JULY 2006 - GHANA

The Hunger Project Investor Trip to Ghana

In mid-July, a group of 38 investors from six countries visited three epicenters in Ghana, celebrated the accomplishments of our partners and learned about the impact of The Hunger Project's epicenter strategy.

Click here to see trip overview and preparation.

 

Val Chater showing kids a copy of their photos.	Dr. Naana, THP-Ghana Country Director, briefing the investors.

Jenifer Williams with young partners at the Atuobikrom epicenter library.	Charles Chater joined in wherever sports were being played at the epicenters.

 

School fees have recently been eliminated here, and as a result, a lot of families are moving into the area. These desks are outside the already-full classroom for the elementary grades at Atuobikrom epicenter.	Tom Lemons with an entrepreneur carrying more than two dozen boiled eggs.

 

This woman rises at 3am each day to cook rice and beans, which she then sells to support her family. She has two daughters who, she was proud to let us know, are in school.

"No more shy!" This is the rallying cry of six women at Atuobikrom epicenter who performed a drama on HIV/AIDS challenging the denial of the disease and educating the community about a recurring cough, which is a sign of the disease. The woman with Laura Burt (left) wrote the drama and was one of the actors in it. The group of women who performed the play are a major force in empowering women to find their courage and speak up -- a necessary step if the spread of HIV/AIDS is to be stopped.

 

Investors paying respect to the chiefs of the area at the beginning of a "durbar" -- a formal meeting of speeches and entertainment that is part of any investor trip to an epicenter in Ghana.	Three women from Australia were part of the trip: Natasha Duncan, Michaela Green and Toni Stampalija.

Tove Jensen inviting the women leaders of Taido epicenter to join her at the microphone.	Students demonstrate their mastery of English by reading from a library book to Paul Teichmann.

Investors Tom Lemons, Ingvar Jensen and Bill Ulwelling at Cape Coast	We attended the ribbon cutting for this Kumasi Ventilated Improved Pit (KVIP) toilet at Waakrom in the Asafora epicenter.

 

These are a group of leaders in a community within Taido epicenter who were very proud to let us know of their progress since guinea worm is under control. People are now returning to the village.

 

En route to the next epicenter, Ronald Bartram and Kees Bronke consult with Janet Owusu Asabre, who heads the African Woman Food Farmer Initiative in Ghana.	This cistern (which collects rainwater), built by a community in Taido epicenter, has virtually eliminated guinea worm in this area. Guinea worm is a parasite people get from drinking unclean water.

 

This is a three-acre wood lot, which can be harvested every four years so that women have a source of wood for their cooking fires. The community plans to expand this lot by one acre per year. Note the man carrying his child, a rare sight!	THP investor Lisa Halton (left) was drawn to this young woman with her New York shirt.

Viveka Runsten and friends in the well-stocked library at Atuobikrom epicenter.	KT Mitiaev and Charles Chater speak with school girls at Atuobikrom epicenter.

 

A little girl carrying her sister at a celebration with Marc Mehl looking on.	THP staff members Sanaz Memarsadeghi (middle) and Janet Owusu Asabre (right) talk with a farmer at the Taido epicenter.