Olinga Foundation: The Communities Where We Work

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Some of the Communities Where We Work

Perchire, Eastern Region
Perchire is a village with a population of about 800 located in a forested area of Ghana's Eastern Region. The village is situated on a feeder road that is only intermittently serviced by taxis, "tro-tros" or other transport, and is about 15 kilometres from the nearest city, the regional capital Koforidua. The people of Perchire are Krobos, one of Ghana's smaller ethnic groups. Kwashiorkor is prevalent in the village, as are malaria and onchocerciasis. Farming is done almost entirely with hand tools, and only a few villagers are irrigating any land. Very few children in the village ever get the opportunity to attend senior secondary school and among the population as a whole, the literacy level is very low.

Perchire has only one school, a Primary school serving classes one through six. Most children do not attend any nursery or kindergarten, and those who do must walk three kilometres to the neighbouring village of Huhunya and from there are bussed to yet another village. Students in Junior Secondary School must also walk to Huhunya. Very few children, especially girls, go as far as Senior Secondary School, and those who do must travel to the regional capital.
The Olinga Foundation for Human Development began its work in this community in May of 2000 with a workshop for members of the community, particularly youth. The Community is one of the strongest and has very active community-based organisations spearheading what it calls the "Hewamiwom" (empowerment) programme.

Dedekope and Volta Area

Dedekope is a village of about 500 people located in the southern part of the Volta Region. Most of the people living in this area are farmers producing pepper, maize, groundnuts, cassava, melons and beans, and rearing pigs, cattle, sheep and goats. Dedekope has the only Junior Secondary School serving the area, and pupils from neighbouring villages such as Kpeyibor, Mafi Lutta and Dudevi must walk to Dedekope if they wish to attend JSS. None of the villages in the area, Dedekope included, have electricity or running water.

Dedekope is the seat of the Mafi Traditional area, and is also the site of an annual cultural festival called Madaya. This festival, organised primarily by the youth of Dedekope, is used for raising funds for supporting development projects in the village (projects which benefit the other communities, as well). In December, 2001 the community launched the Mafi Education Fund to support junior youth attain higher levels of education. The community funds are matched by contributions from well wishers abroad.

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		Some of the Communities Where We Work Perchire, Eastern Region Perchire is a village with a population of about 800 located in a forested area of Ghana's Eastern Region. The village is situated on a feeder road that is only intermittently serviced by taxis, "tro-tros" or other transport, and is about 15 kilometres from the nearest city, the regional capital Koforidua. The people of Perchire are Krobos, one of Ghana's smaller ethnic groups. Kwashiorkor is prevalent in the village, as are malaria and onchocerciasis. Farming is done almost entirely with hand tools, and only a few villagers are irrigating any land. Very few children in the village ever get the opportunity to attend senior secondary school and among the population as a whole, the literacy level is very low.
Perchire has only one school, a Primary school serving classes one through six. Most children do not attend any nursery or kindergarten, and those who do must walk three kilometres to the neighbouring village of Huhunya and from there are bussed to yet another village. Students in Junior Secondary School must also walk to Huhunya. Very few children, especially girls, go as far as Senior Secondary School, and those who do must travel to the regional capital. The Olinga Foundation for Human Development began its work in this community in May of 2000 with a workshop for members of the community, particularly youth. The Community is one of the strongest and has very active community-based organisations spearheading what it calls the "Hewamiwom" (empowerment) programme.