Ghana | Global Junior Challenge

TAKORADI EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE

Mar, 26/05/2009 - 16:14

THE TAKORADI EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE HELPS CHILDREN AGES 6-15 REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AND OBTAIN SKILLS FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

1. Sommario progetto

Sommario:

TO BE WORLDWIDE IS A FOUNDATION THAT HELPS CHILDREN IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES REALISE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, SO THAT LATER THEY CAN HELP BUILD THEIR COMMUNITIES. TO BE WORLDWIDE HAS MADE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS ACCESS TO FACILITIES FOR QUALITY EDUCATION. FOUNDED IN 20024 BY NELLIE KIRSCHNER-TIMMER, WHO IS OF GHANAIAN/DUTCH DECENT.

NELLIE WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO HER GHANAIAN ROOTS BY USING HER EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE GAINED IN EUROPE. SHE HAS USED HER BACK GROUND AS A HUMAN RESOURCE SPECIALIST TO DEVELOP THE CONCEPT OF THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE.

TO BE WORLDWIDE BUILDS & OPERATES EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRES THAT COMPLEMENT THE EXISTING PUBLIC SCHOOL STRUCTURE. EACH FACILITY OFFERS A LIBRARY, A COMPUTER CENTRE AND AN ACTIVITIES PROGRAM TO STIMULATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN'S CREATIVE AND TECHNOLOGICAL SKILLS. THE CENTRE OFFERS INNOVATIVE E-LEARNING MATERIAL THAT REFLECT WHAT THE CHILDREN ARE TAUGHT AT SCHOOL. THE CENTRES WORK WITH LOCAL GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE COMPUTER LESSONS DURING SCHOOL HOURS AND OFFER A RANGE OF ACTIVITIES (E.G. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECTS ETC.) FOR AFTER SCHOOL. CHILDREN PAY A NOMINAL FEE TO USE THE CENTRE THEREBY ENSURING COMMITMENT. WWW.TOBEWORLDWIDE.ORG

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO SCALE UP THE CONCEPT OF THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE IN DIFFERENT REGIONS OF GHANA. SCALING UP THE CONCEPT WILL BASED ON THE (SUCCESSFUL) EXPERIENCE OF THE FIRST EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE LOCATED IN TAKORADI, A 4 HOUR DRIVE FROM ACCRA, AND SERVES
MORE THAN 12 LOCAL GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS.

TO BE WORLDWIDE STRIVES TO PROVIDE CHILDREN IN GHANA WITH SKILLS THAT WILL BETTER PREPARE THEM FOR THE FUTURE, FOR THE LABOUR MARKET AND FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITY.

2. Paese (Città / Regione)

Stato:

Ghana

Città:

TAKORADI , WESTERN REGION

3. Nome dell'organizzazione che presenta il progetto

Organizzazione:

To Be Worldwide

4. Tipo di organizzazione

Scegli tipo:

Altro

Altro:

Foundation/Ngo

5. Coordinatore del progetto

Nome e Cognome:

NELLIE KIRSCHNER- TIMMER

E-Mail:

nellie.kirschner@tobeworldwide.org

6. Website

Il sito web del progetto:

http://www.tobeworldwide.org

7. Selezionate la categoria di appartenenza del vostro progetto

Youth Education Project. Select Project Users by age:

Fino a 15 anni

Inserimento dei giovani nel mondo del lavoro:

Inserimento dei giovani nel mondo del lavoro

Creatività e Innovazione sociale:

Creatività e Innovazione sociale

8. Da quando è funzionante il vostro progetto?

Da:

24/07/2004

9. Obiettivi ed elementi di innovazione

Please explain the targets and the background of your project:

TO BE WORLDWIDE WANTS TO DEVELOP 4 EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTERS BETWEEN NOW AND 2013. SHE THEN WANTS TO MAKE THE CONCEPT OF THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE AVAILABLE TO PARTNER ORGANISATIONS TO SET UP IN AREAS IN GHANA AND EVENTUALLY OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WHERE THESE PARTNERS WILL HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEEDS OF THAT PARTICULAR REGION OR COUNTRY. TO BE WORLDWIDE WILL PROVIDE HER EXPERIENCE AND STANDARDS TO MAKE THE IMPLEMENTATION SUCCESSFUL. WITH THE 4 CENTERS SHE REALIZES HERSELF SHE WANTS TO REACH 25000 CHILDREN OF THE AGES 6-15 YEARS.

