Youth Understanding of GCED by Emmanuel Yamoah

Outreach to the Community Special Vocational School, Deduako.

Last weekend, 21 members of Patriots Ghana KNUST embarked on an outreach to the Community Special Vocational School, for Intellectual Disabilities Deduako-Kumasi. The purpose of the visit was to interact with the students, commence the collaboration between the two organizations, engage in gardening together with student and make donations. The patriots were received at the school amidst drumming and dancing by the schools cultural troop, and they couldn’t help but join in dancing. After everyone was seated, the assistant headmaster, Mr. Joseph Stanley (Msc.) welcomed them to the school. The founder of the chapter, Mr. Emmanuel Yamoah, responded by introducing the team to the school, after which each member introduced themselves to the school. The students of the school then enthusiastically introduced themselves, mentioning their names and nicknames. Mr. Yamoah then explained the reason for the visit and activities for the day. He talked about the intentions of the chapter to support the school, which are in three forms. Firstly, to supply the school with food items and renovate the schools garden to ensure sustained food supply. Then provide the school with materials for their workshops and market the end products. Lastly, initiate a self-help group (with CLED-Ghana) to improve conditions of students and ensure all the above initiatives are properly carried out. Afterwards, the patriots together with the students held hands and went on tour of the school. They went to the workshops, and here the students showed them some of the artifacts they make, such as candles, beads, macramé, batiks, leather works etc. They also went to the dormitories, and the students were so happy to show them their nicely laid beds and proposed that the chapter spends the night in the school. They then went to the office of the headmaster, Mr Stephen Gyasi, where he presented a nicely designed candle to the president of the chapter, Shamsiya Abdul Kadir. This was to commemorate the beginning of a long lasting relationship between the two organizations. After everyone present went to the garden of the school to prepare beds for planting of the vegetables and also clear the land to plant maize. This was done with the help of expert from the Faculty of Agriculture, KNUST. This turned into a fun activity, which everyone participated in and interacted with each other amidst laughter. The maize planted would help sustain the food supply of the school, since it has a lot of uses. After the day’s work, it was time to have more fun! There was drumming, dancing and eating together, dubbed “sobolo party”.Each student had a dance partner and there was a dancing competition between the students and the patriots. There was so much joy in the atmosphere and it also created the opportunity to get to know each other more. Finally, the president and executives of the chapter presented the donations to the school. This included bags of rice, gari, sugar, maize and also can foods, clothing, shows, toys, toiletries and detergents, extra seeds, a first aid kit, bed sheets and many other items the students requested for. The students and staff of the school were so happy and headmaster thanked the team on behalf of the school. After this, each student took a picture a member of chapter he or she has been with throughout the day and all the pictures would be printed and sent to the students. After the day’s event, the reporter from Nhyira Fm (104.5) and Luv Fm (99.5) interviewed both the headmaster of the school and the leaders of the chapter. They used the opportunity to create awareness about stigmatization of people with disabilities and also to solicit for support for the school. The leaders of the chapter also met with the staff to make preparations for future initiatives geared towards ensuring that the students are well catered for, trained and properly integrated into the community. Special thank you to our National Cordinator, Eric Opoku Agyemang, Director of Campaign for Learning Disability, Mr.Padmore Quansah, and Director for Girls Education Initiative of Ghana, Elizabeth Patterson for the expert advice, contributions and future support for this project. Patriots Ghana KNUST would like to express our profound gratitude also to everyone that supported, especially all the students of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), that donated cash and items. And also the patriots of KNUST for saving 1cedi per to donate and making every effort to make this happen even when it was within the examination period, especially the executives and the project coordinator Theophilous Adjei. We also thank Nhyira Fm (104.5) and Luv Fm (99.5) for assisting with advocacy. The next phase of the project is to increase awareness about stigmatization of people with intellectual disabilities, increase food supply, improve the workshop’s productivity and initiate a self-help group. All these initiatives would be done together with the students, their parents, and the school. Patriots Ghana is requesting support for this project financially to complete and sustain the proposed initiatives. As far as we are concerned disabilities means possibilities. You can support us by donating to MTN Mobile Money account 0247602583 or donate online at. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/support-for-school-for-the-intellectually-disabled

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