The aim of the Ghana 2010 project was to build a school for the physically and mentally challenged children in SOE village on the outskirts of Bolgatanga in the north east region of Ghana.

The northern regions of Ghana are the poorest in the country, due to this many challenged children are left on their own all day as their parents either abandon them so that they can work in the fields or the streets selling their meager crops or are just unable to take care of them.

The community now has an orphanage to look after those children that are abandoned due to the parents dying of malaria or aids and are now looking to help educate the children in the school

It is against this background that a local community group, Gods Love Ministry a local charity headed by Mary and Felix Amana both school teachers, was formed. It is through their efforts and devotion that many orphans and needy children are fed and cared for. The project meant that as well as being fed and housed the children would gain an education otherwise out of their reach

In recent years JOA have sent a team to this area to carry out a project to develop basic but essential training facilities, these range from tie and dye, sewing, computing and bicycle repair, in the form of a training center in 2004 which has been a huge success. This type of project has provided a significant improvement to many young lives.

The main objectives that Mary and Felix and there group of helpers aimed to achieve were:

  • To provide a caring home and food for orphans and needy children
  • To provide schooling and reduce unemployment of young people
  • To give care and education to challenged children with help and support for the parents
  • To act as a demonstration unit for the community to improve the lives of children.

The 2010 JOA volunteers worked alongside the local workforce to assist with:

  • The construction of a school block consisting of three classrooms, toilets and
  • administration room
  • The installation of irrigation and drainage systems,
  • The building of block work perimeter walls.

Funding for all of these items is provided by JOA.

During team building activities prior to departure in October the volunteers had the opportunity to raise funds for the purchase of equipment for the school.