POTABLE WATER FOR YAMOAH NKWANTA

Patriots Ghana University Chapters (UCC, Legon, KNUST and MUCG) have decided to volunteer 1 to 2weeks of their summer long vacation every year to provide support for one of the poorest communities in Ghana and help them with some basic needs including social amenities. Patriots Ghana is a registered non-profit non-governmental organization that seeks to develop, encourage and empower Ghanaian citizens and organizations to undertake community services geared towards national development. Jei Krodua -Yamoah Nkwanta, the town selected is in the Awutu Senya District that’s in the Central Region of Ghana. The village has a population of about (800) eight hundred and currently lacks access to any basic social amenity. Though there are several challenges or needs, one of the most pressing needs of the community is access to portable water. The locals currently resort to a stagnant water source for their domestic activities and it has the potential of enhancing water borne diseases. The government of Ghana under the Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation project sponsored by the World Bank (WB) drilled a borehole for the community and other nine others in the district. Unfortunately, funding for the project seized and the constructors halted the project since 2008, but had finished with the drilling. Addition to this challenge the community also lacks a toilet facility and further enhancing the potential for increased water borne diseases. According to the health records in the district, most of the health cases from this community and its environs are as a result of poor and bad water sources. The nonexistence of a health facility also makes it impossible for the community to handle some of these health problems resulting from contaminated water source. Children who have been sick and drop out of schools due to contaminated water and basic health issues is increasing and has resulted in increased school dropout rate. This has become a great need and why Patriots Ghana University Chapters has decided to help provide a source of Potable water for the Yamoah Nkwanta Village. Aside that they would be offering free teaching and evening classes to the children in the village to help improve their academic performance and also engage the whole community in public health education on various health issues especially those that are related to sanitation and hygiene. The Patriots team has visited the village on several occasions to do a feasibility study, officially meet the chiefs and community leaders, and interact with the locals to identify the problems of the community and how best they can be solved. The team has also made an official visit to the District Chief Executive of the district, Lieutenant Daniel Osardu (Retired) and has received approval and the support of his high office. Patriots Ghana is soliciting for support financially, materially or any kind of assistance so we can provide the community with this basic need and solve the problems that are associated with the lack of these social amenities. Pictures and videos of the project will be sent to our donors or anyone who contributes to the construction of the portable water. Thank you in advance for your generosity and for taking your time to read this message. http://www.patriotsghana.org/ https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.646361805455714.1073741858.396983500393547&type=1 http://awakeafrica.org/university-students-embark-on-project-to-provide-community-with-portable-water/#sthash.ltq1Dehn.SqYs6RdB.dpbs

ICT OUTREACH AND FREE EYE SCREENING AT ANTWIAGYEIKROM

On the 17TH May Patriots Ghana KNUST (PGK) partnered the Young At Heart (YAH) Ghana organization for an ICT outreach to Antwiagyeikrom in the Ashanti Region. This was to mark the final ICT outreach of YAH’s Discover ICT project that seeks to educate school children on Information Communication and Technology (ICT). The organization has been to various rural communities such as Bredi, Abuabogya, Okyerekrom etc. This outreach brought together 47 volunteers from PGK and YAH together with volunteer optometrists for free eye screening and AIESEC volunteers and interns in Ghana. The team was introduced and received by the Headmaster Rev. Prince Charles and afterwards the volunteers dispersed to various classes from Class 1 to Junior High School 3. The students were enlightened on the communication, parts of the computer, types of computers, various basic operations and maintenance of the computer. The children were also taught an ICT song composed by YAH to help them remember what they had learned. The optometrists also screened the various children for possible eye defects and problems and advised the good practices to help them have good eye sight. During break and after the lessons the volunteers used the opportunity to advise the students on various social issues and also holding onto what they learnt.

Conference for youth in Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana.

