GOALS of
Ah Shayh Natural Skin Care Collective:
The Bike Project
Today in many rural areas of Africa, such as Tamale, Ghana school children walk many miles a day to and from school. As part of our efforts to empower disadvantaged students, Ah Shayh will be purchasing bicycles in Tamale, Ghana in order to provide children transportation to school. The bicycles will be distributed to students who have demonstrated a desire to succeed academically or in a skill based occupational training course. The name of the schools in the town are; 1. Jisonayilli Islamic Primary School, 2. Tamale Metropolitan J S S.. Many of the teen-agers in the village are not able to continue on to Secondary School due to the financial strain it places on the family.
The bike project has multiple benefits across the city of Tamale. The bicycles will provide an incentive for children to participate and continue their educational goals. It will greatly reduce the time the children spend walking in the hot sun or rain to and from school. In addition, bicycles are a cheaper more ecologically sound way to travel then automobiles, especially in a remote region that has not been negatively impacted by industrialization. Bicycles are the primary mode of transportation in Tamale, Ghana.
On my trip to Tamale, Ghana in March of 2007, two children will receive bicycles. The bicycles will be purchased in the town of Tamale to continue to fuel the economy and support local businesses.
March 2007 Trip Update
- Goals of the Dogomba Women (and their Families.) The Women of the Dogamba Collective have stated these items as their primary goals:
- Educational Scholarships for youth who pass the entrance examination to continue their education and attend secondary schools. Oftentimes, older children in the village are not able to continue on to Secondary School due to the financial strain it places on the family.
- Our goal is to give the students a voice to tell their own stories and to document their lives and their cultures.
- Sandals for the women to get to and from work.
- New Customers to buy their shea butter at a fair and equitable price.
- A Diesel Grinder that would be used to de-pulps cracks and grinds the shea nut prior to heating. The women would appreciate this item because they currently do this work by hand.
- Education and Training on Micro-Credit System would enable the women to borrow money so they can increase production and, become more self-sufficient.
- Stronger collaboration between the Dogomba women and the chief. An Ah Shayh representative along with members of the collective will meet with the chief in February of 2007.