Impact

Last week a consultant from the Netherlands visited us to help the team of the Dagbani Literacy Programme formalise the system of monitoring and evaluation and also review our latest Strategic Plan a little. The meeting sessions were good but long. Because we work with many different donors, they have specific requirements on how we evaluate, report and eventually measure the impact of our work. Of course for ourselves too it is very important to know whether we are achieving our aims and objectives. At the same time it is difficult because not everything is measurable. For example, how can you measure the true impact that reading and writing skills have on the life of an individual. It is probably immeasurable.

'literacy programme planning meeting'

One of our learners once said after receiving a certificate: “What I have learned, no one can buy in the market. Even if somebody would take my certificate, what I have learned will still be mine.” The self-respect and confidence somebody gains through being able to read and write is indescribable. Not to have to thumbprint in signing a document but writing your own name gives a sense of pride and self-worth.

'a literacy class in operation'

Also, it is often the members of a literacy class who advocate for the needs of others in a community. Mbanaayili is a village about 14 kilometres from Tamale. For a few years now the Ghanaian Government has introduced a ‘National Health Insurance Scheme’ (NHIS). The Scheme is especially meant for the poorer people in the rural areas. But the inhabitants of this village like many others did not take part in the scheme because they did not understand its operation. One evening, during one of the literacy class sessions in this village, the learners started to discuss the Scheme. At the end of the discussion they decided to call the community for a meeting and invite a representative from the NHIS to give them more information about the Scheme. After this meeting, many people got interested in registering for the Health Insurance. However, there was another problem. For the women and elderly in the village the distance to the nearest office of the NHIS was too far. The village therefore suggested that the representative leave a number of registration forms with the learners of the literacy class so that they could help to register those who would not be able to go to the office. The representative agreed and those who were appointed to do the registration were even paid a little for it! Today, out of 200 households in the village, 160 have registered. In this village literacy has played a major contribution to the access to health care. This is just one of the numerous benefits literacy has and the impact it can have on the lives of people.

'women discussing problems in the village'

'A dream comes true'

We have dreamt about it for years – a home for young people to support them in their education and their spiritual growth. Since last Monday, 15 young people have been given a place in such a home, ‘Tahima Yili’ or in English ‘Home of Hope’ because of the assistance of a group of friends in the Netherlands, ‘Stichting Verrekijker’. Wonderful!

'Tahima Yili'

The young people who have been accepted for the first phase of the project come from remote villages where opportunities for a good education are limited. For these young people (aged between 13 and 20) and their parents this is also a ‘dream come true’; better education, parental care and guidance.

'the first students coming to live at Tahima Yili'

'interviews'

'meeting with parents and guardians'

'interview Panel'

So far, 7 rooms have been built; 4 are for the students and 3 for the house parents and their family who live with the young people.

We had to buy a watertank for Tahima Yili to store water as the waterpipe is not flowing in the area of Tamale where the hostel has been built. Trucks with water will have to supply the hostel. Just to give you an impression of the size of the tank we put Samuel in front of it.


The young people come from different religious background. The parents and guardians who came with the children for the interviews before being accepted into the hostel were very excited when they heard that Tahima Yili offers more than just accommodation (see our blogpost, Building, Building, Building for more details). For Pastor Barnabas and his wife Lardi (the house parents) a huge task lies ahead as they lead and develop the project providing support and guidance to the youth. Besides taking care of their own 3 children, it is a great responsibility to also take care of another 15!

This is only the first phase of our plans for ‘Tahima Yili’. You can read about our other plans for this project on the 'Stichting Verrekijker' website. The website is in Dutch, but you can use the Google translator to read it in English, click here: 'Stichting Verrekijker in English'.

PRAYER POINTS

Thank God for:

• The completion of the first phase of the building

• Barnabas and his family who are going to lead the project

• Stichting Verrekijker and all the people who support the project

• The opportunities for the young people that this project offers

Pray for:

• Barnabas and his family - that they will be able to lead the young people and make the house a home

• The young people - that they will feel at home soon and that they get along well with each other and their house parents
• The education of the young people - that the schools they are visiting do offer good education

• The spiritual growth of the young people

• The future plans of the project

• The Project Board in Ghana and Stichting Verrekijker in the Netherlands

Please also pray for Joke’s back as she is currently experiencing a lot of back pain