Let others praise the intellect game
The cold cleverness, the strong easiness! Yes, let them praise only what they want –
I prefer the voice of the heart.
C. Hostrup.
Newsletter May and June 2015.
The month of June has delighted the board in From Heart to Hand with new members. Also, we have got new sponsors. We are very grateful about this, we always have children and young people who need our support.
We’ve got an updated list of German sponsors and on that basis we have undertaken a thorough review of all sponsored children and their needs. Some German sponsors pay larger amounts than we were aware of. It is gratifying, but also means that we have Danish sponsors who pay for a child that no longer needs the money. FHTH Denmark has no direct contact with the German sponsors; we will therefore make contact with some of the Danish sponsors to hear whether they would like to support another child or not. We hope everyone understands the situation. All funds raised have to be used in the best way possible, where the need is greatest. Furthermore, the need for support is greater the older the child is. When they start at Senior High School, schooling is expensive and if it is a boarding school, it is even more expensive. We are looking for sponsors who will help cover these costs. All amounts – large and small – are greatly appreciated and you will receive a sponsorship certificate of the child you support financially. Several sponsors for a single child are regarded as a family who step in and help another.
A final update is on the way on the website, but be patient with our good webmaster who performs the work in her spare time.
We are very appreciative of all the grants that are received during the month
Facebook is continuously updated; it is often exciting news from Lianes Bazar.
Lianes Bazar has, like the towns other businesses, been influenced by the unstable summer weather and did not bring as many customers as in May. But we hope for many tourists in the rest of the summer period. The schedules are, despite holidays and sickness gone up and we owe all the volunteers a big thank you for their efforts. Our last staff meeting was held as an excursion to a lovely park on Tømmerbyvej. It was a lovely experience and we are grateful for Lissy Johansens benevolence.
Lianes Bazar has been sponsored streamers to the windows: Designed by Nicolaj Hygebjerg and the printing was sponsored by Densi Print Baltic Brønderslev. Beautiful sponsor gift which we are very pleased to see at the windows. A big warm thanks to the sponsors.
The preliminary opening days of the exhibition rooms in Broad Street 64 has shown that customers are aware of our stock on the address. Next opening day is 23.07 – 08.06 – 20.08 – 09.10 – 09.24. We hope for good sales on these dates.
At the general election faithful volunteers stood with money boxes at the polling station in Brønderslev Hall, which gave a large contribution to the association’s work.
News from Ghana; we let Liane speak for that. Thank you Liane and Ben that you are there!
A warm thank you to all of you Danes, who in one way or another contributes to From Heart to Hands work in Ghana and make all this possible.
Weigh sternly, and then give!
Search port and stay there!
Think right, and then write!
Do good, and work so!
Christian Winther
Website:www.fromhearttohand.dk
Please remember the code to the reports: zztop55 Username word: bruger
Meet From Heart to Hand and Lianes Bazar on facebook. .
German facebook page: www.facebook.de / FHTHde
Membership and sponsorship can be agreed on: contact@fromhearttohand.dk or paid at Lianes Bazar.
The membership can be paid into the association’s account at Spar Nord: 9028-457-18-99286
DKK 150 for an individual, 250 per. household, DKK 500 for associations, DKK 1000 for firms.
Please remember half price in Lianes Bazar the last working day of the month.
Vouchers for the association can be obtained in Lianes Bazar or the association’s address.
We accept all kinds of bric-a-brac and we can pick up larger things. (Niels: 20 70 50 49)
Please let us know, if you want any specific items from Ghana. We might be able to get it for you.
Please let us know if you get a new email address and to you who get newsletters and report sent by post: please give us your email address as well.
From Heart to Hand Ghana
Report for
May and June 2015
It is the rainy season in Ghana, and in recent months it has been raining more than expected. The rain has created countless floods, hundreds have died and thousands have lost their homes.
And it’s still raining. The disasters always hit hardest at the poorest people, those who already have enough to worry about. It’s not easy being poor in a country like Ghana, where there is no insurance, no movables or damage insurance, just nothing. There is no cash help, sick-day money, invalidity or disability pension.
If you have an accident, there is no safety net – you just hit the bottom, and you have to try and stand again as good as you can.
And people are getting up, getting up again and again, and they fight on. – That I do admire.
It’s summer in Europe, and although summer may not have been exactly as you had hoped, it is probably not quite bad anyway – and if you have a rainy day in your vacation, regard it as getting a little bit of our rain from West Africa – the rain we have far too much of.