Patriots Ghana KNUST supported iSmile International to organize and hold the BEYOUTIFUL SEMINAR for teens in the metropolis at the GNAT Hall, Amakom, Kumasi. iSmile International is an NGO that embarks on various outreaches to various villages and rural areas to support the schools and the less privileged especially in the schools. The organization is made up of passionate people from all walks of life that want to contribute towards the development of society. The Director of the organization, Miss Priscilla Yirenkyi and the President of Patriots Ghana KNUST, Emmanuel Yamoah both Sociology and Social Work students of KNUST brought together 30 student volunteers from both organizations for the event. The major speaker for the event was Dr Frances Azumah, a lecturer at KNUST and other speakers were from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and Pastor.The participating schools were Elite College, Ideal College, and also teens from King Jesus Charity Home, SOS children’s village and other teenagers resident in Amakom. The teens were talked to on various topics related to personal hygiene, reproductive health, personal development, etc. The volunteers also interacted with the teens on various social issues and encouraged them to stay focused on their education to become great men and women in the future. Afterwards, there was a question and answer session where the teens received various prizes.

World Health Day 2014 Ghana

To celebrate World Health Day, Patriots Ghana KNUST had a reproductive health talk and discussion at the Unisco Model Complex, followed by a research on adolescent reproductive health. The talk was organized for all the Junior High School students in the school. The team of volunteers talked to the students on the different behavioral changes that occur at that stage, how to have control over the edge to indulge in sexual relationships, and abstinence from sex. The students were also enlightened on how pornographic materials and the mass media can give them false knowledge and contribute to them having a desire to have to sex. They were encouraged to always have the confidence to approach their parents, teachers, religious leaders or the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana to discuss their weaknesses, problems, etc with relation to sex. The students were also educated on teenage pregnancy, its effects, the causes, and how to effectively prevent being a victim. They were also made aware of how to treat such victims properly and to learn from their mistakes. Finally, they were advised to take their education very seriously as they are the future of the country and to stay focused on achieving greater heights. The students prompted on the various obstacles to becoming great people in future such as teenage pregnancy, laziness, bad peer influence etc. After the session, a research questionnaire was distributed to the students to fill out anonymously. The research is help PGK identify the knowledge base of teens, their problems, a source for future reference etc. Thereafter, Patriots interacted with the students and gave out copies of Jack Reagans book to students that answered some questions and made contributions. Happy Word Health Day. Join Patriots Ghana NOW Source: Emmanuel Yamoah President Patriots Ghana KNUST Contact: 0247602583 (whatsapp, viber)

Clean Up exercise at University Hospital

Patriots Ghana KNUST in collaboration with the Student Parliament KNUST organized a cleanup exercise at the University Hospital, KNUST and its surroundings. The Hospital serves as the health facility for the university students and also residents of Ayigya, Ayeduase, Bomso and many other surrounding communities. The event was one of the various events for the month of March as it’s the month of Ghana’s independence. The volunteers distilled the gutters, picked around, swept etc. The volunteers were offered gloves, boots and nose mask for protection and also brooms, rakes, shovels, wheel barrows, cutlasses etc. to ensure that the exercise was done effectively without any health problems. UTV Ghana, a local television station was present to take coverage of the exercise and also interview the Speaker of Parliament, the president of Patriots Ghana KNUST, (Emmanuel Yamoah) also the health personnel at the hospital. After, the exercise the volunteers had a breakfast and socialization session to get to know about each other’s volunteering experiences and about the two groups. Patriots Ghana KNUST would like to say thank you to the University Hospital, Zoomlion Ghana LTD, and UTV Ghana. Patriots Ghana KNUST- Developing the Nation with Passion. Join now and let’s make a difference together Source: Emmanuel Yamoah President Patriots Ghana KNUST www.patriotsghana.org www.patriotsghana-knust.webs.com +233247602583

