August 27, 2024 In Newsroom By WACSI
Giving for Change Programme Fuels Community Development in Ghana
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[Ghana, 9 August 2024] — The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and STAR-Ghana Foundation, in a partnership under the Giving for Change (GfC) Programme, have completed a series of coaching visits to 13 partner organisations across Ghana. These visits, conducted from 22 July to 9 August 2024, aimed to assess and enhance the local fundraising and resource mobilisation capacities of these organisations.
The Giving for Change Programme is a global initiative implemented in eight countries, including Ghana. STAR-Ghana Foundation serves as the anchor institution, with WACSI as a strategic partner. Since 2022, the programme has focused on empowering local communities through workshops and training sessions designed to build their capacity for local fundraising. The recent coaching visits were intended to evaluate progress, offer tailored advice, and document both successes and challenges.
Eastern Region: Local Empowerment in Action
The coaching exercise commenced in Ghana’s Eastern Region on 22 and 23 July 2024, with visits to the Celdar Foundation and the Ark Development Organisation. Following the 2022 training, these organisations established the Anuman Development Foundation, which has since mobilised over 85,000 cedis to complete a local market and initiate other community projects. This success illustrates the potential for communities to drive their own development.
𝘈𝘳𝘬 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘖𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
Upper East and Northern Regions: Community Impact
From 25 to 26 July, the WACSI team travelled to the Upper East and Northern Regions, visiting the Presbyterian Community Based Rehabilitation Centre (PCBR), Morigit Women’s Foundation, and Hereafter Ghana. At PCBR Garu, the team observed the donation of a tricycle to a young community member with physical challenges, enabling them to attend school.
“Being part of the Community of Practice (CoP) has been very helpful,” said Barnabas Abariga, Coordinator of Morigit Women’s Foundation. “We used the shared learning from CoP members to mobilise and engage the community to secure resources like land for the clinic building.”
Hereafter Ghana, meanwhile, has raised over $100,000 in cash and in-kind support to provide health insurance for more than 5,000 children.
𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘣𝘺𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘉𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘊𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘦 (𝘗𝘊𝘉𝘙)
Ashanti Region: Supporting Education
On 29 July 2024, the team visited the Ashanti Region, meeting with Muslim Family Counselling Services and Resources Link Foundation. Muslim Family Counselling Services successfully raised GHC 27,000 ($2,000) to fund a mobile science lab, which is now benefiting over 600 Zongo children. Resources Link Foundation is mobilising the community in Srobokrom to build a six-classroom block, following the successful construction of another classroom block funded entirely by local resources.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘮 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
Volta Region: Innovation and Inclusion
In the Volta Region, the team visited the Kekeli Foundation, Volta Institute of Development Studies, and Africa Disability Institute (formerly Voice Ghana) on 30 and 31 July. “The capacity strengthening on local fundraising opened our eyes to the opportunities within our community, helping us establish the Model Inclusive School,” said Carrie Brown, Founder and Director of Kekeli Foundation Ghana.
The Africa Disability Institute is now developing local fundraising strategies for life-changing eye care equipment, while the Volta Institute of Development Studies continues to champion local fundraising efforts to address the region’s challenges.
𝘒𝘦𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘪 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯
Central Region: Women Leading Change
On 2 August 2024, the team visited the Central Region, meeting with Coastal TV / Central Alumni Foundation (CAF) and CEWEFIA. CAF raised funds to refurbish the ICT Lab at the Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind and improve living conditions for eight orphaned children. CEWEFIA, a women-oriented NGO, engages rural women in local fundraising initiatives that develop their communities and build financial literacy.
𝘊𝘌𝘞𝘌𝘍𝘐𝘈
Greater Accra Region: Enhancing Health and Education
The final stop was the Greater Accra Region on 9 August, where the team visited the International Child Development Programme (ICDP) Ghana. ICDP Ghana’s psychosocial intervention programme is improving the relationships between caregivers and children while also reducing maternal mortality. The organisation has provided subsidised healthcare to over 100 women in five rural communities using a portable ultrasound machine and is collaborating with local partners to improve early childhood education.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦 (𝘐𝘊𝘋𝘗) 𝘎𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘢
Collaboration for Sustainable Development
The coaching visits highlighted the impact of local fundraising on community development. The efforts of the participating organisations, supported by WACSI, have led to significant advancements in resource mobilisation across Ghana. This initiative, supported by Wilde Ganzen through the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, exemplifies the positive change that can be achieved through collaboration and capacity strengthening.
As communities across Ghana continue to embrace local philanthropy, the Giving for Change Programme is enabling local actors to drive their own development and create lasting change.
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