Health

With a village that has a population of between 800 and 900 people it is important that health is taken into consideration in terms of providing the villagers with the quality of life they deserve.  One example that was bought to our attention was when a village elder was taken ill in the middle of the night. The nearest hospital is about half an hours drive away in Cape Coast. However, the village had no means of transport and as in many similar cases, the woman had to be carried to the main road on the outskirts of the village to try and obtain transport from there. This can often be difficult at night and sometimes dangerous. It actually took 5 hours for the woman to arrive at hospital to be treated.

As a result we thought it would be beneficial for Akatekyiwa to have their own medical centre. Therefore if the same incident were to occur again then medical supplies and a community nurse would be at hand straight away, and if the case was bad, then the person taken sick could rest in the medical centre with the correct attention whilst waiting to be admitted to hospital.  In addition to this it will also be used for minor incidents such as the dressing of small cuts and wounds. The centre will not only provide for those of Akatekyiwa but also surrounding villages, as well as a base for medical outreach projects.

Education

As we all know, a well structured and supported education is the only way forward  for the children (and some adults) to achieve higher educational standards. We have already donated educational games which were brought to the village by Alistair. Currently we are still working on a major project to install an I.T & Library Centre in the village. So far 24 computers have been shipped over to Ghana and an electricity supply has been installed into a building in the village in readiness. The opening of the centre has however been delayed due to a change of government which has caused work to stop on a part built school building awaiting its roof. Once the roof has been put on the children can move out of the existing building and the computers can move in. As with the medical centre, the I.T Centre will serve surrounding communities.

Sport

Most children around the world love to participate in some kind of team activity, whatever it may be. Unfortunately, games such as Rugby are, not surprisingly, seriously underfunded in Ghana. Dedicated (and generally unpaid) coaches are attempting to teach this great game to children of all ages, but without basic kit, the majority are excluded.