Come, e con quali mezzi cerca di raggiungere gli obiettivi prefissati:

THE PRESENT EDUCATIONAL, RESOURCE CENTRE BASED IN TAKORADI GHANA, REACHES 3000 CHILDREN. IT IS OUR INTENTION TO INCREASE THE ENROLLMENT AT THE CENTRE AND WORK CLOSELY WITH THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND THE LOCAL SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THE RIGHT MATERIAL AND PROGRAMS THAT COMPLEMENT THE REGULAR SCHOOL SYSTEM. THEN TO BE WORLDWIDE WILL CONTINUE TO CREATE INNOVATION BY BRINING IN EXCITING E-LEARNING COURSEWARE, WORKSHOPS, EXCHANGE PROGRAMS ETC. ALL GEARED AT EMPOWERING THE CHILDREN WHO MAKE USE OF OUR FACILITIES. WE WILL THEN DOCUMENT ALL THESE PROCESSES IN ORDER TO MAKE THE SCALING UP MORE EFFICIENT.

Quali opportunità/problemi affronta:

WE REALISED THAT ALTHOUGH GHANA HAS A GOOD EDUCATION SYSTEM IT IS STILL DEALING WITH A HIGH DROP OUT RATES WHEN CHILDREN TRANSITION FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL TO SECONDARY SCHOOL AND BEYOND. WE HOPE WE CAN CONTRIBUTE, BY MAKING LEARNING EXCITING AND OFFERING MORE FACILITIES, TO KEEPING CHILDREN AND PARENTS MORE INTERESTED IN EDUCATION AND THUS KEEPING CHILDREN LONGER IN SCHOOL.

Please explain what is unique or special in your project:

OUR PROJECT IS UNIQUE AS IT IS INNOVATIVE IN ITS APPROACH, TRANSPARENT AND EFFICIENT IN ITS MANAGEMENT. BUT MOST OF ALL ALTHOUGH WE TARGET CHILDREN AGES 6-15 YEARS WE INVOLVE THEIR TEACHERS AND THEIR PARENTS ON ALL LEVELS, THUS PAVING THE WAY FOR THE CHILDREN TO MAKE BETTER DECISIONS WITH THEIR PARENTS AND COMMUNITY ABOUT THEIR FUTURE.

10. Risultati

Describe the results of your project as per today:

AS MENTIONED BEFORE WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH AROUND 3000 CHILDREN, MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF SO MANY CHILDREN. WE HAVE SEEN STUDENTS USE SOME OF THE SKILLS OBTAINED AT OUR CENTRE TO SET UP SMALL BUSINESSES (USING POWER POINT TO MAKE ADVERTISING STILL FOR LOCAL SHOPS AND EARNING A LITTLE MONEY TO FURTHER THEIR EDUCATION) TEACHERS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT CHILDREN WHO USE OUR FACILITIES HAVE IMPROVED IN THEIR REGULAR SCHOOL WORK

In che misura risponde ai bisogni degli utenti:

CLASSES AND MATERIALS AT OUR CENTRE COMPLEMENT THE CURRICULUM OF THE EXISTING SCHOOL SYSTEM IN GHANA. THIS MAKES IS VERY USEFUL TO THE USERS. CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO EXPLORE TOPICS TAUGHT AT SCHOOL AT OUR CENTRE AND LEARN MORE, BY USING THE INTERNET TO RESEARCH OR EVEN USING THE REFERENCE BOOKS IN THE LIBRARY.

Quanti utenti interagiscono con il progetto mensilmente e in quale modo:

ABOUT 470 CHILDREN VISIT THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE EACH WEEK/1800 A MONTH. THESE ARE REOCCURRING USERS. CHILDREN COME TO THE CENTRE TO TAKE ICT COURSES, USE THE INTERNET, BORROW BOOKS , READ AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES

Descrivete in quale modo il progetto contribuisce a migliorare l'educazione e la formazione dei giovani:

WE HAVE ALSO OFFERED ICT TRAINING TO THE TEACHERS OF ALL THE SCHOOLS WE SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY. WE HOPE THAT THIS WILL HELP THEM UNDERSTAND THE NEW IMPLEMENTED CURRICULUM BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION. WE ALSO HOPE THAT HAVING ACCESS TO THE INTERNET THROUGH OUR CENTRE WILL HELP THEM PREPARE THEIR CLASSES AND MAKE THEM MORE APPEALING FOR THEM SELVES AND THE CHILDREN

Descrivete in quale modo il progetto ha ottimizzato la partecipazione di professionisti, ragazzi, giovani o altri soggetti:

