Ways To Help In Ghana

Hi Everyone,

Our agency Adoption Advocates International (AAI) does some great humanitarian work in Ghana.  AAI supports Ghana'’s children and families in a number of ways. A significant portion of adoption fees go directly to provide humanitarian support. Primarily, donations are made to NGOs who focus on orphan care and family preservation. However, the funds available from adoption fees only go so far and the need is much greater than available resources. 

Below are some active projects AAI is currently working on.  The first one (Family Preservations Sponsorships) is AAI's current greatest need.  Without some sponsorships there are approximately 15 children that AAI currently helps that will lose that assistance.  However, all the projects are extremely worthwhile!

Family Preservation Sponsorships:  For $35 a month you can sponsor a vulnerable child to go to school and receive lunch each day.  These are children who are still living with their families, in part, because we are able to help with education.  Alternatively, you can sponsor a vulnerable family by giving a food donation each month.  This is a bundle of basic foods (oil, rice, beans) that will help the family fill the gap in their nutritional needs.  Again, this food may literally be the difference in a child staying with their family or being put into alternative care.  Currently there are FIFTEEN children ages 4-15 years who desperately need sponsors for their education.  AAI is unable to continue meeting these needs without individual sponsors.  Please email anita@adoptionadvocates.org to choose a child or family to sponsor.  You can set up ongoing monthly sponsorship through the AAI website.  This is our greatest current need!

Survival Paks: The Ripley Foundation is collecting "Survival Paks" for women and children living on the street or in the marketplace. These are 2-gallon ziploc bags that contain essentials like soap, 2-yard cloth, flashlight and batteries, protein bars, and socks. Please consider putting together 2-5 bags to deliver when you travel to Ghana, or being willing to carry over bags that others have put together.


Diapers and Wipes: Although we rarely have infants available in our adoption program, there are children in care of foster homes or birth families who are in need of diapers and wipes. Please consider donating disposable diapers in sizes 2, 3, and 4. The Ripley Foundation will distribute them to children as there is a need.
 
Nyame Dua Boys' Dorm:  Nyame Dua Foster Home cares for six teenage boys who are not able to be adopted.  These boys are currently living in a wooden structure outside of the main house.  This structure is literally falling apart as termites eat away the wood.  We are currently fundraising to rebuild the structure with wood and concrete, including running water and electricity.  The total estimated cost is $5000.  We still need about $3000 in order to meet the financial goal and begin construction.  This Boys' Dorm will provide a solid long-term home for these young men as they complete their teen years and enter into adulthood.  Donations can be made to "Ghana:  Boys' Dorm" on the AAI website.
 
Food:  Sometimes this need is overlooked, but there is always a need for a simple donation of food!  Each month we give several hundred cedis worth of food to a handful of orphanages and foster homes in Ghana.  We do not give cash, but an actual food donation.  At the top of this email you can see this months' food donation to Nyame Dua.  Food donations can be made in any amount.  Just designate "Ghana:  Food Project" on the AAI website.  Every dollar received is directly added to what AAI already gives each month.  With the rising cost of food in Ghana the homes have a greater need than ever.