Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana

by HANDS AROUND THE WORLD
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
Misthy Cee Children's Support Centre, Ghana
The arrival of the much-needed new mattresses
The arrival of the much-needed new mattresses

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.

Repaired water tank in place and connected
Repaired water tank in place and connected
Dining hall under construction
Dining hall under construction
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
Repairs to the building go ahead
Repairs to the building go ahead

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.

 



Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
Pottery
Pottery

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.

Misthy with children and bags
Misthy with children and bags
Growing vegetables
Growing vegetables
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
Polytank up before the storm
Polytank up before the storm

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.

The start of the dining hall building
The start of the dining hall building
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
Christmas Party
Christmas Party
The past couple of months have been busy times at the Centre: the impressive pillars for the polytank have now been built (see photo), and arrangements will soon be made for the polytank to be delivered and installed; this will ensure that clean drinking water is always available for the children, as the mains water supply remains intermittent.

We are delighted that a new carer, Agartha, who has formal childcare qualifications, has agreed to work at the Centre, initially on a trial basis.

In addition, Misthy has been busy finding a builder and his team to build the kitchen and dining room which will serve both the Centre and the Misthy Cee Educational Complex (MCEC) school. Funds have now been sent for work to start on the foundations of the building, and we hope to share further details and some photos as the work progresses.

Misthy also received some money so he could buy food and drinks for the children and adults at the Centre to have a party at Christmas time, and the photo shows a number of the children dancing and having fun. 

Although most reports from the Centre are extremely encouraging, the fact remains that the children have some very basic needs that are not being fully met. Misthy has identified mosquito nets, mattresses, sheets and pillows as particularly pressing requirements, and any financial help that our supporters worldwide can give would be hugely appreciated.

 

 
New water tank base
New water tank base

Links:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook
 

About Project Reports

Project Reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you will get an e-mail when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports via e-mail without donating.

Get Reports via Email

We'll only email you new reports and updates about this project.

Organization Information

HANDS AROUND THE WORLD

Location: MONMOUTH, MONMOUTHSHIRE - United Kingdom
Website:
Facebook: Facebook Page
Project Leader:
David Steiner
Executive Officer
Monmouth, Monmouthshire United Kingdom

Funded Project!

Combined with other sources of funding, this project raised enough money to fund the outlined activities and is no longer accepting donations.
   

Still want to help?

Support another project run by HANDS AROUND THE WORLD that needs your help, such as:

Find a Project

Learn more about GlobalGiving

Teenage Science Students
Vetting +
Due Diligence

Snorkeler
Our
Impact

Woman Holding a Gift Card
Give
Gift Cards

Young Girl with a Bicycle
GlobalGiving
Guarantee

Sign up for the GlobalGiving Newsletter

WARNING: Javascript is currently disabled or is not available in your browser. GlobalGiving makes extensive use of Javascript and will not function properly with Javascript disabled. Please enable Javascript and refresh this page.