VALENTINE CHARITY TRIP

The redefinition of Love has taken different forms over the years in relation to the celebration of Valentine's Day. Years have recorded different affiliation with Valentine and the youth as a whole. Gladly enough, Ghana Cocoa Board adopted St. Valentine's Day and made it the National Chocolate Day, which seeks to mark the day of celebrating love and patronizing our made in Ghana Chocolates.  

Since the inception of the National Chocolates Day, there has been various activities to mark Valentines Day. The Pervita Foundation, a non-governmental organisation ceased the opportunity to re brand St. Valentines day by serving the rural communities. 

TOURING WITH A PURPOSE is a youth wing under the foundations social calender that seeks to bring the youth together to give back to society. As its uniqueness, the event seeks to bring the youth to appreciate and bridge up with culture and re identify ourselves with our roots as Ghanaians. 

Over the weekend, the youth based organisation took a trip to Agbagorme, South Tong district to re paint a 2 unit school building for the children in the village. They also mounted street signs to serve as indicators for driver using the route. Sports materials as well as educative materials were presented to the school. 

The objective of the charitable deed is to encourage children to make education their number one priority. it was also to create a conducive environment for children to learn and develop their minds by way of sports and non formal activities. 

The chief of the village, Torgbui Dornor, expressed his profound gratitude to the team for leaving such a memorable mark in the lives of children and the community at large. He tasked school authorities to ensure that the building is kept in good shape to serve the purpose it has for the community. 

The train still continues as Pervita Foundation will be touching lives through tourism. 

Volunteer Profile: Ismail Isshaq

Ismail Isshaq is a 25 year old art enthusiast who started painting at the age of 6 years. He hails from Apam in the Central Region. He enjoys football and his hobby aside painting is fashion designing. Isshaq attended Ghanatta College of Art and Design which he graduated successfully. Isshaq has a passion for charity. 

He has been involved in a lot of charity since completing Ghanatta College of Art and Design. Isshaq believes change comes from agents, and he is a vessel put on this earth to help with change. His artwork is mostly inspired from his personal life experiences. He sees art as a medium through which young talents can develop themselves. 

Isshaq partnered/volunteered with PerVita in 2012 to handle the art session during our Tour With A Purpose because he values the idea of giving back to society. He has been very keen on imparting and changing livelihoods through art. Isshaq handles the art session with so much enthusiasm and concentrates on unearthing the talents in the children even to the extent of getting them to paint for the first time. The level of attention he gives to the children during these sessions is unrivalled and he has been very prolific in teaching the children to paint.

     

He always has patience and his very determined nature guides the children into following his footsteps as he leads them to produce their own art pieces. For most of these children it is usually their first experience and the end result is always exciting for them. Isshaq always makes the sessions very exciting by creating a competitive atmosphere where each child's work is judged by the on looking crowd and then gives the winner the demonstrative art piece painted by himself. His generosity and love for helping the less privileged is what has led him to many opportunities. He believes in making a difference by using the little that you have; in his case his talent as an artist...

 

During his leisure he spends time to discover new art work. He is always in the process of reinventing his artwork. Isshaq is always a desire to watch when he is creating an art piece. Because to him art is not only what you see but the process that is involved in creating an art piece is art in itself.

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Volunteer Profile: Jessica Paist

 

Tell us briefly about yourself

My name is Jessica. I am 25 years old. I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. My favorite color is purple. My favorite food is macaroni and cheese (yum!) with sandwiches being a close second. I am often considered “old-fashioned” by my closest friends because I enjoy things like swing dancing, snail mail (letter writing), and antique hunting. I have a pet cat named Zippy who might as well be my child. I have a large family - 6 of us in all. I seek out good coffee, and I love elephants and reading. I have a passion for education, and someday hope to be a certified primary teacher.

What did you do back in the US before this volunteer?

Prior to leaving for Ghana, I spent the last two years working with a franchised Marriott property in Atlanta. I started as a front desk agent in 2011 and was promoted to Front Desk Lead shortly before my departure in 2013.

Why Ghana?

I chose Ghana very intentionally and for many different reasons. I knew that I wanted to gain teaching experience, but these days you can do that in most every country worldwide. I could have stayed in America to do that. However, I knew that I wanted to experience and become familiar with another culture, and I knew that I wanted to be removed from my comfort zone. I want to be the type of person who can adapt in any given environment and I figured that going to Africa was a good way to accomplish that goal; I knew that it would be very different from anything I had ever experienced. Prior to my decision my cousin had previously spent the summer in Ghana, and spoke about how much she enjoyed it. My French language skills are not strong enough to be immersed in a French-speaking country, so I knew I would pick an English speaking country. I also took current political standings into place. While I wanted something that would challenge me, and make me a stronger person, I wanted to be safe while doing this. I knew that Ghana was an independent republic and had a stable government. Lastly, and probably most importantly, I knew that while I was doing all of the aforementioned things, I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to help someone “do good”. It just so happened that I made a connection with Pervita, which is based in Ghana, and the rest is history.