– Very good summer to all of you.
Our families:
Family no. 1:
Mother: Sidonia Dagaar
Children: Ernestina, Kwabena Joseph, Akosua Mary, and Kwaku Emmanuel.
When Sidonia became ill and could not work, she could not look after Kwabena and Kwaku Emma. They moved therefore acutely to the center, and Sidonia came to the doctor. She was given blood tests, but it turned out that there wasn’t anything seriously wrong, other than that she was probably hungry and exhausted. After a period of rehabilitation at the center, she is now well again, and has gained weight.
The boys are doing well, and they started at the same school as the center’s other children.
The plan is still that Sidonia and the boys as soon as possible will be the first ones to move into the new center, which is not far from the house we have rented now.
Family no. 2:
Mother: Olivia Owusu (Yaa)
Child: Viola Owusu (Vera)
Olivia is busy in the store and now has five girls to teach. She has many events and is now known in the area. When Yaa was apprenticed her manager died of breast cancer. The manager’s family has now contacted Yaa, and offered her to buy all the furniture from her store, which has been closed down after her death. Yaa has accepted, and are now paying it off bit by bit. It is a good opportunity for Yaa, and she is happy.
Yaa and her boyfriend have visited Yaas father, in order that they plan to marry. The father told her boyfriend about the bride price he has to pay him. He demands 1,000 cedis (2000 kr.) and twelve pieces of precious fabrics, various beverages and gin. In addition, Yaas mother’s family demands 400 cedis (800 kr.). It is not easy for an ordinary working man to marry a woman in a local way in Ghana, and Yaa is now waiting what her boyfriend would do. It’s hard to see, especially because we know that the family and especially his father have never taken care of Yaa. It therefore seems quite unfair that he should have a “bride price”.
We have encouraged Yaa to find an apartment near her store so she can move out and live with the boyfriend for some time before they possibly marry each other.
Viola is well. In May we celebrated her seventh birthday.
Family no. 3:
Children: Enock Akrugu and Samuel Akrugu
Enock stayed in May and half of June in school as a boarding student, to finish his final examinations. The exams are now over, and he is now waiting eagerly for the results and new school location he has applied for, which comes during the month of August. We hope Enock can find some work in the period until he must start in Senior High School in the fall.
Samuel has been lucky, and sponsors have helped him financially to get a bridge. He lost one of his front teeth when he was a child, and it therefore meant a lot to him when he in May had a new tooth fitted and again could smile to the world J
Family no. 4:
Father: Kofi Boakye
Mother: Afia Badu
Children: Kofi Frank Boakye, Yaa Akoto, Yaw Awuah, Evans Boakye and Akwasi Adjei.
After the holiday Yaa has been living with her grandmother. The first while she took the bus back and forth every day, and we talked to her when we visited the school. In recent visits to the school, Yaas teacher told us, that Yaa hasn’t been to school the last couple of weeks. We went to see the family and met her father. He was drunk and not quite sure where Yaa was, but maybe her grandmother had sent her off with an uncle to Accra to live with him? We then phoned the mother, who was just as confused as us and we agreed with her that she should try and find out where Yaa is. It is under no circumstances correct to let Yaa move out from town, without informing or asking her parents first. We now await the situation.
The father’s family has offered them to move “home” to their family house, so the family can help them with the children, but the father refused! -We have asked him to think about it again. The parents will certainly benefit from the assistance.
Family no. 5:
Children: Lucy Amankwa, Stephen Amankwa, Felicia Amankwa, James Amankwa, Elizabeth Amankwa, Philippa Amankwa, Nana Emmanuel Amankwa (Kwaku).
Ben and I attended Christiana’s funeral, in their hometown, Koforidua. It was some really tough days, of course, most of all for the children. We tried to comfort and took our time with each of the children, made them eat a little, sleep a bit and so on.
Subsequently, everything has to get back to normal again and it has been good for all of them to return to the normal daily chores. They all reacted differently afterwards. James, Elizabeth and Lucy have been ill, but are now ok again. Kwaku has become more defiant, and Philipa quieter. Kwaku and Philipa have spent the weekend at the center, and we have decided that if any of the children want to stay here a weekend every month, they can. We often visit them and Christiana’s sister (the children’s aunt) has now moved in to help them in their daily life.
