ABANTU for Development
Accra, Greater Accra Region
ABANTU for development is a NGO that focuses on issues of gender and development in Ghana and Africa. Specifically, ABANTU advocates for women’s rights, by increasing the capacity of African women through participation in social, economic and political decision-making processes. They believe that gender inequality in Africa perpetuates poverty and inhibits future development. Hawawu has been actively researching the gender composition of governmental agencies and organizations for one of ABANTU’s many current projects.
website: http://www.abantu-rowa.org/
AfriKids Ghana
Bolgatanga, Upper East Region
AfriKids Ghana is a NGO that looks to alleviate poverty in Ghana’s northern region with a specific focus on children. AfriKids advocates for children’s rights, seeing this as the foundation for positive community development. AfriKids Ghana is based in Bolgatanga, Talensi District and Kassena-Nankana District in Ghana’s Upper East Region. Some AfriKids projects have focused on issues of education, child trafficking and orphans. In an effort to build sustainability, AfriKids has transitioned towards a variety of social business projects, including the AfriKids Blue Sky Lodge. Kathryn has been working on the AfriKids Blue Sky Lodge project, she has helped to facilitate the planning and logistics of their operation upon opening, as well as, observing and engaging in the community-development dimensions of this project.
website: http://www.afrikids.org/ghana
Atorkor Development Foundation (ADF)
Atorkor, near Keta, Volta Region
Atorkor Development Foundation is a community-based organization that seeks to improve the lives of those in the community. Local Chief Dr. Samuel Adjorlolo founded ADF in 2001. ADF has a variety of ongoing projects that look to address issues surrounding education, health and sanitation, environment and sustainable livelihoods. These projects have been developed as a response to the need of the Atorkor community, which has seen the decline of its’ fishing industry over the last decade. Some of ADF’s current projects include a vocational training academy, health centre and ICT programme at the local basic school. Kelly has been assisting with the creation of an afterschool ICT club, as well as, the micro-finance programme at the vocational training centre.
website: http://www.adfatorkor.org/
Centre for Environmental Impact Analysis (CEIA)
Cape Coast, Central Region
The Centre of Environmental Impact Analysis (CEIA) was established in 2005 with the mandate to advocate for and increase knowledge about Ghana’s environment and resource management. CEIA’s office is located in Cape Coast, in Ghana’s Central Region. The organization looks to address issues related to awareness, climate change, waste management, as well as, mining. Partnering with other environmental advocacy organizations, CEIA’s primary focus is on mining and its environmental and social costs on communities. Genise has been actively involved in the organization of CEIA’s waste management campaigns, creating and facilitating environmental clubs at local public schools, as well as, launching a variety of local media outreach projects.
Empower Playgrounds Inc. (EPI)
Pediatorkope Island, near Big Ada, Greater Accra Region & Akyeremateng, near Koforidua, Eastern Region (various locations)
Located in various communities throughout Ghana, Empower Playgrounds Inc., seeks to provide electricity to isolated communities in need. Specifically, EPI provides power-generating Merry-Go-Round systems to selected public schools and communities without mainstream electricity grid connections. EPI hopes that by providing small amounts of electricity, produced by the power of playing, the quality of education and the resulting literacy levels in these communities will improve. Phebe has been working with EPI on Pediatorkope Island, teaching at EPI’s public school site and facilitating research and data collection for the implementation of a larger solar power project. Alexandra has been facilitating a ‘lantern study club’ and providing science education in the Akyeremateng public school. She is utilizing and assessing science kits provided by EPI to supplement Ghana’s national science curriculum.
website: http://empowerplaygrounds.org/
Ghana Permaculture Institute (GPI)
Techiman, Brong-Ahafo Region
Ghana Permaculture Institute (GPI) is a multi-faceted agricultural organization with both not-for-profit projects and a variety of social business initiatives, situated in and around Techiman. GPI focuses on ecological agriculture projects with the overall mandate of community-development. Some of the organizations projects include: micro-finance loans, permaculture training and research, cosmetics preparation and production, mushroom farming and cultivation, and, eco-tourism. Both Christine and Jaime actively participate in all aspects of GPI’s projects, from micro-loan repayment and collection to permaculture training and mushroom cultivation.
