EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

EDUCATIONAL AID FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

The 1,500 CHILDREN OFF THE STREET PROJECT

In the year 2006, the foundation and the school launched 1500 children off the street project . The project was developed to support the well-being of needy children, especially orphans in Agona District and other surroundung Districts. The 1500 Children Off The Street Project was in two distinct phases; the first phase of the project gave aid in the form of shelter, health, security and education to children without homes.
The second and final phase of the project was developed by the project committee of the foundation. It rendered free education to children whose parents cannot support their education.
The main objective of the 1500 Children Off The Street Project was to kill the alarming rate of illiteracy and domestic crises on children in Agona District and its immediate vicinity. By the kind gestures of noteworthy philanthropists across the globe, the project begun after the official launching program in April 2006. Medical aid, food and building materials from America and the Netherlands were sent by the project support agencies and philanthropists to initiate this wonderful child aid project to support humanity. Facilities that were used to host the beneficiaries of the project had undergone renovation and expansion works. Computer laboratory, boarding facility, dining hall facility and automobiles are the main facilities and instruments that really need to be in place to meet the demands of the project.
In each academic year for example, the St. Germain school complex organizes special activities labeled as extra curricular activities. These activities have been developed to support academic co- curricular disciplines undertaken by the St. Germain School Complex. They undertake physical education, Cadet and keep fit discipline, arts and crafts, technical and vocational activities, writing, music, talent development activities and leadership capacity building activities. The St. Germain School Complex has other special faculties and projects namely the Teaching and Leadership Capacity Empowerment Conference, Attitude Test Faculty, The Computer Laboratory, The Modern Science Resource Center, Mathematics and English Development Laboratory, Practical and Vocational Skills Development Faculty, The Music and Entertainment School, Sports and Cadet Club, Conflict Resolution Club and the Writers and Readers Club. The mission of these activities and events are to hold fast to Benjamin Franklin’s wise statement that says: ‘all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’. No matter how a child studies, when he or she isn’t given the requisite resources, environment and association needed to create a more liberal and peaceful world, he grows to become intellectually dormant and confused. Child psychologists have discovered that children who undertake extra- curricular activities are more lively and intelligent than children who do not partake in extra curricular activities. These children grow to become more sociable, friendlier and tenderer. Also, these children become disciplined and able to relate to peers in their environment in a balanced way. Finally, psychological sanity is the overwhelming influence that floods the heart and soul of children in the St. Germain School Complex. In the St. Germain School Complex, our ultimate ambition is to develop leaders with able communication ability as well as psychologically healthy children with effective self realization and actualization status.
The school has a special faculty that gives recuperation therapy to children with disabled personalities, and also by the help of the extra-curricular activities in the school.

ACCOMODATE HOMELSS CHILDREN EDUCATE CHILDREN SOCIALIZE CHILDREN


AN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ACTIVITY: "GREENING GHANA" – 18TH MARCH, 2007.

"WELCOME TO 50th Anniversary of Ghana's Independence. Ghana @ 50, Ghana @ 50, Ghana @ 50, Championing African Excellence, Greening Ghana Initiative, join and be part of this year's Celebration.(1957 - 2007) Thank you"

 