What are the highlights of your volunteer?

Taking the children from New Life Orphanage to the beach, getting to know the children that I teach and what they excel in, learning Ghanaian school games, and learning simple Twi phrases.

What have you learnt so far?

I have learned how to teach in Ghana schools. I have learned how to communicate in such a way that the children I teach understand (I have had to adapt my speech to use terms with which they are familiar). I have learned how to wash my clothes by hand. I have learned how to take a Tro-tro (mostly). I have even learned to like beans!

How are the children like; the ones you teach?

Currently, I have 10 children in my class. They are full of energy and LOVE to talk! They each have some area they SHINE in, but that varies widely from football to math to drawing and everything in between.

What are the differences between children in the US and the children in Ghana?

Ghanaian children have more freedom. For example, it is not uncommon to see children walking alone to school or taking the bus alone. In America you usually wouldn’t see that. Ghanaian children also have more responsibility. It seems like they are expected to help wash, cook, and clean among other things. For example, I did not do my own laundry until I turned 10. Also, American children don’t clean their own school every morning. Ghanaian children know from a very early age that they do as they are told and that they should respect their elders. This concept varies widely and is dependent on the family environment and the moral influence of the home. For example, some American children may be expected to act one way at school, and have another set of standards that they adhere to at home. These are just a few examples though.

Mention something you will miss when you leave Ghana.

I already know that I will miss the people I have come to know. My friends. My Pervita colleagues. The children I teach. The children I will begin teaching in June. They each have already become such a big part of my life, that I know it will be hard to leave it all behind come November.

 

Please CLICK HERE to become a volunteer at Pervita Foundation

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Painting Project: Painting the only community school in Menpe Meho Asem

On the 16^th of November 2013, Pervita and Dress A Kid Foundation graced the school of Mempe Mehu Asem Elementary School. The school is the only basic school in the community. The 32 member team compromised of volunteers embarked on the wonderful journey to paint the only community school in the town of Menpe Meho Asem. As part of the painting project we donated exercise books, pens, pencils, slates and other stationery to the children of Menpe Meho Asem. 
The trip started from Kwame Nkrumah Circle where most of the volunteers convened to join the bus. The ride was very refreshing; beverages were served. The trip to Menpe Meho Asem lasted about 50 minutes from the pickup point to the said location. Upon our arrival, we were welcomed by very happy pupils.

Team leaders from both foundations formally gave a welcome address to all the volunteers and inspired them to contribute their all towards the worthy cause.

 Without wasting much time we commenced the painting by first receiving a quick tutorial on painting, which was led by one of the three professional painters who accompanied us.

After the quick lesson all painting work began and it was a smooth exercise. A lot of people did not realize they had great painting skills which was a good surprise to many.

While the exercise was on going we took the liberty to perform our some interviews with the school authorities in which serious issues affecting the education system in the community was documented.

ISSUES IDENTIFIED

1. Lack of proper administration: one office is shared by the headmasters, common staff room, administration and also house cabinet for book keeping.

2. Uncompleted school buildings: Class 5 to JHS 2 is not completed which makes it difficult for classes to go on when it rains. Pupils are forced to join other classes which results in teaching being put on hold due to disruptions by the perching pupils. 

3. No library Facilities

4. No ICT Center

5. High level of teenage pregnancy in the community

We conducted an interview with the headmaster which resulted with him highlighting the following areas which are of most importance to the administration. 

• Finishing the primary 3 classroom
• Water project
• Construction of library

Finally the painting project came to a successful end and the picture above shows the finished painting project plus the wonderful group that made this possible.

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REPORT ON WORLD FOOD DAY

On October 16 2013, PerVita Foundation in collaboration with HiGrade Media and Chefs for Change Foundation Ghana embarked on a journey to feed 3000 people to commemorate UN WORLD FOOD DAY. Among the 3000 included people who belonged to homes for the aged, orphanages, sick people at the hospital, inmates of the asylum and those living on the streets.

Hunger in Africa is one of the greatest problems that the continent faces in the 21st century. A combination of a poor economy, damaged farmland and questionable leadership has resulted in a large swath of nations in Africa to suffer from hunger. There are a number of organizations that attempt to address these issues; however, the need is greater than the available resources.

