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Honouring young achievers: meet some women on philanthropic mission
All is set for the announcement of the top ‘Forty under 40 Achievers’ for year 2022, later today at Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra.
The award would be conferred on nominated young people with the highest public votes in each of the categories. A fortnight ago, the focus was on some of the candidates selected randomly from all 40 categories.
This week, the spotlight is on the women competing in the Philanthropy and Charity Category, as provided by the organisers. There is more to follow after we know who wins what at the main event.
Ms Henritta Somuah
Popularly known as Nhyiraba Herty, she is the Founder of Touching Lives Outreach International, a registered entity which has been operating for over 10 years. She holds Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accounting from Takoradi Technical University (TTU).
Henritta reaches out to orphans, women and girls, street children and underprivileged persons. Through her educational and vocational training projects, many girls and vulnerable youth have acquired vocational skills while others have also established small scale businesses to support themselves and their families.
Some children she had helped rescue from the streets had been enrolled in her charity school called Touching Lives Educational Complex which provides free tuition, while supporting some of the beneficiaries to further their education to the secondary and tertiary levels.
The initiative had earned her recognition as she has secured land to construct a seven-unit classroom block, vocational training centre for women and girls, a computer lab, and other facilities at Kwei, a remote community in the Western Region of Ghana.
Naa Kuorkor Mayne-Eghan
She holds a degree in Sociology and Economics from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
She is committed to supporting mothers of sick and premature babies by donating hospital equipment and providing for newborns and their mothers.
She leads ‘The Jay Foundation’ which, in July 2020, built and furnished a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Mothers’ Shed at the Keta Municipal Hospital. It again donated about GhC 300,000 to NICUs in some hospitals and health facilities across the nation since 2019, mainly to support preterm and sick infants; their mothers and the hospitals.
Some of the hospitals include the Tema General Hospital, Nsawam Government Hospital, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Shai Osudoku Hospital, Keta Municipal Hospital, Banda District Clinic, Bamboi Polyclinic, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, and Wenchi Methodist Hospital.
In spite of challenges, she and her team continue to lessen the burden on mothers, new borns and facilities they reach out to, across the country.
Ms Esther Tibila
She is an enthusiastic social entrepreneur who founded the Disability Not Inability (DNI) Foundation with a focus on helping people with various forms of physical disabilities, especially children, in the areas of education, health, and entrepreneurship. She is passionate about social inclusion and development.
She holds Master of Arts (MA) in Ports and Shipping Administration in addition to a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Logistics Management from the Regional Maritime University.
Esther believes “everybody has untapped potentials that may never be realised unless they receive the proper instruction, nurturing, and guidance.”
She started the DNI Foundation at age 25 and had since supported over 300 people with disabilities and their families through a number of activities. She has collaborated with organisations such as the Mephibosheth Training Centre at Ankamu near Apam, the Gbi Special School at Hohoe, the Physically Challenged Action Foundation at Offinso, the Gbeogo School for the Deaf at Tongo, the St. Theresah Vocational Training Centre for the Physically Challenged, Abor, and the Good Samaritan Home for Persons with Intellectual Disability at Adidome.
Though she may not be able to reach out to everyone, she has pledged to “influence positively and help transform the lives of those she has come in contact with.”
Through personal and crowd-funding projects, DNI Foundation has been supporting the physically challenged to return to school, acquire a trade, or receive medical treatment.
Ms Faith Aku Senyo
Senyo
Faith is a professional teacher. She holds a Diploma in Basic Education, Bachelor of Education in Home Economics and a Masters in Leadership and Administration.
Her drive to help others was stoked up when she saw the countless hardships that her students and their parents had to endure in order to pursue a better life. Mrs. Senyo has embraced the call to serve with open arms, touched many lives in a positive way, and won the hearts of many more people, including corporate organisations.
She is the proud founder of ‘The Rebranded Lady’, a legally recognised non-governmental organisation dedicated to the overall well-being of women, children, and economically disadvantaged members of society.
The organisation is certain that women empowerment and motivation leads to better homes and a thriving nation, and has, therefore, initiated a number of projects targeted at women and the underprivileged.
Some of the projects include the “Mother of Many Missions,” programme which provides 30 disadvantaged children with food, clothing, and school supplies. The organisation again offers period kits to girls through its “PinkPlate Charity Bundle” initiative.
Education Minister Haruna Iddrissu has announced that government is working to make education free for all learners with special needs, with funding expected to come from GETFund.
He shared the plan during a press briefing with the media.
According to him, an initial estimate shows that the policy will require between 65 million and 100 million cedis every year.
He noted that GETFund currently has a budget of 9 million cedis, and with proper adjustments, it should be possible for the fund to release about 100 million cedis every other year to support the policy.
Mr Iddrissu added that government is also committed to providing free tertiary education for all persons with disabilities.
He explained that the support will go beyond classroom learning and will include feeding and the provision of assistive learning devices for learners with special needs.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana’s singing Prophet, Joseph Atarah, has released a video for his new song dubbed ‘Increase’. The video was directed and shot by renowned director, Sky Web.
The motivational video exhibits captivating dance moves, set against the vibrant and beautiful city of Accra. Prophet Atarah co-wrote the song with Nana Boateng.
Touching on the message during an interview on Hitz FM’s Daybreak Hitz, he said, ‘Increase’ is a motivational song telling people not to give up in their present situation. According to him, with determination and a relentless desire to succeed, God will make everything beautiful.
“As you trust in God’s plan, remember that ‘INCREASE’ is on the way. Just as seeds grow into harvest, your faith is growing into abundance. God’s got you, and His increase is surrounding you,” he added.
Prophet Atarah resigned from the military band in 2006 after an encounter with God to start his prophetic ministry and commenced his music journey about four years ago.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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