YLF Award Certificate Ghana @ 50; - The Young and Lonely Foundation was pleased to confirm the participation in the inaugural tree planting exercise of the Greening Ghana Initiative project.
The greening Ghana project has been embraced by the Young and lonely Foundation since it was born in October, 2006. The foundation, before the onset of this project, initiated this tree planting exercise to help save the environment from air pollutants among other merits especially when Africa is hitherto a high ranking continent as far as environmental degradation is a canker.
Since the foundation is in partnership with saint Germain School Complex, the students of the school serve as major source of labour in the swift execution of this project. This exercise starts at 6.00am to 10.30am every planting day.
With our desired effort to involve the public, thus to sensitize and educate the inhabitants of the locality on the importance of Greening Ghana Project initiative, much attention is paid to a two - week daily announcement on radio (Golden Star Fm 89.3MHz). Both the manager and the crew of Golden Star Fm in Agona Swedru give the foundation the opportunity to reach as many people as possible through their medium of dissemination. With this medium as an aid, people do donate their effort during every planting day. Some take part in the planting whilst others do irrigate the seedlings. This medium is also used to interview the students on the essence of this Project and the benefits they derive from the Young and Lonely Foundation.
Since finance is not a fixed factor at our disposal, our going to pick seedlings from Winneba Forestry Division has come to a halt. We now have our source of seedlings at the Department of Parks and Gardens, Agona Swedru. The manager supplied us sixty seedlings of acacia and militia prior to this day’s planting exercise. He is a zealous personality as well in the project, teaching us certain cultural practices to carry out for the survival of the seedlings.
As usual, a live interview was held between the Executive Director of Young and Lonely Foundation (YLF), Mr. Gilbert and a news presenter, Mr. Ato Kwamena Arthur in the evening news yesterday. What is more, the endeavor of the District Chief Executive, Honorable Ben Mensah, was rewarding during today’s planting exercise. He came to congratulate and energize us on our dauntless effort. He made it known to all participants the need of exhibiting patriotism and making Ghana a proud nation amongst nations. The pageantry of the exercise, he said, would have been graced the more had all participants gotten the Ghana @50 T-shirts for the tree planting exercise.
The proprietress of the school, Madam Dorothy Eghan, also lamented on why her school had not been recognized during the distribution of the T-shirts whilst the students contribute relentlessly in the project. Mr. Gilbert, the Executive Director of the Foundation, assured them that efforts are underway to obtain more T-shirts for the students. We, therefore, make this plea to the executives of Ghana@ 50 to attend to our T-SHIRT request in order to prepare fully for the program of March, 2007.
Today’s activity, being the fourth phase, experienced a boost in the number of participants. The previously planted trees are doing well to the amazement of all and sundry, of which the DCE and assemblyman are not exclusive, as far as nurturing of sites of the seedlings has been carried out. Some of the beneficiary areas of this project in Agona Swedru include: NAVTCO junction to SWESCO (Kwanyako road), Golden Star FM junction to Left eye (Inkubem), Calvary Methodist Church junction to Greenland Hotel junction and also St. Germain School Compound
Our Predicaments so far include: inadequate finance for transpotage, tools, refreshment for participants and also inadequate T-Shirts for the students (participants). A compact disc enclosed in this report contains the video and pictures of the whole exercise at various locations during the planting exercise. Below are the names and positions of individuals who have contributed their quota in making this project a success:

Hon. Ben Mensah (District Chief Executive, Agona Swedru District)

Madam Dorothy Eghan (Proprietress, St. Germain School; Patron, YLF)

Mr. Gilbert Germain (Executive Director, YLF)

Mr. Komla Senafia (Teacher, SAGESCO; Projects Coordinator, YLF)

Mr. John Redmond Mills (Coordinator, YLF)

Mr. Benyin Arthur (Manager, Swedru Parks and Gardens)

Mr.John Agbogan (Teacher, St. Germain School)

Mr.Ato Kwamena Arthur (News Presenter, Golden Star FM)

Hon. Justice Mumuni Mohammed (Assembly member, Kotokoli/Kwansakrom),
.


“MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY” (MADD)

VOLUNTARY WORK BY BARCLAYS BANK (AGONA SWEDRU BRANCH) IN COLLABORATION WITH YOUNG AND LONELY FOUNDATION.

Make a Difference Make a Difference Make a Difference


(B) THE 'ADOM KUO' - PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/ AIDS (PLHIV)
On the 1st of November, 2008 between 07:30am and 11:30am, the Agona Swedru Gorvement Hospital experienced a break through when The Barclays Bank branch of the Agona Swedru undertook a voluntary exercise at the pediatric ward.
Before the exercise items worth 1200GH cedis were donated to the hospital, the finance of the items was being done solely by the bank, but the activities were being done jointly by the staff of the bank and Young and Lonely Foundation (YLF). Among the items donated include, mattresses, paint, brooms, scrubbing brush and many other items. It took several hours in the cleaning up excise, Activities included mobbing of the floor, scrubbing of the bath rooms and cleaning of the louver blades, and weeding and raking of the gutters and painting.
The theme is “Make A difference Day” (MADD), According to The Branch Manager MR. Kofi Osibe, this is not just a flash point exercise, but promised it will be a routine one. He noted the Bank is not just here to make profit but here to share their profit with the District and to contribute to the welfare of citizens especially the deprived. The principal nursing officer was thankful to the management, staff of the Bank and Y L F. And said she has not experience such a thing before in the hospital.
According to The Director of Y L F since the motto of the NGO is “The child our hope for the future”, so any thing concerning children is of more importance to them and therefore encouraged the members to take part in the exercise to make a deference in the children’s life.
The people present were the Branch Manger of the bank, MR. Kofi Osibe, The Organizer of the programme MR Nii Odoi, The Principal Nursing Officer Mrs. Rita Haruna, The Director of Y L F MR Gilbert Germain and the staff of both corporate institutes.
The programme ended at the Ewusuwa Gardens with lunch and refreshment.

HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMME.

(A) HIV/AIDS SENSITIZATION AND ERADICATION.
The Young and Lonely Foundation (YLF) has, since the first day of January this year, been making tremendous efforts in improving the Health status of both the aged and the young. HIV/AIDS education and eradication of stigmatization through various means of sensitization in the Agona Municipality are instances. The main target group, which is Youth in and out of school, and most of the staff members of the coverage schools, through both theoretical and practical oriented means, were educated on the cause, modes of transmission, effects and prevention of this deadly pandemic: HIV/AIDS. Although certain setbacks including lack of funds were unavoidable in course of the various activities, the output was really efficient as could be traced in the attached qualitative and quantitative reports.
The Foundation, on the February 14, which was valentine day, embarked on a 24-hour HIV/AIDS awareness creation by visiting drinking pubs, Hotels, Motels, restaurants and other gatherings to educate the people on the need of condom use to help minimize the spread of HIV/AIDS.Volunteers both foreign and local took part. The YLF members and other volunteers, local and foreign, organized workshops and sensitization programmes for Junior High Schools (JHS) at Agona Swedru. The focal schools were five: St. Germain JHS, Presby A JHS; Anglican B JHS; SDA JHS and Holy Quran JHS, Yaabem. The programme covered some 350 students and 31 teachers (14 male & 17 female). Some basic facts about HIV/AIDS; prevention and protection as well as stigma eradication were some of the topics covered.
KEBA AFRICA is an Accra based NGO responsible for promoting human development and has been a sister NGO in carrying out a host of projects including HIV/AIDS awareness creation and Voluntary Counselling and Test (VCT) with the Young and Lonely Foundation. Mr. Mac Daniel Donkoh is the Assistant Manager for KEBA AFRICA. The recent Project we executed was lead by him collaboratingly;thus the Registration of People Living With HIV/AIDs (PLWHIV) for the National Health Insurance as well as Voluntary Counselling and Test . Fourty eight PLWHIV were attended to. The Project was funded by Ghana AIDs Commission through the Agona District Assembly.
The following is a report of the recent activities written on Monday, 31st March, 2008 by two foreign volunteers: Diana Korner Hansson & Cristin Fergus who took part in the execution of the first quarter HIV/AIDS Prevention & Communication, Behavioral Change with YLF staff:

“My name is Diana Korner Hansson from Sweden. My colleague Cristin Fergus from Chicago and I are volunteers. Around 350 JSS students and 31 teachers as well as about 200 youth out of school have been educated about HIV/AIDS by us. We have worked for the Young and Lonely Foundation (YLF) and their collaborator, St Germain School in Agona-Swedru. We got in contact with YLF through SYTO . Our voluntary work started in January 2008 and is now finishing today, the end of March 2008. During these three months, working with the students, we realized the importance of HIV/AIDS education in schools. It is a global problem and has to be taught in every way possible. To get an idea of the students’ knowledge in the subject, we went around in the classes, asked them about what they know, and would like to learn about HIV/AIDS. We used that information as help during the lessons. A few of the topics discussed were how to contract HIV/AIDS, how the virus exists in the body, the preventive methods, its way of spreading and how the increasing number of people living with HIV/AIDS affects the country. We followed these lessons with quizzes and different assignments. I would like to thank Gilbert Germain, Executive Director of YLF, Mr D.K. Barnes the headmaster of St Germain School, Daniel Yedu Quansah who helped with the schedules as well as Komla Senafia, the coordinator of Educational Aid for Child Development Project, YLF who has been a helping hand during our work. Cristin and I have had a content experience and will continue supporting YLF from home. Thank you.
Diana Korner Hansson & Cristin Fergus”.

Morever, a Community sensitization and education on the MDGs-CAH was organised by the YLF in October, 2008 at Brahabekum,Domoki,Duabone, Namawora and Otabilkwa on consecutive days to educate and sensitize community people about issues relating to health including child and maternal health, HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB eradication; to educate community people about their rights to health care and about their roles and responsibilities as to how to claim these rights.

