– The Fadua youth center
– Pictures from Aburi, Ghana
– Who are the people setting up the project in Ghana?
The Fadua youth center
Creating the Fadua youth center near Aburi in Ghana, where children become tailors, is the goal of the Tailors made in Ghana project. In the rural areas of Ghana, children who cannot continue at school, often move to the city. Here they end up on the streets, begging and stealing for money just to have something to eat.
Preserving these children for these regions means productivity and life will continue in these villages. Teaching them a trade in a safe and stimulating environment provides a very good option. 20 children, mostly girls age 15 to 18, are taught the tailor trade by professionals.
These children will stay in the program for one year. During the first six months, they are taught the technical aspects of sewing. In the next six months, called ‘Getting Started!’ they will practice a lot and learn about setting up a small business. Questions like, what to do with income? Reserving money for the future or for maintenance? Will be addressed in this part of the course.
Ghana is a land rich in history and culture, where people are noted for their warmth, friendliness and hospitality. A land of sandy beaches, bustling markets, amazing wildlife parks and forest reserves.
Ghana is also a country where 31,4% of the population lives below the poverty line. 22,1% of the Ghanaian children under five years has to deal with malnutrition. And where 187 girls and boys per 1000 are dying under the age of five. Ghana remains one of the world's poorest countries. Many children, especially in rural areas, do not have access to an education. Only 60% of children are enrolled in primary school and a mere 37% in secondary school. They can really use your help!
Who are the people setting up the project in Ghana?
Fadua Foundation is a local organization of motivated professionals, involved in actually realizing the Tailors made in Ghana project. The practical side (the building, machinery and teachers) is only one aspect. Making sure the center also acquires production orders (from schools, hospitals) is another crucial success factor. Because they have great knowledge of the regions and the Ghanaian culture, they can really get the job done. The development of the Tailors made in Ghana project lies in capable and loving hands.
A project, just finished (Dec, 2010), is collaboration with ‘Stichting Imagine Life Sciences’ in Delft. Imagine is a school competition inviting life scientists to submit proposals for the application of a specific useful and affordable technology in a developing country. Foundation Imagine Life Sciences is affiliated to Delft University of Technology. Goal is dealing with malnutrition by using molds. By giving women the opportunity to run a business - growing and selling mushrooms - which will enable them to provide healthy food for themselves and their families and increase their prosperity by trading on the local market.