Ghana Christian Family Foundation
COVID -19 FAMILY FOOD PACK DISTRIBUTION PROJECT.
PROJECT COMPLETION REPORT
INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND
Ghana, like much of the world was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Ghana was not spared of the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the economy and millions of livelihoods. The pandemic’s socio-economic consequences exceeded the immediate health impacts and loss of life. Losses in employment, business slowdowns, interrupted education, and food insecurity continue to threaten many lives. The most devastating effect was and is the rising economic hardship that already vulnerable Ghanaians have to face - the pandemic has deepened the economic hardship and the poverty situation in Ghana. Ghana Christian Family Foundation (GCFF) with the support of the Board in US and our donors rolled out a charity livelihood support project titled COVID-19 FAMILY FOOD PACK DISTRIBUTION in June 2020 and successfully completed the project on 26th September, 2020.
PROJECT OBJECTIVE/GOAL
The general objective of the project was to meet with families, whose lives and existence were threatened by untold hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and share with them (the families) the love of Christ, give them hope and a reason to draw closer to the Lord in their difficult moments. The specific objective was to donate food packs (rice, cooking oil, mackerel and tomato puree) to vulnerable Ghanaian families.
PROJECT ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Nine hundred and seventy-seven (987) families benefited from the COVID-19 family food pack distribution project. In addition, one hundred and fourteen (114) priests from fifty-eight (58) parishes and rectories were supported with Gh₵ 500.00 feeding donation per parish. The feedback in the form of appreciation and the smiles and the happiness on the faces of these families were beyond what words can capture. The food distribution brought hope to the many families who were at the point of despair because they could not get help from anywhere.
DISTRIBUTION
Done in ten (10) days, the distribution of the family food packs took place in fifty- eight parishes and rectories within the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Coast, Ghana. A three member team were assigned to do all the distributions. They (the distribution team) were joined on the 1st day by three (3) Board members, and one Board member on the 4th and 6th days.
RECOMMENDATION.
In order to make future projects like this more effective, the team recommends the following:
1. We limit our coverage in terms of distance and increase the number of beneficiaries, and also allow more time in the distributions. This will allow us to get to the homes of the beneficiary families, get first-hand information or pictures of their plights, and make informed decision in subsequent projects.
2. Funds can be release to cover two or three days, and before the end of the 2nd or 3rd day, the next tranche will be released.
3. Following the low quality pictures we captured during the execution of the project, it is imperative we purchase a high pixel camera for the organization. This is very significant in our work as a NGO – most of our stories are told in a more visual way than text.
4. We complete the setting-up of the office in Mankessim. It is obvious eyes will be following us and people would want to know where we are now that the organization is getting known – we cannot leave any doubt on the minds of prospective partners upon their visit to the office.
REQUEST FROM THE PARISHES
1. While on the field for the distribution, we noticed four beneficiaries are in need of wheelchairs, but two are in critical need of wheelchairs. We present this request for your consideration and support for the purchase of four wheelchairs. The price for one wheelchair in Ghana ranges from Gh₵ 550 to Gh₵ 850 ($100 - $155). Buying the four will cost us $400 - $620.
2. Rev. Fr. Bonaventure Gnaha parish priest for Nkanfoa, Cape Coast proposed a partnership between GCFF and his parish aimed at imparting and impacting many young school going girls and boys with no sense of purpose and drive; those who have no understanding or awareness of their responsibilities, a partnership that will find ways of curbing teenage pregnancy. We, the team, think this is doable. We only have to put together a well thought-through approach, strategies and contents that are imparting and impactful; contents that are relevant and address the attitudinal and leadership problems of a young “purposeless/aimless” school going boy or girl.
3. Rev. Fr. Louis Emil, parish priest for Dawurapong has made an appeal, requesting GCFF to support the church to get a mechanized borehole water for use by the church and some members of the community. He further stated their (the church) readiness to pay about 40% of the cost involved in drilling a mechanized borehole should GCFF agree to their request and cannot take up the full cost involved. To him, the absence of “good” water is a major issue of worry to priests and residents who stay there. Our observation reveals that the borehole when drilled will serve the mission house and the church and most importantly, serve about 150 - 200 members of the community. The cost of the last contacted company for the drilling was put at Gh₵ 10,000 ($1,890)
4. We received a request from the Daughters of Mary and Joseph, a religious society that runs an orphanage and a home for children with special needs in Ahotorkrom; that “we consider donating food items to support the orphanage in our subsequent donations.”
APPRECIATION
The families and parishes that benefited from the GCFF COVID- 19 Food Project, express their profound appreciation to ALL DONORS of the Ghana Christian Family Foundation, from whose benevolence the Foundation was able to bring God’s love to families in need. The team in Ghana expressed our profound gratitude to the Board of Directors of the Foundation (Mr. & Mrs. Mark and Margy Hanson, Mr. & Mrs. John and Carol Nelson, Mr. & Mrs. John and Jill Sankovitch, Mr. & Mrs. Pat and Mindy Stahr, and Mr. & Mrs. Ed and Cyndi Volcko) for the many selfless efforts and sacrifices they make towards the vision of transforming families in Ghana. We also thank all the Advisory Board Members in Ghana (Dr. Samuel Antobam, Rev. Fr. Anthony Enyinful, Rev. Sr. Christina Doggu, Rev. Fr. Polycarp Hagan, and Mr. Owusu-Sekyere). Finally, we are gratitude to Fr. Richmond Dzekoe (the Executive Director and Co-founder of the Foundation).
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