Gushegu Area Child Development Programme ends its operations

The Gushegu Area Child Development Programme (GACDP) has ended its operations in the Municipality in the Northern Region, after 19 years of implementing various interventions to enhance the welfare of children among others.

The GACDP, with funding support from Children Believe, an international Non-governmental Organization (NGO) during the period, implemented interventions in eight communities focusing on key thematic areas such as education, health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, sustainable livelihood development and strengthening institutions. It also supported community organizations, child protection, environment and disaster risk reduction, agriculture and HIV and AIDS.

The beneficiary communities were Zori, Kpahikpaba, Kpisinga, Kutung, Sukaya, Nayugu, Tingdang and Sampemo. Mr Kweku Asare, the Director of Markaz Al Bishara (MAB), at a durbar at Kpatinga in the Gushegu Municipality to mark the end of GACDP’s operations in the area, said it had been a journey of transformation, empowerment and resilience, which had shaped the lives of many children, families and communities in the area. Participants at the durbar included some of GACDP’s sponsored schoolchildren, chiefs, opinion leaders, representatives of the Ghana Education Service and Ghana Health Service. Some of the students and pupils performed drama on the importance of education, while others shared testimonies and gave appreciation for the impact of GACDP’s interventions on their lives.

Mr Asare said some of the projects executed by the GACDP in the area, included the construction of a four-unit kindergarten block with an office, store, kitchen and dining for the Kpahikpaba, Kutung and Sukaya Schools. It also supported the Kpatinga Health Centre with a Child Welfare Clinic, two motorbikes for community outreaches, and the provision of over 1,000 age-appropriate dual desks for schools in the community. Others were the provision of 13 rain harvesting tanks (10,000 litres) for seven primary schools namely Tingdang, Zori, Sukaya, Kutung, Kpahikpaba and Nayugu, the construction of one set (merry go round, slide, swing and climber) outdoor play materials for seven kindergarten schools, construction of household latrines in seven communities namely Zori, Kutung, Sampemo, Tingdang, Sukaya, Kpahikpaba and Nayugu.

Further, the project saw the construction of over 700 ‘soakaways’ for wastewater in seven communities, mechanized and piped water at Kpahikpaba community, three overhead installed polytanks for water storage, three fetching points, 25 bicycles for students, 25 dual desks for primary schools, as well as 25 back packs for pupils. Mr. Asare said the organization also formed and trained Parent Committees with a membership of 56 in these areas, formed 39 village savings and loans associations and 38 Youth Savings and Loans Associations, and formed seven disaster risk reduction groups in seven communities.

He said “As we celebrate this graduation, let us remember that it is not an end but a new beginning. The structures we have built, the knowledge we have shared, and the lives we have transformed will serve as the foundation for continued progress.” Madam Esenam Kavi De Souza, the Country Director, Children Believe, said the successes and impact recorded over the period of the interventions in the area, had been a shared responsibility between the community and stakeholders. She urged community members to take good care of the facilities to help improve their livelihoods.

Mr. Lawrence Abdulai Iddrisu, the Gushegu Municipal Director of Education, said the projects had been instrumental in promoting holistic development in the area, as they addressed educational and other critical needs of the people. Mr. Asuma Mahama Jato, a sponsored child, who is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy Degree at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, spoke on behalf of the sponsored children, and commended GACDP and its partners for their support. He said “Your efforts have not only transformed individual lives but also brought meaningful development to the communities. Through your generous sponsorship, many of us have been able to achieve milestones that were once unattainable.”

The GACDP later presented start-up kits to some youth who underwent skills training in the areas of cosmetology, carpentry and tailoring, (10 in carpentry, 10 in tailoring, two in hair dressing, two in welding, one in glasswork and one in make-up and decoration). The start-up kits included manual planer, electric drill, handsaw, butterfly sewing machine, grinder, welding machine, make-up bag, trimmer, cutter, ring light among others.

Source: GNA