could transfer mains water (when available) to the tank.

Building work is continuing on the cook-house and dining hall that will benefit the Centre and the School.

Despite Tom and David’s sterling efforts during their visit, they have suggested some further items that would improve the life of the children at the Centre, including:

• activity equipment for children, eg climbing frame, swing (both easily made from timber on site)

• a shaded area for sitting, using 4 poles and a simple roof etc

• magazines from which to cut out pictures, sketch pads, crayons & paints

• a pin board next to each bunk for pictures etc

• noticeboard for photos, important messages etc

• materials, more needles & thread for sewing for pleasure & learning

• shelves or other storage for each bunk, coat hooks, a mirror in each dormitory.

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

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.

On 31 March 2012 Peter Smith wrote:

Building work is progressing well on the kitchen and dining hall. The polytank is now on the pillars. Misthy reports that Agartha, the qualified child carer, is making a positive difference for the children. Paul Shewell, a past volunteer, is
visiting the Centre for 2 weeks over Easter; he will be able to give us a first-hand update on the situation, and possibly help Misthy produce his annual reports (financial and narrative) for 2011.

On Easter Monday 9 April Misthy sent a text message:

"Sad news, we had a heavy rainfall with a severe wind and this has been collapsed part of the dining hall building. Between 600 and 700 blocks were affected. Also the poly tank fell and broke. No one was injured."

I await further reports and am thankful that no-one was hurt. Hopefully the damage can be repaired.

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