As a complement to feeding 3000 people, we educated the general public on the need to preserve food for future use. A lot of times, we waste food, mostly out of leftovers. These leftovers will serve as source nutrition to the person living on the street, who in most cases, is in dire need of something to eat in order to survive. This is the motive of Chefs for Change Foundation.

Foods were prepared by a number of Chefs in Ghana and distributed to over 3000 people living on the streets and in homes that we visited. Amongst the places we visited were Osu Children’s Home, The Accra Psychiatric hospital and finally at the venue, Obra Spot Accra, where the main proceedings took place; public address and creating awareness about wastage, a cultural dance session, food distribution to the public, etc.

We had a lot of very important personalities who graced the gathering with their presence and helped to make the event a success.

Guiseppine Baafi, Miss Ghana 2013

 Felix Owusu, Ghana’s finest Highlife musician.

Buddaman, Ghana’s most listened to Dancehall artist was also there.

A special thank you goes to Chefs for Change Ghana Foundation, HiGrade Media, Finatrade, RiceMaster, Gablin, Chosen Rehab, Dream Hunt and all volunteers who passed through in making this a success.

We can end hunger. It will take all of us.

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REPORT ON OUR VISIT TO VILLAGE OF HOPE

PerVita Foundation has throughout its activities touched lives with creative means. For us, as a team we believe that the development of the child can be done in different ways but we are looking at longevity and also bring out the best in the growing Child.

TOURING WITH A PURPOSE is a creative charity trip under the wing of PerVita Foundation. We believe that we can add a touch of creativity to our beautiful sites in the country. Surprisingly enough communities that host lots of the tourist attractions lack basic social amenities. The idea behind TWAP is to visit beautiful sites in Ghana but make sure we leave a mark or make an impact as per our visit.

We have been on a number of such charitable trips and our next stop was at Village of Hope, Gomoah Fetteh, Central Region, Ghana.

Village of Hope is a home which houses about 215 children. There are 9 different homes that house these less privileged kids and give them better shelter, love, care and hope. These children are found on the streets, brought in by good samaritans and some are also referred to the home by Social Welfare.

On the 31^st of August, we decided to embark on a life changing journey to the Village of Hope. This journey was purposed to touch the lives of the children in the home, Village of Hope.

Our trip was directed at bringing out the best in these less privileged children. 

The important part of our visit was organized into 4 sessions for the wonderful children of Village of Hope.

ICT SESSION: 

This session was dubbed TECHNO-FUN (Technology made Fun). The use of ICT has over the years been a challenge to children living in our part of the world as compared to the other parts of the world. As per our research, the environment we live in currently is technologically rich. But our concerns are being directed to the villages and the less privilege who do not have access to technology. TECHNO-FUN was a session which encouraged the children to be conscious about the world that we live in and how technology will be taking over the world in the next world. They were also treated to some games to ensure that this session was friendly and lively. It was also to encourage these children to move outside their comfort zones and bring out the best in them.

BEAD MAKING AND SHIRT MAKING SESSIONS:

These sessions also brought the skills and arts in these children. The idea of this session is also to equip these children with basic skills in the bead and shirt making industry. Children are very adventurous and are sought to be more creative with skills such as sewing and weaving. Amazingly enough we had children from the home who had such skills and they fit well in this sessions. Our team brought materials that will help make the sessions more fruitful. They made earrings, wrist bands etc with beads and threads. They also created patterns and sewed them in shirts

CREATIVE ART SESSIONS:

Children are believed to be living in an imaginary world and this session was to bring out what they imagined and put on paper through creative arts. These children were led by an artiste who helped them to come up with ideas and also to develop their skills in that order.

SOCCER CHARTIY CUP:

We rounded up with a soccer match between the PerVita team and the Village of Hope team. As fun as it was, we also picked up some raw talents from this session. It is important to build on talents so that these children can make something out of their God given talents. Village of Hope team won the match on penalties shoot outs.

Apart from these sessions, we donated items such as beans, crates of eggs, clothes, shoes, books and educational materials to support the children in the home.

Special thanks to all our volunteers who took time off their busy schedules to make this event a success. We had a wonderful team who helped in various ways to ensure all session were effective. Our thanks also goes to Horseman Shoes for donating GH 2,000.00 to these less privileged.

We are hopeful to come up with subsequent events to touch lives and make livelihoods better for these less privileged ones.

 

OUR OBSERVATIONS:

We observed that these children are very talented and creative even in their state. It is also important for us to organize such regular visits to bring out the best in these children. These children have wonderful gifts and ideas which can be exploited for their own benefits, therefore we would have to come back and do a proper evaluation on talents that were hunted in the home and how best to move them forward.

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