Post on 10-Mar-2016
description
transcript
Out of AfriKids
For most of you Mama Laadi will need no introduction; a former street child who has dedicated her life to helping the most vulnerable children in her society, Mama Laadi counts among her family HIV/
AIDS orphans, ‘spirit children’ and those with special needs. Under her loving care and in the warmth of ‘Mama Laadi’s Fos‐ter Home’ they are growing to be happy, rounded individuals with a sense of self worth and the confidence to take up the opportunities in life they now have.
September 2009
AfriKids is a Child Rights Organisation working to improve life for Ghana’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in a holistic, inclusive and sustainable manner
Mama Laadi Needs You! Watch Laadi’s video appeal
AfriKids is careful that every activity we fund in Ghana can be sustained and it is our goal to help AfriKids Ghana become entirely self sustained by 2018. One of the greatest challenges is ensuring that Mama Laadi’s Foster Home can continue to run into the future. Caring for vulnerable children takes time, patience and resources.
The family want to know that their future is secure and that they are able to stand on their own two feet. This year we have been presented with a fantastic opportunity to make this a reality.
We have been offered first refusal on a large family home ready for conversion into a guest house that has the potential,
according to expert feasibility studies, to raise most of Mama Laadi’s Foster Home running costs through profit. It will also provide training and employment for the older children of the home interested in hospitality.
Thanks to the generosity of a few individuals, those who attended Burns Night supper 2009 and a new corporate donor we
have raised and paid for most of the cost of the home, but we have £10,000 outstanding to be paid this autumn. If everyone who receives this newsletter gave £14.20 towards the project we would achieve this. Read more about how you can help on page four. Watch Laadi’s video appeal
Above left, Paul receives a prize for ‘best all round’ in Physical Training
“I want to say thank you to the country that gave me life. It is my proudest moment to say I
am part of the British military.” Paul Apowida speaks to the Northern Echo, 08‐08‐09
By the age of 21 Paul had already done more than he had ever hoped
with his life; completing school, excelling in art college, raising over £30,000 for AfriKids in sales of his paintings and being surrogate father to the four younger boys AfriKids had
supported to move to Accra. This was not enough for Paul who had set his sights on the British Army, driven by the belief in working for a better world, holding his own head up in society and finding an outlet for his ever increasing fitness fanaticism!
Paul has so far raised over £30,000 for AfriKids through the sale of his paintings
Paul was born in the village of Sirigu 24 years ago, tragically his father died shortly before his birth and his mother shortly after of an epidemic sweeping the area. Believing Paul to blame, his father’s second wife arranged to have Paul killed as a ‘spirit’.
Paul was rescued by Sr Jane, the indomitable lady who was our first ever partner in Ghana and who ran a babies’ home nearby. He was cared for by her and later sent to one of the best schools in Accra under scholarship.
Three years on after hurdles and set backs that would have tried the patience and most self assured of
souls, Paul passed out as Rifleman Apowida of the First Battalion, The Rifles on a sunny August afternoon in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.
Congratulations Paul!
AfriKids staff and supporters attended, proud as punch!
One of the first children AfriKids supported, Paul Apowida has come a long way since Georgie Fienberg, AfriKids’
International Director met him 11 years ago when he was just 13 years old. Read below to see the extraordinary life he’s
led and the amazing hurdles he’s gone through to get to where he is today.
Out of AfriKids inside stories
Paul poses for the press with his art
The Northern Echo caught up with Paul
at the beginning of August
On the 7th August 2009, Paul passed out as Rifleman Apowida!
£740 for kitchen equipment
£465 to pay for salaries for one year
£14.20 could go a long way......
Fundraising
We need you to help us to raise money for Mama Laadi’s Guest House. Thank you!
“You people are so wonderful, when I was first told we would have a home I could not believe it, now to be given this new place, I don’t know what to say. This gives us the opportunity to work hard and earn our own keep. I was never a big person in society, al‐ways begging from others, but now I can make my own way and cater for my children independently. Thank you” Mama Laadi, Project Manager of Operation Mango Tree
The Guest House has been running a skeleton service for AfriKids
staff and visitors since April 2009 and is already providing some fantastic opportunities for Mama Laadi’s older
children. Kwesi, who has several learning difficulties and never managed to cope in school was last year given a placement with the
department of Parks and Gardens where he is flourishing. He has been working on the Guest House garden and it will be his first
major project using the skills he has learned. Bridget is the older sister of Kennedy, both of them are orphaned and Kennedy falls
under Mama Laadi’s care. Through the week he lives with Bridget who was keen to keep the family together and supplements the
feeding allowance she receives for Kennedy through work as a seam‐stress and now as the mistress of the Guest House. She’s a natural
host and organises the other staff and volunteers at the home with a
sense of pride. Mary and Vida and are both spending their school holidays being coached in cookery by
Mr Barry and this will set them apart from the crowd when applying to catering college next year.
Bridget takes a rare Sunday off
for a walk in the Tongo Hills
A share of £14.20 will help AfriKids raise the final costs of buying Mama’s Place, the Guest House that will help make Mama Laadi’s Foster Home sustainable
£740 will buy all the kitchen equipment needed to serve the Guest House’s customers and train Mama Laadi’s older children in catering under the tutelage of Mr Barry, Bolga’s best chef
£436 will pay the salary of the Guest House’s cook and caretaker for one year whilst business develops
Patience, Bridget, Mary, Isman and the famous
Guest House chef, Mr Barry
Mr Barry cooking up a
storm
The guest house could provide
a permanent job for Mary