During the Akwambo Festival Celebration in Agona Swedru on the 8th August, 2008, the Young and Lonely Foundation headed by Mr. Gilbert Germain did not forget about the fact that such sort of celebration would bring varieties of people from all walks of life, hence the possibility of the spread of the deadly disease notwithstanding the fact that wherever two or more people are gathered the devil tries finding work for the idle hand. It is in light of this fact that the YLF planned and executed distribution of condoms throughout vantage points in the Agona West Municipally. The coverage areas included: drinking pubs, motels, hotels, internet cafes and wherever people converged for their personal reasons. The YLF team of four counseled the beneficiaries of the condom distribution to live responsibly by being faithful to their partners since the condom use is not a 100% preventive measure. Mr. Gilbert Germain made it known that the distribution on that day did not mark the end of the sensitization; that it would continue unabated, especially during occasions and as long as people desire to have sexual partners.
HIV/AIDS film shows were organised at KWansakrom, Domeki and Brahabekumi after which thorough education was given out to sensitize and alert them on the reality of horrible scenes in the film shows. Saint Germain School Complex also benefitted from the film show and the sensitization as well.

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH Community Sensitization HEALTH MDGs


(B) THE 'ADOM KUO' - PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/ AIDS (PLHIV)
The key founding persons of this merciful association, made possible by the aid of piety, devotion and selflessness, who deem it a mandate to care for the most highly stigmatized human beings on earth in Africa, the People Living with HIV/ AIDS (PLHIV), made no mistake in stating the right diction befitting the association as the "ADOM KUO". Notwithstanding, any work geared towards relief of an AIDS patient is borne out of merciful grace which is ADOM in the local parlance. This Adom has become a greeting word with the response 'koroye', meaning unity is strength for the beneficiaries.
The germ of the initiative was conceived in the benevolent intellectual faculty of Mr. Gilbert Germain when he was met with a PLHIV victim desiring death and that he preferred death to living in a world of stigmatization. An awakened Gilbert, who has worked with the West Africa AIDS Foundation (WAAF) for about six years, alerted the Senior Staff Midwife (SSM) Madam Grace Binney who takes care of PLHIVs at the Agona Swedru Government Hospital and Mr. Tim Pauls, A German Director of Exchange Programs (YLF), of the need to consider the plight of PLHIV and forestall a peaceful and comfortable social, psychological and emotional environment for them which would help cure them of premature death. These desirous personalities made the birth of "ADOM KUO" possible.
The first and foremost meeting of the executives to discuss pertinent issues relating to PLHIVs was held on the 23rd August, 2008. The Swedru Government Hospital was chosen as the host for meeting with the PLHIVs. It was finally resolved that all other meetings be held at Ghana Health Service – Agona District Health Centre. The partner organizations currently include Ghana Health Service (GHS), Young and Lonely Foundation (YLF). Since the conception of the idea and judicious efforts at its implementation, fifty two people living with HIV/ AIDS and eleven Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) have been discovered in the Agona Municipality for registration under the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Other activities of the partner members include donating and seeking donations of food, medicinal drugs, clothing and cash to the PLHIV, educating the PLHIV on several issues ranging from personal hygiene to diet. Their emotional wounds are healed with their spirits of livelihood strengthened so that they feel just like any other ordinary persons. The PLHIVs mind is cleared of all intimidations, illusions and they are made to know the goal of life. They are made to understand the HIV/AIDS as a natural phenomenon, a natural disaster which could plaque any type of personality irrespective of Educational, Religious and social status. It is proved beyond doubt that most of the contractions of this deadly disease were not obtained through sexual promiscuity. Out of the understanding they obtain after Mr. Germain's counseling in Adom Kuo, some of the victims willingly bring to light the verbal molestations they receive from high ranking Medical Practitioners. A woman (name withheld) told of how a Medical Doctor a bused her verbally, that how could such person at her age contract such disease, when she was to be attended to under the umbrella of a PLHIV association in Cape Coast. This made her leave without receiving the treatment. Meeting is held on a third Saturday of every month by the executives to discuss the means and efforts that could help improve the standards of the PLHIV.
At a PLHIV meeting held by the ADOM KUO on the 20th September, 2008, during which representatives of ADRA, Plan Ghana, YGRO GHANA, NAPLUS, HOPE FOR FUTURE GENERATION and other sister organizations came, a representative of ADRA, Mr. Vandapuye used the opportunity to address the PLHIV of the mission of ADRA. He said ADRA is an NGO not for only relief services and with no discrimination in religion but also in support of teaching of hairdressers and other traders in the prevention of HIV/AIDS transmission among other aids; that they would organize workshops where representative PLHIVs from various organizations would merge their talents, skills and experiences to alleviate the plight of the PLHIVs. He said, this year, ADRA is embarking on educating the PLHIVs on cultivation of citrus plantation which when practiced, would provide support to them and posterity financially. He advised them to make good use of any little help given to them. On the question of what they want to do, the PLHIV suggested that canopies be bought for hiring to the general public to earn some income to serve as a support to them.
The secretary of the Ghana Network of persons living with HIV/AIDS told the members present (Adom Kuo) that the Ghana Network Association (GNA) is also part of them. She advised the PLHIVs to take their drugs regularly and attend hospital as required of them. She also, advised them to prevent themselves from re-infection, because this would rather aggravate the illness. Mr. George - a NAPLUS representative explained the importance of Moringa plant, a nourishment plant species to be cultivated to the members present as follows: It is nutritious and can complement the lost necessary nutrients in the body of people;It is an immune booster that will make one’s body healthy always; It cures a lot of diseases such as malaria, typhoid, stomach ulcer, etc. An NGO presented some Provision to the PLHIVs present. Young and Lonely foundation Executive Director donated an amount of one hundred and fifty Ghana Cedis to PLHIVs as a support and T&T. The founding executives: Madam Angelina Bolton (Deputy Director of Health Services, Agona Municipality), Madam Grace Binney (SSM-GHS), Mr. Gilbert Germain (YLF), Mr. Tim Pauls (YLF-Germany) and Mr. Anim Boanu Justice (Technical Officer, Disease Control) welcome all well wishers and those who show compassion to make it known that PLHIV need love and security from us all. Mr. Gilbert Germain aims at making Ghana, Africa and the Diasporas freed of discrimination and stigmatization against PLHIV. He therefore seeks donations and ideas from all to help upgrade the living standards of the PLHIV.


