The LIFE Project Sandema - Ghana

The Local Inclusive Festival (LIFE) project operates in Sandema, Upper East Region in Ghana and is looking to raise money to operate disability empowerment groups.


The LIFE project focuses on inclusive development practices to involve local communities in the Feok Festival, an annual celebration that takes place in Sandema every December. The festival is a thanksgiving to the Gods for fruitful harvests and a commemoration of the victory from the slave raiders in the 18th century. It is an opportunity for local people to come together in music, dance, drama and trade. It is a period of re-union, development planning and a positive feeling of oneness and hope among the local people. However, people with disabilities have had very limited chances to take part in this festival so far.

Opportunities for people with disabilities are relatively limited in Ghana. They face limited employment opportunities, social stigma and often exclusion from their local communities. We aim to change this through cultural and sporting empowerment groups. These groups will be sustained and eventually be incorporated into the Feok Festival as well as in the community in general.

We are looking to start up a sports group for children with disabilities as well as an African drumming group for adults and young people with disabilities. We are also looking to support NEW ERA soap production business for women with disabilities.

We believe that these groups will help to encourage personal development, allowing the participants to build new relationships, acquire confidence and independence. We also hope that these groups will change public perceptions surrounding disability and show the capabilities and talents of people with disability.

In order for our groups to be a success we need to fundraise to raise money for drums and sports equipment etc. Resources are relatively limited at the moment.

Please give generously, any amount can make an enormous difference.


Many thanks

The LIFE Project - Poppy Horsman, Tom Adamson, Waris Mahad, Kerris Bewick and Siobhan Tidy.







The LIFE Project is partnered by Community Based Rehabilitation, an organisation run by the Presbyterian Church of Ghana. CBR advocate for people with disabilities to be integrated into society and their own family life. CBR is also a partner of UK charity International Service who are currently part of the UK government funded International Citizen Service, a scheme for 18-25 year olds to take part in international development programmes. The ICS scheme sends volunteers out in three month cycles and will continue until 2015, timed with the intended completion of the Millenium Development Goals.

For more information please visit:


www.volunteerics.org
www.internationalservice.org.uk
www.cbrsandema.wordpress.com
life.internationalservice.org (current team's blog)