website: http://permacultureghana.wordpress.com/
Hope for Future Generations (HFFG)
Ajumako, near Winneba, Central Region (various locations)
Hope for Future Generations is a Ghanaian NGO with a national scope. HFFG has a gender addresses gender dimensions of community development, seeking to provide support for women and children. HFFG works in seven of Ghana’s regions, with projects is a wide range of differing communities. Some of the organizations target issues include girl-child education, maternal health and sustainable livelihoods. Rockson has assisted in weekly monitoring of project areas, the organization of community meetings, as well as, the implementation of project work plans.
website: http://www.hffg.org/
IBIS Ghana
Tamale, Northern Region
IBIS is a Danish NGO with the mandate to support equal access to education, influence and resources, through community–based projects and advocacy in Africa. IBIS has been running in Ghana since 2001, working in collaboration with other community organizations to empower marginalized people. The organization works to create structural reform, through strengthening civil society, at the local and national level. Two of IBIS’s ongoing projects in Ghana include, Public Participation in Local Governance (PPLG) and Education for Empowerment (EfE). Rafkatu has primarily been working on the PPLG project, providing support to programme facilitators in the development of Partnership Development Plans.
website: http://www.ibiswestafrica.com/
Law and Development Associates (LADA)
Accra, Great Accra Region
Law & Development Associates (LADA), is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm that focuses on advocacy for good governance through policy creation and legislation. LADA has various governmental partners, often working hand in hand with government officials and politicians to create accountable and just political systems. Holly’s role with LADA has allowed her to work very closely with her supervisor and fellow colleagues assisting with tasks such as, attending policy council meetings with partner organizations, reviewing and editing legislative and policy documents, and, creating useful training manuals for future interns
website: http://www.ladagh.com/
Maranatha Community School
Kewunor, near Ada Foah, Greater Accra Region
Located in the small fishing community of Kewunor, near Ada Foah, the Maranatha Community School provides basic education to an isolated community. Though, integrated into the mainstream Ghana Education Service, Maranatha Community School is supported primarily by the labour of community members, the finances of the Maranatha Beach Camp (a local business), and international volunteers. Through the efforts of Winfred Dzinado, the founder and community member, it has been operating for five years. Sasha’s primary role at Maranatha Community School has been in-class aid and teacher for the form five mathematics classes
Poetry Foundation of Ghana
Kumasi, Ashanti Region
Poetry Foundation of Ghana was founded in 2007, with the goal of creating a national, regional and international platform for Ghanaian poetry and poets. The foundation works to support all forms of Ghanaian poetry, written and spoken, as well as, traditional and contemporary. Since 2007, they have been producing a series of Anthologies. They are currently working to incorporate their anthologies into mainstream Ghanaian education curriculum, with the overall goal of promoting the arts, social justice and critical thinking into mainstream pedagogy. Charlotte has been assisting the organization in its efforts to create educational workshops for a number of selected Senior Secondary School schools. She has also independently organized a poetry event with the support of her organization, which seeks to encourage the space for creativity through poetry for young Ghanaians.
website: http://www.poetryfoundationghana.org/
Radio Ada
Big Ada, Great Accra Region
Radio Ada is a non-profit community radio station, having first gone ‘on-air’ in February of 1998. Radio Ada is seen as a successful community radio model in Ghana and Africa, as it provides a true and trusted voice for the Dangme people. Radio Ada seeks to promote the language, culture and traditions of the Dangme people through it programming. Kristen has been involved with an ongoing research and advocacy campaign for the Songor crisis promoted and facilitated by Radio Ada in partnership with the Ada Songor Advocacy Forum.
