Project OKURASE Starts Two New Job Training Programs

Pedals for Progress (P4P) has joined forces with Project OKURASE to bring two new job training programs to the village of Okurase: a sewing centre and a bike shop.  It all started with a need for sewing machines. Rhion Magee found P4P and we asked for donated sewing machines. Through the good graces of P4P Ghanaian partner WeBikes, we were able to have twelve sewing machines delivered to Okurase. While this first donation has initiated the sewing program it quickly became evident that the need was much greater.

P4P had 50 sewing machines that they wanted to ship to Okurase. The shipment would include three manual foot pedal machines donated by Furniture Assist, a New Jersey nonprofit that collects used furniture which it donates to disadvantaged families in New Jersey. The foot pedal machines are much needed because they do not require electricity and we have not yet been able to attain electricity. The goods were available but the question was how to pay for the transportation costs.

This is where Joey Penman, a strong supporter of Project Okurase and the Clif Bar Family Foundation, a major supporter of Pedals for Progress, came in. They combined their efforts with Project OKURASE funds and had enough funding to ship not only the fifty sewing machines, but to allow P4P to place those machines among a full container of bicycles. Certainly receiving an unexpected 480 bicycles in addition to the 50 sewing machines will greatly change this small village.

The donated bikes from the New Jersey-based nonprofit will go towards creating our bike shop called “Okurase Bike Program”. Those living in the village will be trained on how to make proper repairs and will sell the bikes to others in Okurase and the surrounding villages. This program will not only raise the standard of living for those in the village, but will help raise funds to build the Centre’s school and job training buildings.

P4P’s donation of 62 sewing machines has allowed us to open “Rhion’s Sewing Centre”. Women in the village will be trained in sewing by those who already sew and they will sell their clothing and products in Ghana and other countries. The women will be paid fair trade for their work and 100% of profits from selling their merchandise via Project OKURASE will help fund the Nkabom Centre for Skills Training and Formal Education. The women in Okurase will be working closely with Rhion Magee, our volunteer product designer in Los Angeles. Rhion is developing designs for Project OKURASE such as recycled market bags, clothing and other items. Women in Okurase will sew according to the designs. Then, Rhion and Project OKURASE will market the products. Although our focus is on women, men are absolutely welcome to learn to sew.

Pedals for Progress is a New Jersey-based nonprofit that is the world’s largest recycler of used bicycles. Pedals for Progress has received, processed and donated over 115,000 bicycles, 1,000 used sewing machines and $10.8 million in new spare parts to partner charities in 32 developing world countries. In addition, they have built schools and saved lives.

Many thanks to Pedals for Progress, David Schweidenback, Joey Penman, and Rhion Magee for helping empower women in Ghana! This partnership is a great example of the united link. Unity is strength—–Together we can make it happen – www.aunitedlink.com.

United Artists for Hope Music and Arts Festival

Our highly anticipated music and arts festival will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2009 at the Navy Yard at Noisette in North Charleston. The event, a family-oriented, eco-friendly festival, will feature a variety of musical acts, children’s area, arts and crafts, African bazaar, dancing and drumming workshops, plus much more. The sole purpose of the event is to raise awareness about Project OKURASE’s work in Ghana to save children from the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa and to raise money for a sustainable, safe water treatment system through a partnership with Water Missions International.

Project OKURASE’s roots are closely tied to North Charleston through the children of Djole, a West African dance and drumming group based out of North Charleston’s Union Heights community and sponsored by the Gethsemani Circle of Friends. During the summer of 2006, the children embarked on the ultimate field trip to Ghana and came home with a mission.

As a result of Djole’s trip, Project OKURASE is building an arts-based center bordering the village of Okurase. Ground-breaking for the complex took place in March 2008 and the money raised from the music festival will be earmarked for a sustainable, clean water treatment system for the center. The goal of Project OKURASE is to develop a model that can be replicated in communities around the world with the central focus for the center being on green design, sustainable architecture, job and skills training, family and village-based formal education, and a family-based model for caring for children impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Come out on May 2, enjoy the festival and support the cause!

20,000 Bricks = One Building

It’s no joke. The power of bricks has come to the forefront of just another one of Project OKURASE’s sustainable initiatives. In August of 2008, the village of Okurase began benefiting from the Alero Olympio Trust’s loaned brick-making machine. The machine was made in India and makes environmentally friendly, compressed earth bricks that do not require firing. They are made from laterite, the red soil of Africa.

Women brickmakers wearing their Charm and Hammer hard hats.

