Olinga Foundation: Building Capacity in Ghanaian Villages

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Building Capacity in Ghanaian Villages
One of the fundamental beliefs guiding the work of the Olinga Foundation for Human Development is that community development will largely depend upon natural stirrings at the grassroots, and that it should receive its driving force from those stirrings rather than from an imposition of plans and programmes from the top. The Capacity Building Programme aims to support grassroots activities in Ghanaian villages by assisting community-based organisations to plan and implement their own development activities. "Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day; teach him to fish, and you feed him for life."
Community-based facilitators help guide the community members through a participatory process of investigation; articulation of key issues and aspirations through traditional media such as drama; followed by planning, action and reflection. The application of spiritual principles is a key part of every step in this cycle.

The process through which we guide community-based organisations is through developing their capacity to carry out their own plans and proposals. Through this process they begin learning to identify key problems, reflect on them and act which leads to mobilising people in their communities. In fact, for us the very definition of development is "learning to apply spiritual principles to achieve progress for both the organisation and the people."
The Foundation begins working with communities by identifying local community members who often act as community development facilitators. Subsequent activities in the village are facilitated by teams comprising of both The Olinga Foundation personnel and the local community development facilitators.

Our Capacity Building Programme is currently operating in two communities: Perchire in Ghana's Eastern Region and Dedekope in the Volta Region. By assisting community-based organisations to carry out their own development projects in areas such as education, agriculture and other aspects of sustainable rural livelihoods, the Foundation allows them to build up their confidence and capacity for directing their own material and spiritual progress. "No matter how far the material world advances, it cannot establish the happiness of mankind. Only when material and spiritual civilisation are linked and co-ordinated will happiness be assured."

The Olinga Foundation for Human Development
P.O. Box 7726, Accra-North
Ghana, West Africa
Tel: +233 (21) 245612/613
Email: olingafoundation@yahoo.com

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Home Who We Are Our History Our Inspiration Guiding Principles Our Programmes Building Capacity Facilitation Training Junior Youth Activities Literacy Community Profiles News Contact Information		Building Capacity in Ghanaian Villages One of the fundamental beliefs guiding the work of the Olinga Foundation for Human Development is that community development will largely depend upon natural stirrings at the grassroots, and that it should receive its driving force from those stirrings rather than from an imposition of plans and programmes from the top. The Capacity Building Programme aims to support grassroots activities in Ghanaian villages by assisting community-based organisations to plan and implement their own development activities. "Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day; teach him to fish, and you feed him for life." Community-based facilitators help guide the community members through a participatory process of investigation; articulation of key issues and aspirations through traditional media such as drama; followed by planning, action and reflection. The application of spiritual principles is a key part of every step in this cycle.