Visit to family with five blind offspring

Patriots Ghana KNUST being touched by the plight of a family in Kumawu Bodomase decided to visit them during their Easter break. The family of eight has five of the children blind and the parents currently jobless. The students solicited for funds from their fellow students, friends and family and members of the group. Members of the chapter accompanied by a media group on campus called watuptek embarked on this outreach. On reaching their destination, they were welcomed by the family and both parties introduced themselves. The president ( Emmanuel Ato Yamoah)of the group prayed and told them the reason for the visit. He then asked them about their wellbeing in all aspects and also about their situation. The mother told them that they weren't born blind but they lost their sight as they grew up and have been told by the doctors that there is no cure. The children of Madame Abena Kokowa (who does not know her age) are Kojo (42),Kwaku Solomon (36), Abena Mary (34) Comfort (32) and Dorcas (22). The youngest ( dorcas) who attends Senior High School told the group about the challenges she has been going through and how she manages to study. According to her there is not sufficient learning material for her and also most of the text books and manuscripts she needs are not in the braille form. After inquiry, the family told them about how they currently do not receive any support from the society, NGO or the government, not even with regards to Dorcas and Comforts schooling. They all expressed how they wish they could have sight so they could support the family and relieve their mother of the burden since she is old now and they are also very capable of working. The president then asked them what is the one thing they would like the group to do for them and they responded that they would like to receive a training and financial support in vocation and also financial support for those in school. The team led by the president donated items such as; rice, oil, soaps, washing powder, blankets, bed sheets and many others to them and wished them a happy holiday. After they helped them with some of their chores, interacted with them, prayed and later asked for permission to leave. We hope our visit impacted their lives and gave them another reason to be happy in this festive season. Patriots Ghana KNUST intends to provide a more sustainable support for this family and others and requests for support from any individual or group that would like to make a change. Thank you and Happy Easter. Contact- +233(0) 247602583 Source: Emmanuel Yamoah President Patriots Ghana KNUST www.patriotsghana.org

Patriotism Project to nurture next generation of patriots in Ghana

Patriots Ghana KNUST as part of their vision to nurture the next generation of Patriots and intellectuals in Ghana visited the Ayeduase Cluster of Schools for a talk and discussion session. The president, Emmanuel Yamoah spoke to the children about patriotism and illustrated some acts of patriotism using current and historical patriots. The students were also enlightened on the difference between Patriotism and Jingoism. Using the difference cultural indicators, the students were encouraged to value themselves, feel proud to be Ghanaian and continue to cherish the dressing, food, literature, symbols, film, music and dance, etc. The Daniel Owusu a student volunteer and member also made the students aware of the various resources of the country such as cocoa, timber, petroleum and natural gases, agricultural produce etc. Thereafter through a discussion they were showed some of the reasons why despite these resources, the country is not developing at its full capacity such as lack of human resources, corruption, illiteracy, poor sanitation etc. They then stressed on how the children of Ghana are very important to the country and their role in ensuring that Ghana develops. They were encouraged to stay in school and study very hard, help their friends, keep the environment clean, respect the laws and cherish their rights, etc. Further, Selorm Deku spoke to them about staying focused on their education and making every effort to develop, learn and shunning any habit that would hinder them from being what they desire to be. He illustrated how laziness, irrelevant relationships, media, disobedience etc could go a long way to destroy their future and affect the development of Ghana. Afterwards, all present stood up and recited the national pledge and then twenty students that answered questions were given a free copy of the How to Pass your Exams book by Jack Reagans. The questions included the meaning of the colors of the national flag, the meaning of the word Ghana (Warrior King). Thereafter, Godwin Seworno made a presentation of the Ghanaian National Flag to the school, followed by a group picture with the flag and interaction with the students and teachers. Patriots Ghana believes that as a country if we make a conscious effort to nurture and invest in the children of Ghana, and also by developing their minds to think positively and love their country, Ghana will be able to develop to her full capacity. Patriots Ghana- Developing the Nation with Passion Source: Emmanuel Yamoah President Patriots Ghana KNUST www.patriotsghana.org www.patriotsghana-knust.webs.com +233247602583 (whatsapp, viber) Pa