WE FEEL THAT WE ARE MORE AND MORE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE KEEPING OUR TARGET GROUP OF CHILDREN AGES 6-15 IN MIND. RECENTLY A SURVEY FOR CHILDREN’S PARENTS MADE US REALISE THAT A SUBSTANTIAL NUMBER OF PARENTS WERE ILLITERATES. WE THEN PROCEEDED TO CONTACT THE NON-FORMAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS POSSIBILITIES TO HOLD LITERACY CLASSES FROM OUR FACILITIES IN EVENING HOURS WHICH WILL THEN ALSO ALLOW US TO OFFER THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THE CHILDREN’S PARENTS. WE FEEL THAT ONCE THEY ARE ALSO FUNCTIONALLY LITERATE THEY ARE IN A BETTER POSITION TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN PLAN FOR A BETTER FUTURE.

Descrivete in quale modo il progetto favorisce l'uso delle nuove tecnologie da parte di professionisti, ragazzi e giovani per lo sviluppo culturale e didattico:

THE CENTRE OFFERS A BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS COURSE TO CHILDREN AGES 6-15 YEARS. MOST OF THEM COME FROM SCHOOLS WITHIN A 10 MIN. WALKING RADIUS OF OUR CENTRE. BUT THERE ARE ALSO STUDENTS THAT COME FROM ACROSS TOWN. THE BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS COURSE IS ALSO OFFERED TO ADULTS, BUT AT A FEE, WHICH ALLOWS US TO GENERATE INCOME LOCALLY.
THE COURSE CONSISTS OF MS OFFICE, INTERNET AND WORKING WITH THE E-LEARNING COURSEWARE AVAILABLE. DIFFERENT PROJECTS ARE INITIATED USING ICT, E.G. EXCHANGE PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE GLOBAL TEENAGER PROGRAM OR DIRECT EXCHANGES WITH DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.

Descrivete i criteri che usate per misurate i risultati raggiunti dal vostro progetto:

WE REGISTER THE NUMBER OF USERS AND THE NUMBER OF BOOKS BORROWED EACH MONTH. IT IS STILL VERY DIFFICULT TO MEASURE THE EXACT IMPACT OUR WORK HAS ON THE CHILDREN. WE DO HOLD SURVEYS AMONGS OUR USERS AND WILL SOON BE WORKING ON A REPORT CARD COMPARISON TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON HOW CHILDREN WHO HAVE USED OUR FACILITIES HAVE FARED COMPARED TO CHILDREN WHO HAVE NOT USED OUR FACILITIES. OBTAINING THE RIGHT MEASURING INSTRUMENTS IS ONE OF OUR WISHES.

11. Sostenibilità

Indicate la durata complessiva del progetto:

Più di 6 anni

Indicate il costo di massima del vostro progetto (in Euro):

Da 10.001 a 30.000

Come è finanziato il vostro progetto:

Finanziamenti pubblici o privati

Is your project economically self sufficient now:

12. Trasferibilità

Il progetto è stato replicato/adattato altrove:

Specifica:

WE ARE CURRENTLY BUILDING A SECOND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE IN ANOTHER REGION IN GHANA. WE EXPECT THE CAPE COAST EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE TO BE UP AND RUNNING IN THE FALL OF 2009 .

Che cosa possono imparare altri soggetti dal vostro progetto:

WE INVITE ANYONE WHO HAS THE INTENTION TO SET UP A SIMILAR TYPE OF PROJECT TO CONTACT US AS WE ARE ALL FOR SHARING OUR EXPERIENCES AND LIKE TO LEARN FROM OTHERS AS WELL. OUR STRENGHTS LIE IN OUR APPROACH. THE FOUNDER AND MANAGER IS OF BOTH WORLDS, THE WESTERN WORLD AND THE DEVELOPING WORLD. THIS COMBINED WITH OUR EXPERIENCE IN THE CORPORATE WORLD AS WELL AS THE NGO WORK MAKES US VERY CAPABLE AT CREATING A CONCEPT AND IMPLEMENTING IT.

Siamo disponibili ad aiutare altri soggetti a sviluppare progetti o a migliorare progetti esistenti:

Siamo disponibili ad aiutare altri soggetti a sviluppare progetti o a migliorare progetti esistenti.

13. Informazioni aggiuntive

Background:

I (NELLIE KIRSCHNER-TIMMER) WAS BORN IN TAKORADI GHANA AND I AM HALF DUTCH , HALF GHANAIAN. I HAVE SPENT MANY YEARS STUDYING AND WORKING IN EUROPE AND EVENTUALLY DECIDED THAT I WANTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF GHANA USING MY SKILLS. THIS LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT OF THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE. WE HAVE WORKED HARD AT REALISING THE FIRST CENTRE WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF PARTNERS SUCH AS UNICEF GHANA, EUROPEAN UNION IN GHANA AND MANY OTHER SPONSORS AND VOLUNTEERS. WE ARE NOW ON OUR WAY TO OPEN A SECOND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE CENTRE.

