Blog: Africa

Upper Egypt Village Cluster, Egypt

Children’s Development Program (CDP)

We are excited to report some of our results from this past quarter:

Over a period of fifteen days we shared about summer diseases through a pamphlet, reaching a total of 939 women, teenagers, and children.

Saneba Village, Burkina Faso

Saneba is 10 km from the main town of Founzan, where our Transformational Community Development (TCD) worker, *Bono, is located. These 10 km are not very easy or accessible, especially during the rainy season, when the village is pretty much cut off because of flooding. However, the village chief of Saneba makes it a point to make the journey to thank Bono for the transformational work that is happening in his village.

From dependence on illegal trade a harvest of life-giving vegetation…what a difference a simple item like a water pump can make in a community! GHNI field leader, Lemi, shares this inspiring story.

Valuable lessons on the power of words help bring a message of hope to young and old alike in this update from Farhan and Lydia, GHNI National field leaders in Egypt.

Helwan Village, Egypt

A mother brought her 25 years old daughter to be checked, because she was suffering from varicose veins in her leg. After we help her, we are encouraged that she had amazing healing and her legs became very good. She also now has hope.

We distributed sweets, soap, and towels to all children.

Ebola has fortunately not spread to Kenya and east Africa yet and hopefully won't. But 10 flights per day land in Nairobi from west Africa, so the possibility is real and everyone knows it... including those who live in the remote villages we serve.

So our Kenyan team recently educated our Wellness Committees in our villages, helping them learn and discern between the truths and untruths about Ebola. Now armed with knowledge, they can avoid the extremes of either panic or unpreparedness.

Our Wellness Director, Martin, sent me the update below.

Ola Nagele Village, Kenya

You wake up, pour a cup of coffee, drink quickly, then hurry to get showered and dressed for your busy day ahead. You fix breakfast for your family or maybe you run out the door for a breakfast appointment with a friend, client, or colleague. Lunch fits in somewhere in the middle of the day, then you arrive home in the evening for dinner with your family or you hit your favorite restaurant with a few friends. Three meals, and possibly a snack or two provide your energy for the day.

There’s no question that Transformational Community Development (TCD) offers life-changing benefits in the areas of water, food, wellness, education, and income . . . but should “matrimony” be added to the list? Sayed, an active member of the TCD agricultural committee in Garmaam Village, would likely say yes . . .

A variety of reasons can keep children from attending school in developing nations. Wubshet and Habiba, GHNI National Leaders in Kenya, share how Ola Nagele villagers got their kids back in school and back on the top of their classes.

Ola Nagele Village, Kenya

“Ola Nagele is a community known for its rapid transformation, which included so many children going to the neighbouring school in search of a bright better future.

Alishow Village, Ethiopia

Megaladi is a cluster of villages in eastern Ethiopia where GHNI leaders have been leading TCD, a process which takes the commitment of the whole community. Over the two years as we have been building relationships with the community, we’ve found one village in this cluster which has stood out among the rest.

Dogon Gada, Nigeria

With 45% of Nigeria’s population consisting of children under the age of 15 years, education is critical to the development of this nation according to UNESCO. Even so, 40% of children ages 6-11 years do not attend school; up to 65-75% of students attending school are boys. While the government has imposed education goals and measures to meet them, facilities and teachers are lacking.