Making a difference to young lives
Shirley (l) and Nicola with children from the Ghanaian school
We are two local women who have recently returned from a three week trip to Ghana, staying at the Ho Hoe Christian Charity School in the Volta Region and also visited Eugemot Orphanage on several occasions.
Shirley had been here on a month’s voluntary work in 2011 and was shocked at the poverty in the area and was determined to return and try to make a difference to the lives of the orphans.
In order to do this, we needed to raise funds. We had two charity nights: one in the Togston Terrace Club and one in the Amble Club.
On both occasions, the clubs kindly gave us a donation towards the costs of the artists. The artists, 2 good 2 go and the Shawaddydaddies, both performed at a reduced price. We ran raffles at both events and raffle prizes were kindly donated by local businesses and people from Amble and the surrounding areas.
We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported us. Your donations have enabled us to provide three months worth of food for both the school and orphanage. We helped finish three classrooms at the school, built a storage room at orphanage and essential medication for the children such as antibiotics, worming tablets and malaria tablets.
We provided them with new sleeping mats and buckets for washing as well as buying weed killer and fertiliser for 9 acres of land to enable them to become self sufficient and grow their own rice.
We also took two suitcases full of football strips, books, games, pens and paper. This could not have been done without the help and donations from our families, friends and local community.
We are hoping to return next year and are looking to start our own charity to enable us to provide running water in the small villages of Ho Hoe, and to enable underprivileged children with an education as well as continue to support the school and orphanage. If anyone wishes to donate to our next project, please contact Shirley on 07889656151 or Nicola on 07809438269. No donation is too small and will be gratefully appreciated to help make a difference to the lives of the children.
Shirley Fraser and Nicola Brennan