(C) LAUNCHING OF THE MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL (MDGs) AND CITIZENS ACTION AND HEALTH (CAH) - PROJECT.
In line with the Governments' Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and Citizens Action to Health, the YLF holds on an objective as long as human health is concerned: making every body live with sound mind so that there be peace, love and harmony because "A sound mind lives in a sound body". This is an undeniable fact. Frantic efforts were made throughout September to October, 2008 to launch the Citizens Action and Health MDGs Project. About five thousand (5,000) people in the district were informed about the launch of the MDGs-CAH project in the Agona east districts through radio sensitization. On the 25th September, 2008, the launch of MDGs-CAH Project was successfully executed at Agona Duakwa. About two hundred people attended the launcheon and the inhabitants of the community expressed their profound gratitude to the sponsors: Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR) of this noble gesture and expressed their intention to make good use of the package.


(D) COMMUNITY SENSITIZATION ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS (RHR) AND MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs)
About twenty five communities benefited this year, 2009, from the RHR and Health MDGs sensitization. Serious allegations were made against the Government Hospital for charging patients for money whilst they have National Health Insurance.
We took our time to bring their aggrieved emotions under control and advised them. We educated them on Reproductive Health Rights, the right to demand quality health no matter where they live. Most of them complained that the kind of treatment they get from the nurses at the Swedru Government Hospital is nothing to write home about and when they go for treatment they are cheated since they cannot read to understand; and at times insulted by nurses. Upon this information the Assembly members assured them they would investigate and see to it that their rights were not trampled on. Also, frequent deaths, diseases and lack of good drinking water are some of grisliest circumstances in some of the communities. We counted almost five deaths in six months in a particular community but the causes of those deaths could not be ascertained. Madam Dora (CHN) asked so many questions in the affected community to be able to know the causes of this bizarre situation entangling them.
Through our observation we found out that getting good drinking water was a problem and also malaria could be number one killer in the communities since the sanitation situation was very bad. After the sensitization, Madam Dora wrote a report to the District Health Directorate to respond to the lousy situation. This prompted us to visit the communities frequently to be able to educate them on health matters. We also collaborated with the District through Madam Dora to send mosquito nets (I T N) to the communities.

Community Senaitization ADOM KUO Women Credit Facilities

There are more other victims of this HIV/AIDS menace needing support. You can also give financial or material aid to any of these Victims of Circumstances. We also need donations including computers, first aid equipment,instructional materials, ante-retroviral drugs or cash,as well as ideas for helping these PLHIV. Be part of this project. You are cordially welcome.Voluntary teachers and workers are Welcome! Come let us create this world of peace and unity. Thank You.


YLF: The Child, our Hope for Future.




 

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