CONSTRUCTION OF GARDEN WALL

Construction of a 10,000ft² garden wall is currently underway in Guabuliga. The garden project, which is under the broad umbrella of BRAVEAURORA’s Livelihood Promotion Programme is constructed by local experts using indigenous tools and materials. To foster a sense of ownership, individuals from the various sections of the community lend their support to the construction process. Once complete, the garden is envisaged to serve as a training field for locals interested in extending their knowledge in organic farming- twelve budding local farmers have already been selected to undergo the training. As a year-round project, the garden will also be a demonstration farm to locals who want to learn about off-season farming and the different varieties of crops suitable for the area. The training will be led by a team of professionals from the Asiribisi Self Help Initiative who have amassed years of experience in organic farming techniques. Construction is in the final stage and the training has been slated to start in the coming month. Shots of the construction are shared below: 

Masons at work.

A view of the wall

Preparing mud for the construction

Preparing the ground

A mason at work whilst a trainee looks on

SECOND ROUND OF THE VILLAGE MICROCREDIT DISBURSEMENT STARTS

BRAVEAURORA has commenced the disbursement of funds to the twenty-eight (28) beneficiaries who made the final cut of microcredit applicants. Eight (8) out of the twenty-eight, including one group of three (3) have so far received the funds. They are expected to use the low interest loans to jumpstart their innovative businesses and for most, expand their existing ventures. Offering local entrepreneurs with these loans triggers a multiplier effect both at the household and community levels; ensuring that families live well above the poverty line. Monitoring and support visits are offered to beneficiaries to certify that their businesses are on track and to offer them with basic skills required for the businesses to blossom. Snapshots of the disbursement are shared here:    

Madam Susana receiving microcredit from BA project manager

Madam Sirina receiving microcredit to expand her dressmaking business 

Madam Akuyoma Atanga receiving microcredit to expand her Pito (local wine) business

Chief witnessing the disbursement of microcredit to Joseph Gumah

 

CARPENTRY PROGRAMME INTRODUCED AT THE GUABULIGA VOCATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

BRAVEAURORA has introduced an all-new carpentry programme into the Guabuliga Vocational Training Centre. This follows the successful introduction of the weaving and baking programmes at the beginning of the 2015/2016 academic year. In sum, fifteen energetic trainees are taking part in the programme. This highly impactful training is scheduled to run for 13 months.  Mr. Michael Bayara, a native of Guabuliga is the master trainer. He brings on board years of experience in carpentry and joinery. The trainees are very excited about the opportunity to learn and they hope to redefine sector opportunity after completion. The training will propel them to newer economic heights; lifting them and their families out of poverty. Below are some pictures from the training:  

Energetic and highly motivated carpentry trainees at work

carpenters busy at work

Trainees taking instructions from their master trainer

carpenters at work

Football match: Braveaurora vs local village people

Nearly every day pupils of the Guabuliga schools play football on the field behind the school. Melanie had the idea to organize a football match with the local village people. At the Braveaurora meeting, Melanie mentioned the idea to the BA members. Everybody was delighted and looked forward to play against the home team. The idea was interesting to staff as some of them hadn´t played football for ages. :-)
The team of Braveaurora included some members of BA, the volunteers and some of the former orphanage children. The team was well dressed and had a great time :-)
Melanie organized water, a referee, 2 assistant referees , a whistle and a ball....let the match begin!!!
The match started at 5.00pm on thursday, 11th february. Everybody was motivated to win this match. Lots of spectators cheered for their favorite teams. The first goal was for the BA team, but unfortunately the local village people won 3:2......we did very well!
At the end everybody enjoyed the match, maybe there will be a return match to get a chance to beat the local village players :-)

Melanie & Jasmin

Trash Project - CLEANING THE MAIN ROAD

Last Monday, the 8th of February some pupils, local village people and the volunteers started to tidy up around the school and main road of Guabuliga. It is important to take the first step.
On this morning there was a BA meeting, all the staff members were motivated to help with the project.
Jasmin went through the classes to inform the pupils about the “project” after school -> HELP was needed. Melanie visited the community lead on the waste project- “Ziblim” the day before the exercise for discussions on how the activity will be conducted.  Big bags were organised to collect the waste.
After school around 2.30pm lots of pupils came together to support the exercise. Nothing succeeds like success. Many locals of Guabuliga joined the project. This afternoon was very successful and fulfilling for everyone. After a few hours, the school environs and the main road was spick and span!
Together with the children, the team burned the whole trash, it was a good day to show all the people especially the pupils the importance of cleaning up!

Melanie & Jasmin

Young Ambassadors Programme (YAP) at Banawa

On the afternoon of Friday, 29th January, the YAP took place in Banawa- a village in the  West Mamprusi District in the Northern Region of Ghana. We went together with three children at the ages of 16 and 17. They talked about their experiences through their family life and the joy associated with staying in their extended families. Also three adult members of the extended families joined us. Eklimatu, one of the social workers of Braveaurora introduced and explained the whole project and it's objectives to the people of Banawa. The programme seeks to inform the people about the negative effects of institutional care and giving away children to orphanages.

Later, an officer of the Social Welfare Department of Walewale arrived at the place and talked about the positive effects of reintegrating children into their (extended) families.

Lots of people (32 men, 7 women, 26 children)  from Banawa came to the meeting point and showed interest in the speeches of our staff members.


Volunteers: Jasmin & Melanie

                                                   Staff of the YAP and the Volunteers

Parents/ children meeting in front of the office

Parents meeting was on Monday, 25th of January it was good to get in contact with them on our first day. Eklimatu; a soial worker of BRAVEAURORA introduced us to the parents and they  introduced themselves.  They gave us an overview about the children they are taking care of. The only problem is that most of the parents aren't able to speak english because of their low education.
For this meeting 14 parents appeared.

Two days later there was the childrens meeting. The main topic for this meeting was about their education; attendance and grades in school. The kids are supported with materials for school for example books, pens and school uniforms. They have to explain why some of them aren't as good as their classmates. None of them could  give a good answer about this issue. Some of them are just not interested in school at all. The social workers keep trying to inform the children that it is important for them to attend school.

Volunteers Jasmin & Melanie