Right to Play
Tamale, Northern Region
Right To Play evolved out of an awareness and fundraising organization called Olympic Aid, conceived in 1992 by the Olympic Organizing Committee to show support for people in war-torn countries and areas of distress. In 2000, Olympic Aid became Right To Play has transitioned from a fundraising vehicle to an implementing NGO working to demonstrate the transformative power of play as a tool for youth empowerment. Angele has been assisting with various projects in the field of health, sanitation and education.
website: http://www.righttoplay.com/
Talensi Area Women’s Development Project (TAWODEP)
Talensi District, near Bolgatanga, Upper East Region
TAWODEP is a community-based organization that looks to address issues of gender in rural communities. TAWODEP is located in the Talensi District, about 30 minutes from Bolgatanga town, in the small communities of Bulugu, Shia, Yinduri, Pwalugu and Winkogo. The organization was founded in 2003, and continues to support projects like micro-finance loans, literacy programmes, and, vocational and business training for women. Both Erin and Marika spend a majority of their time accompanying their supervisor in the field, helping to maintain and facilitate a variety of TAWODEP’s current projects.
Teach on the Beach (TOB)
Busua, Western Region
Teach on the Beach was established in 2003 in response to the community needs of increased access and quality of education and learning for youth in the village of Busua. The organizations mandate outlines the importance of youth empowerment through education, as a means for greater community-development. Teach on the Beach has established a variety of youth based programmes, which seek to provide youth in the community with opportunities and skills to become critical thinkers and leaders in their communities. The organization has a student sponsorship program that provides students with the opportunity to attend school, as well as, participate in daily after-school programming. Both Elleanor and Hillary have helped facilitate and organize afterschool programming, youth clubs and a NewsHour programme, as well as, teaching at the local public school at the elementary level.
website: http://www.teachonthebeach.org/
Water Research Institute (WRI)
Accra, Greater Accra Region/Tamale, Northern Region/Akosombo, Eastern Region
The Water Research Institute is a public research organization, with branches in Accra, Tamale and Akosombo. The WRI, along with eleven other institutes, is governed under the auspices of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which is monitored by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology. The WRI works to generate socio-economic and scientific research on Ghana’s water bodies, as means to develop strategies and techniques for resource management and development. Irene’s role with WRI included a research project on Weija Lake, observing and identifying the socio-economic and scientific implications of human activities on overall water quality in the lake.
website: http://www.csir-water.com/
West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP)
Accra, Greater Accra Region
WANEP is a civil society organization that was founded in 1998 in response to civil wars that plagued West Africa. It has established national networks in every member state of ECOWAS and places special focus on collaborative approaches to conflict prevention and peace-building. Some of the programmes and projects that WANEP facilitates in the region includes: Women in Peacebuilidng, Non-Violence and Peace Education, and, the West African Early Warning Response Network. (WARN) During her placement, Nora has worked closely with her supervisors in the Peace Monitoring Center, assisting with the WARN programme. She spends her time researching and monitoring conflict and security situations in West Africa.
website: http://wanep.org/
West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA)
Accra, Greater Accra Region/Agona, near Takoradi, Western Region
The West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA) is an environmental NGO that seeks to address issues of development through the framework of environmental conservation. They address issues of environmental sustainability by preserving differing regional primate species. Its project areas are located in Accra and the Western Region. Madeline has been assisting with WAPCA’s Community Resource Management Areas (CREMA’s) projects, participating in awareness, advocacy and education campaigns in rural communities for the preservation of rainforest areas.
website: http://www.wapca.org/
Zorbisi Development Centre (ZODEC)
Zorbisi, near Bolgatanga, Upper East Region
Zorbisi Development Centre (ZODEC) is a small grassroots NGO that focuses on community development initiatives. ZODEC works in the interconnected rural communities of Zorbisi, Yikene, Sorkapisi and Tanzui, just outside of Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region. Founder and community member Raymond Ayinne established ZODEC in 2010. The organization supports various projects that look to create sustainable livelihoods for community members, some of their projects includes: the creation of the Beacon Academy community school, afterschool programs, skills and vocational training for local artisans and youth empowerment programs. As ZODEC is in its’ beginning phases, Sarah has taken on the role of project manager, creating sustainable models by which ZODEC can continue to grow.