The funeral gave a nice profit and Christiana’s siblings have decided to spend the money on building two shops by the roadside of the children’s house. Lucy can open hairdressing salon in one room, and Stephen a shoemaker’s shop in the other. We are very pleased about that. There are already molded bricks, and the craftsman must now start to dig the foundation.
Felicia, who is at boarding school not far from the center, is often at the center, and lives here during holidays and so on. She is now a trainee, and has chosen to stay at the center during the internship. Felicia seemed very depressed after her mother’s death, and was very quiet. She is now happy again, and sing and dance.
Family no. 6:
Mother: Talata Felicia Kobina
Children: Harrote Kobina (Bebee) and Angela Kobina
Angela’s mother and father visited Angela at the center a Sunday afternoon. The father was visiting her mother, but otherwise lives in northern Ghana, and only very rarely in Kumasi. The visit was awkward, and Angela did not want to talk with her parents. She has no warm relationship with the mother, and she hardly knows her father. Bebee was fortunately with them, too so they played together with the other children at the center.
Family no. 7:
Father: Kwabena Awuah
Mother: Mary Akomah
Children: Stephen Akwasi Sarpong, Francis Sarkodie Awuah, Stella Owusuaa and Liane Konadu.
In recent visits to the girls’ school, we have been aware that Stella hasn’t been at school very much. This day Liane was not in school, and we went to find out why. The mother was home with Liane, who was ill. The mother admitted that they repeatedly visited the children’s father, and that it has gone beyond their schooling. In addition, both Stella and Liane have been sick. We gave her a warning and asked her to contact us every time the children do not attend school. We pay for their children’s schooling and canteen, so it is only more than reasonable that she keeps us informed.
Family no. 10:
Mother: Ama Bonsu
Children: Vicencia Gyasi Baye, Anthony Twuniasi, Akua Bonsu and Kojo Kliti
We have several times visited the children at their schools, and they are all doing fine. At the last visit the head teacher asked us if we also sponsor the youngest who now has started nursery. We do not, but it is gratifying to see that the parents have chosen to let the younger child start at the same school as the other children.
No family. 12:
Mother: Georgina Atta
Children: Daniel Eshen, Magdalena Eshen, Habeku Eshen, Nehemiah Eshen
+ 4 older children.
Last time we visited the children’s schools, the children were not in school. We came to pay school fees and a portion of canteen money, but when they were not there, we chose to wait until the next visit. The children have otherwise come regularly, but we still keep a keen eye, as we know it has previously been a problem that they do not attend school every day.
No family. 13:
Grandmother: Mary Adugyamfi
Grandchildren: Joyce Adugyamfi and Erica Adugyamfi.
The girls feel really good at the boarding school. They often call us and ask for help if there is something they need. On holidays and weekends off we pick them up and drive them home to their family. The grandmother was upset last time we came. The girls’ father often talks rudely to her because he finds it hard to accept that she is looking after the girls. However, he has never taken care of them and has told the girls that he did not want to help them. The father’s behavior is frustrating for the whole family.
No. family 16:
Mother: Esther
Children: David and Liane
We celebrated Lianes birthday as she is now 1 year old, along with Esther and the children. They are all doing well.
Liane has struggled with a skin disease that David also had repeatedly when he was little. She has been by the physician, and it is now better.
David has been ill with malaria, and we have helped him regarding the treatment. They are now both on top again. The house where the family live has been sold, and they will soon have to find another place to stay. Esther is very worried about that because it is up to her husband to find a new place. Esther wants to start selling different soap, but as they are possibly moving soon we have awaited the situation. Still nothing has happened, so we will now let Esther start with a few products that she can carry around in the area.
No family. 17:
Mother: Stargina Ama
Children: Nana Aquah Lord, Henry Obinim, Louis Obinim and Benedict Nhyira Appiah.
Grandson: Kobii
The boys are doing well and every day they go to school / kindergarten / nursery. However, it remains a problem that they are left so much to themselves and this shows very clearly in their behavior.
Teachers complain that they come to school in broken shoes and without school bags. We have talked to the mother about this and hope she will / can rectify it.
The teacher at nursery has earnestly asked us to take Benedict in care, since they can clearly see that the mother does not look proper for him. –the mother has asked us too, but it is not possible for us. We try instead to advise and support the mother as well as we can, and try and visit the family often.