Ostacoli:

AMONGST OUR CHALLENGES WAS THE FACT THAT OUR PROJECT DID NOT, IN THE EYES OF SOME POTENTIAL FUNDERS, ADDRESS THE ISSUES SUCH AS HUNGER, DISEASE POVERTY DIRECTLY, THUS MAKING FUNDRAISING IN THE BEGINNING VERY DIFFICULT. ANOTHER CHALLENGE IS MAKING A BUDGET AND WORKING WITHIN IT. WHEN DEALING WITH INFLATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, YOUR BUDGET FOR BUILDING A CENTRE ENDS UP DIFFERENTLY THEN INTENDED.

Soluzioni:

BY TRAIL AND ERROR , EXPERIENCE AND NOT GIVING UP EVENTUALLY GOT US THROUGH MOST OF THE BARRIERS. E.G WHEN MAKING A BUDGET FOR BUILDING CALCULATE IN A LARGER AMOUNT FOR INFLATION AN FLUCTUATION OF PRICES OF BUILDING MATERIAL.

Future plans and wish list:

AS MENTIONED BEFORE. OUR ORGANISATION WOULD LIKE TO DEVELOP 4 CENTERS BY 2013. THIS WILL REQUIRE FUNDS TO BUILD AN OTHER 2 CENTERS ( € 100’000). BUT EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT IS TO BUILD OUR ORGANISATION IN GHANA TO MANAGE THESE CENTERS, TO SUSTAIN THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION GIVEN AND REMAIN INNOVATIVE. THIS REQUIRES THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE RIGHT POSITIONS. FUNDS FOR RECRUITMENT AND CAPACITY BUILDING (€ 25000).

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Global Teenager Project, Ghana

Lun, 04/05/2009 - 14:36

Youth sustainable development and basic ICT training for the less endowed in our communities.

1. Sommario progetto

Sommario:

The global teenager project Ghana is a youth lead project into areas of sustainable development and basic ICT training for the less endowed or underprivileged in our communities and schools. The idea came up as a results of the Global Teenager project by IICD(International Institute for communication Development) which connects schools and teachers around the world one one platform to exchange ideas on many important issues.Hence we made it up here also to put the local communities tohether on one platform to collaborate and exchange ideas from diversity to natioanl development.The idea was developed by the Rescue Mision Ghana and its now applied in about four major cities in the countries and i am the Ashanti Regional cordinator for well over three years now.

2. Paese (Città / Regione)

Stato:

Ghana

Città:

Ashanti

3. Nome dell'organizzazione che presenta il progetto

Organizzazione:

Rescue Mission Ghana / Global Teenager Project,Ghana

4. Tipo di organizzazione

Scegli tipo:

Istituzione culturali (fondazioni, musei, gallerie e simili)

5. Coordinatore del progetto

Nome e Cognome:

Abdulai Abubakar

E-Mail:

beebabagh@yahoo.com

6. Website

Il sito web del progetto:

http://www.rescuemission.org.gh

7. Selezionate la categoria di appartenenza del vostro progetto

Youth Education Project. Select Project Users by age:

Fino a 18 anni

Inserimento dei giovani nel mondo del lavoro:

NOT Helping youth step in the job market

Creatività e Innovazione sociale:

NOT in Creativity and Social Innovation

8. Da quando è funzionante il vostro progetto?

Da:

26/07/2001

9. Obiettivi ed elementi di innovazione

Please explain the targets and the background of your project:

We put our focus on these major areas:
* Basic ICT training of about 56 students in the less endowed areas spanning about 7 schools in each reions of about 4 out of 10 regions in Ghana

• Training of out-of school students

• Public awareness campaign of HIV/AIDS

• Sustainable training in craftsmanship.

Come, e con quali mezzi cerca di raggiungere gli obiettivi prefissati:

• Breaking the communication Gap: Many are those who are lacking behind in this global village due to minimal exposure to the Information, communication technology (ICT). So we have been focusing on training the youth in this line of action.

• Education of the youth on the concept of sustainable development ; Out of school students or the underprivileged are taken through series of training to acquaint themselves on the need to get some skills or to build up their skills so they can make a living from their own ability. And this will be maintained

• Elaborating the deadly disease to the public: Public awareness campaign is being organized in order to keep the public informed on the way and manner to handle the HIV/Aids disease and the affected persons, and to promote a healthy sexual lifestyle among the youth.