Through job training and the empowerment subsequently instilled in each of the brickmakers, Project OKURASE has its first 20,000 bricks, earmarked for the Job Training Building at the Centre. But more than just bricks, Project OKURASE has found a way to feed a brickmaker and his or her family, a way to create a sustainable solution to the need for occupational development amongst the people of Okurase, and a way to connect us all to that beautiful endeavor.

You can join in the excitement and support our proud brickmakers by purchasing an environmentally friendly brick for $20 US or 10 Great Britain Pounds. Just visit our Web site, www.projectokurase.org, and click on the donate button to make your tax-deductible contribution.

Ghanaian Recording Artist, Walter Dee supports Project OKURASE

Walter Dee, christened Walter Hammond, started his musical career at 11 years old. Now 25 years old and recently launching a second album, Walter Dee has committed a portion of his proceeds to Project OKURASE. The connection between Project OKURASE and Walter Dee was evident when Project OKURASE’s co-director, Dr. Cindy Swenson met Walter Dee during a 2008 trip to Ghana. Walter Dee has also dedicated his career to saving orphans through the power of arts and music. He believes that the beautifully arranged single and easy-to-sing along nature of his single, Save the Orphans and the Needy, will make it a household song for both adults and children and get the message to stick in their heads and hopefully, their hearts as well. Project OKURASE is excited about Walter Dee’s appearance at the United Artists for Hope Music Festival later this year.

Clemson University and Project OKURASE

On January 4, two graduate students from the Clemson University School of Architecture – Kyle and Lindsey – will arrive in Accra, Ghana to begin a tour dedicated to establishing the architectural model for Project OKURASE. We have many people to visit, lots of Ghanaian architecture to see, and many samples to collect. They will take back what they learn and the University will then work for a semester to build the model. We are very thrilled to have established this relationship with Clemson University and look forward to where this takes us.

USA for AFRICA Supports Project OKURASE

USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa) joins in support of Project OKURASE. Marcia Thomas, executive director of USA for Africa met with Powerful, Cindy Swenson, and Kobina Boni in Los Angeles to discuss ways the two organizations could work together. USA for Africa followed up with financial support of Project OKURASE and links to African organizations that can help with medical care for the village. USA for Africa is well known for its landmark music video, We Are The World.

Almost 25 years later, the words of their song are still applicable to our work through Project OKURASE.

We are the world, We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let’s start giving
There’s a choice we’re making
We’re saving our own lives
It’s true we’ll make a better day
Just you and me

- Words and Music by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie

Djole children set to perform at The United Nations in NYC

Djole Children’s West African Dance and Drum Company of Union Heights in North Charleston has been invited to come to the United Nations in New York City on December 19 to perform. Djole will join MIZERO Children, a dance company from Rwanda who is coming to the United States on a Reconciliation Tour. Together, the North Charleston and Rwandan children will bring a message of hope, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Djole was formed 10 years ago as an activity to get children off the streets and onto a positive path. The children have performed locally, statewide and internationally. They are required to complete community service and humanitarian work as part of their Djole commitment. After their seminal trip to Ghana in 2006, Djole youth have been involved in helping with care of children who are HIV positive in Ghana, helping with fees to allow Ghanaian street children to attend school, and they are currently working to help build a Centre in Okurase, Ghana that will allow orphans and vulnerable children to attend school, participate in vocational training, have daily meals and medical care, and grow up in a family.

The MIZERO Children is a dance and drumming troupe comprised of orphans and vulnerable children from Rwanda. The children participate in MIZERO as a way of keeping their life on a positive path.

Worlds apart, Djole and MIZERO were formed for similar reasons to help foster positive lives for children who have experienced extreme difficulties within their own context. Independently, the children have taken on the job of promoting unity and reconciliation. Now they have come together and their message will be strengthened.

World AIDS Day

December 1 is World AIDS Day. Let’s all take a pause to remember our brothers and sisters who have been impacted by this pandemic and that through Project OKURASE we are part of the solution.

Charm and Hammer

A women’s construction gear company named Charm and Hammer has donated 10 pink hard hats, protective gear and work gloves for the women brickmakers of Okurase. We thank Terri Piasecki for her company’s spirit of helping women around the world. The women brickmakers will be given the protective gear at their graduation on January 2 as they complete training and move into professional jobs!

Holy Cross Church of Sullivan’s Island Supports Brickmaking

Our faithful partners of Holy Cross Church on Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina have made a donation to Project OKURASE to help with our brickmaking efforts. We are grateful to them for helping move forward the building of the Centre.