DREAMS OF A VILLAGE
SCHOOL TEACHER IN GHANA, WEST AFRICA
EBENEZER NORTEY-MENSAH
My father trained
as a teacher in Ghana for eighteen years before giving this up to devote
his time, energy and resources to helping children and the poor. He
adopted the motto; "To die a little so that others can live."
According to him, this helped and encouraged him to live and work to
help the poor and the needy without complaining and without looking
back. He did not earn any income, pension or social security, but he
dedicated himself to working to help the poor with the help of friends
from other countries. We all believe he became a source of encouragement,
blessing and help to many needy people in our community and beyond.
He said, at a point he began to realise the full meaning of his name
"Ebenezer". It means "Source of Help"
(1 Samuel 7.12). God has used this man to reach and help thousands of
people in Africa.
THE VISION:
In 1985, Ebenezer
had a vision to:
1. Mobilise students
to plant trees everywhere in Ghana in order to help stop environmental
degradation and to help minimise the problem of global warming;
2. To set up educational
institutions to help educate and train street children from poor and
low-income families, and school dropouts;
3. To set up a farm
to produce enough food to feed the poor and the people of Ghana and
also to train farmers and students in sustainable and organic farming
methods.
The rationale behind
these visions is short: "Give a man some fish today, he would be
hungry the next day; but teach him how to fish and he and his family
would eat forever."
Unemployment is a problem in Africa. We believe it is a result of illiteracy,
which is high on our continent. Educating our youth empowers them and
brightens their future.
These visions have
actually come true and we need much support and assistance to get them
fully accomplished.
A vocational/technical
school and primary school/kindergarten/junior secondary schools have
been established. A total of 90 acres of farmland have been obtained
and five acres of the land have been cultivated and planted. Produce
of the land is used to feed the children of our schools. Lack of support
hinders us from carrying out projects far enough, but we are ready to
expand these visions as soon as there is some support available.
OUR Different MINISTRIES:
A. FUTURE IN
OUR HANDS (FIOH-GHANA)
This project was founded when Ebenezer was looking for help, knowledge
and advice about our tree planting projects and initiatives. The leader
of FIOH-UK, Mike Thomas, introduced it to him and he founded/started
the Ghana Chapter of this project. FUTURE IN OUR HANDS-GHANA which was
registered with the Ghana government as a non-government organisation
(NGO).
FIOH-GHANA has
been able to set up two schools so far. The Annemarie Technical/Vocational
Institute and the Annemarie International School.
i. THE ANNEMARIE
TECHNICAL/VOCATIONAL SCHOOL:
This school was
set up in 1993, with carpentry and masonry tools, sewing machines, typewriters
and computers Ebenezer obtained during his studies in England in 1990.
The institute was set up primarily to help train street children, school
dropouts and children from poor and low-income families in the community
and region.
ii. THE ANNEMARIE
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL:
On July 2, 1998,
a second school was set up by FIOH-GHANA in order to educate children
from poor and low-income families. Subjects taught in the school include
Mathematics, English, Integrated Science, Physical Education, Religious
and Moral Education, French, Environmental Studies, Local Languages,
and Computer Studies.
Ebenezer and his
family selflessly vacated their five-bedroom house to be used as classrooms
by this school. This school started with 15 children and now has a population
of 800 children. Both schools are growing fast.
B. WILLING WORKERS
ON ORGANIC FARMS (WWOOF)
In his search for a more sustainable way of farming, Ebenezer came
into contact with WWOOF International. In 1993 we set up the Ghana Chapter
of WWOOF to promote and encourage organic farming in Ghana and to supply
farmers with "organic" volunteers who come from all parts
of the world. Ghana is the first member of WWOOF International in Africa.
Ebenezer had been the founder and co-ordinator in Ghana for several
years.
Since 1993, over
one thousand volunteers have helped and worked on different farms in
Ghana. Through our initiatives, WWOOF chapters have been set up in Togo
and Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). Arrangements and contacts are underway
to set up more branches on the continent of Africa.
The purpose of
a WWOOF FARM is to educate and train farmers, gardeners and students
about organic farming techniques and practices (and not just provide
farmers with volunteers). To further this general aim we have set up
the WWOOF Organic Farming Demonstration Farm. With some support from
the United States, we have obtained a total of 90 acres of farmland
for this demonstration farm. It is located about 45 miles west of Accra,
Ghana's capital. Two thirds of this land will be planted with fruits
and the rest will be for crops and vegetables. We are training farmers
and students to farm sustainably.
Sustainable farming
means farmers will take good care of the soil and maintain its fertility
through composting, crop rotation and other techniques. This we believe
will boost food production and consumers will have access to healthy
foods. In addition, the use of sound organic practices will improve
the earth and human's life and also improve the quality of life.
EBENEZER'S DREAMS
AND VISION CONTINUES
In the interest
of all these projects, Ebenezer travelled to many countries in Europe
and also the USA. He raised funds on all these trips to keep the projects
running. As with all philanthropists and founders, Ebenezer had little
time for himself. He rarely rested, ate very little and slept only a
little. He dreamed of freeing the community from poverty and starvation.
He worked in the school and on the farm simultaneously. His family and
friends tried to persuade him to slow down, but his selflessness pushed
him on in order to accomplish his vision.
In July, 2002,
Ebenezer fell ill and was diagnosed with colon cancer. Unfortunately
all efforts to help him get well failed and on December 2, 2002, he
died, just a few days before his 57th birthday.
IS IT THE END OF
THE VISION?
A few weeks
after the death of this great visionary, his projects were faced with
doubts of survival. What happens if the schools, especially, collapse?
What would be the future of these children? Has Ebenezer toiled for
nothing?
The answer came
soon when I, then 23 years old and freshly out of the Diploma school,
decided I would commit the rest of my life to the realisation of my
father's visions. I became the Director of FIOH-GHANA and the schools.
I am also the farm's manager.
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED
TOO
Choose any of the
projects and missions listed above and help in any way that you can
to support Ebenezer's vision.
The School - Funds
for a new school building;
Support a child or two;
Books for the library;
Computers to teach the children.
OR, The Farm - Volunteer;
Tools;
Funds to expand our cultivation.
THE SCHOOL'S NEEDS
AT PRESENT
· Funds for
the construction of the new school building.
· Some computers
for teaching the children
· A printer
· Books for
the school library
· Typewriters
for the Vocational school
· Sewing
machines for the Vocational school