• Youth Empowerment: Both in and out of school youth are being taken through short courses on youth leadership in order to add their voices to the issues of national concern.

Quali opportunità/problemi affronta:

We conducted an extensive research on the need to establish this project and so we have targeted young people aged 12 to 25 to benefit directly from this project

These people are Ghanaians at school going age and out of school young people. Most of them are within four regions(Ashanti,Central,Greater Accra And Western Regions) and few are living in the Northern region. And we plan to make it a well-balanced in terms of gender.

When we look around Ghana and in most of the regions, many are those who are school drop-outs and many who are even in school but lack the basic knowlege of ICT which is a common phenomenon in Europe and America.So as an NGO we strife to clump down on the digital divide.

Please explain what is unique or special in your project:

This project does not only train students to build their capacity but make it a sustainable training so that the beneficiaries who could otherwise become drop-outs and vagabond will have some skills to rely on which can fetch them job in the market, hence improving their lifestyle and becoming productive individuals in the society.

The public awareness on the HIV/AIDS also help students who are sexually active to know what is right and wrong and what can harm their educational goals like the teenage pregnancy etc.

We also teach students to be active and participate in the development agenda of the country.
Again, we do not discriminate on the basis of gender, ethnicity, and religion and or on color. All have equal opportunities to benefit from our programmes.

10. Risultati

Describe the results of your project as per today:

We have so far been able to teach about 56 students in every Region (every year) in Basic ICT training and web design, HIV/AIDS training, sustainable youth development in the less endowed areas spanning about 7 schools in each region.
As a results, we have received international recognitions and many of our students have received awards by participating in international contest.

In che misura risponde ai bisogni degli utenti:

We train the students or the out of school youth at their own free time even though the sustainable development centre has an opening and closing time. But in the case of conducting classes and training in their respective institutions, we arrange for suitable time for the students and us.

Quanti utenti interagiscono con il progetto mensilmente e in quale modo:

About 56 students in each school in every region spanning about 7 schools per region.

Descrivete in quale modo il progetto contribuisce a migliorare l'educazione e la formazione dei giovani:

Positively, many of our educational institutions are ICT oriented and so our students get an upper hand while furthering their education or when in business ventures.

Descrivete in quale modo il progetto favorisce l'uso delle nuove tecnologie da parte di professionisti, ragazzi e giovani per lo sviluppo culturale e didattico:

It has really helped many students to excel in ICT and this has been demonstrated in many international contest and local contest as well, many are those who have found job for themselves and are living a healthy life.

11. Sostenibilità

Indicate la durata complessiva del progetto:

Più di 6 anni

Indicate il costo di massima del vostro progetto (in Euro):

Da 10.001 a 30.000

Come è finanziato il vostro progetto:

Sponsorizzazioni

Is your project economically self sufficient now:

12. Trasferibilità

Il progetto è stato replicato/adattato altrove:

Specifica:

We understand as results of the Global teenager project, many countries have adapted our style and methodology to create sustainable social training centres in other West African Countries

Che cosa possono imparare altri soggetti dal vostro progetto:

Perseverance and determination to serve humanity is our key goals, and so any body that has this in mind can help to alleviate untold sufferings of the underprivileged.

Siamo disponibili ad aiutare altri soggetti a sviluppare progetti o a migliorare progetti esistenti:

We are not available to help others starting or working on similar projects.

13. Informazioni aggiuntive

Background:

Making the change will be a youth lead project into areas of sustainable development and basic ICT training for the less endowed or underprivileged in our community. We will focus on these major areas,
* Basic ICT training of about 56 students in the less endowed areas spanning about 7 schools

• Training of out-of school students

• Public awareness campaign of HIV/AIDS

• Sustainable training in craftsmanship.

Ostacoli:

-Funding
-Diversity
-Resources Persons

Soluzioni:

We were very resilient in making the project successful and train rather few students at times due to funding rather than quitting the whole project. Many of our past students also contribute voluntarily to help other students

Future plans and wish list:

* To educate young people in the concept of sustainable development

*Youth empowerment in the areas of national agenda

Linking of Ghanaian youth and their peers in other continents

*Improvements in the areas of sexual lifestyle amongst the youth

• Making the youth more active in day to day activities

• Allowing the youth to exhibit their artistic skills

• Promoting a well-balanced gender in all manner of activities

We are currently under-resources and will welcome support from international donors and other interested parties.

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