No family. 18:
Mother: Doris Apana
Children: Benjamin Apana
After Doris has started on new medication, she is feeling much better. She is now completely stabilized, and we have for a very long time not seen anything of her illness. She is doing well and she is fit for going to school again. The next three months Doris will be in an internship, and we therefore hope for her that she will continue to have it as good as now.
We still go with her to check up by the psychiatrist every month, and in July she will also have blood tests and have her Hepatitis C checked.
Benjamin is doing well and it means a lot to his life that his mother is doing so much better.
No family. 19:
Mother: Stella Antwi Asamoah
Children: Christabel, Kingsley, Kelvin Armstrong and Nana Aduah.
Kingsley has like Enock written his diplomas and is now waiting for the results. He is optimistic and confident that it has gone well. Kingsley now wants to find a job until he autumn starts in Senior High School in autumn.
Christabell has been ill with malaria and stayed home from boarding school. The mother was with her at the doctor, and after treatment she was well again. Christabell didn´t pass several subjects at the last term’s exams, and we have talked to her about it. We will try to get a teacher at the school to give her extra help in the subjects where she has problems.
The three youngest are doing well, and we pay regularly their school fees.
The mother has recently sold rice at a school but wants to start something else. It is difficult for her to earn enough to support themselves and five children.
No family. 20:
Mother: Ama Francisca
Child: Liane Amponsah
After a long time we had been uncertain if Ama should continue to receive sponsorship, we have now decided to end it. This decision was taken after we were contacted by police, who said that Ama had been arrested. It turned out that Ama had been in a fight with another girl, and that she had cut the girl three times with a machete. We chose not to have anything to do with this case. Amas mother phoned some days later to tell that the other girl and her family had agreed to drop any charges if they were given a financial compensation. We do not know how much money is involved, but we know that Amas family now pay a certain amount every month.
Liane is doing well, but she is often ill with fever or upset stomach. Ama can not look after her properly, and it’s very likely poor nutrition that often makes her sick. We advise Ama on hygiene and health, and visit them as often as possible.
Liane is happily going to nursery every day, and from now on we focus exclusively on her schooling and health.
No family. 21:
Father: Thomas
Mother: Patience
Children: Joshua and Freda (Mume).
Patience has started selling breakfast (porridge and bread), in front of the house where they live. The father is also back to work, as a driver for a large bus which runs scheduled trips. The family’s financial situation is again more stable, and we are pleased. Freda and Joshua feel good and thrive in school
No family. 22:
Grandma: Cicilia Owusuaa
Children: Akua Nhyira first
Akua Nhyira second
The girls have struggled with scabies, and have for several weeks not been in nursery. The grandmother sent them to the doctor and after treatment they are fine again.
A big thanks to the sponsors who have helped paying the family’s rent. The grandmother is now free of worries, and can now concentrate on the daily chores instead
No family. 23:
Father: Kingsley
Mother: Esther
Child: Fredrick Osei
Fredrick started in the nursery, the same place as our Alfred. The start went well, and he soon got used to the new surroundings and routines. He is really happy about having to leave every morning and comes home singing every afternoon. Alfred is proud to have Fredrick in “his” nursery. He says all the time: “Fredrick is my brother” and he looks after him as the faithful brother.
Fredrick’s mother, Esther, came a few weeks ago to visit, before she hasn’t been for several months. When she came, she had not even money to take the bus back home, and we had to help. She is unstable, confused and have difficulty taking care of herself.
Fredrick’s father, Kingsley, has repeatedly called (illegally) from prison. He wants us to buy food for him, but we have no intention to visit him in prison.
No family. 24:
Mother: Doreen
Mother: Dorcas
Child: Stephanie
The girls’ grandmother, where they live, has had a stroke, and now sits in a wheelchair. It is her who has looked after them so far, so now it is even harder for the girls to function in everyday life. The grandmother gets food from the girls’ aunt, who also lives in the house, but the aunt doesn’t look after the girls. Dorcas still sells fruit, and it is now the income they all are depending on.
It is clear to see that they do not have enough and they do not get the proper nutrition. Doreen has once again anemia, is very weak and receive medical treatment. She is also struggling with severe infections in the mouth, and for the third time in the last year, she has got a tooth pulled out due to infection. Dorcas and Stephanie both suffer with their health and have been sick repeatedly, most recently with malaria.
When Doreen gets better, we want to give her a small amount of money that can help her start to sell in the area near where they live.