16 Communities in Birim South benefit from The Hunger Project
The Hunger Project has handed over multi-purpose epicentres established in 16 communities in the Birim South District in the Eastern Region to the beneficiaries, in line with efforts to alleviate poverty and hunger in the area.
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The project mobilises clusters of rural communities within 10 kilometre radius and brings together between 5,000 to 15,000 people in what is referred to as Epicentres to take actions to meet their basic needs.
People in the 16 communities have, in the past eight years, been receiving financial and technical assistance from The Hunger Project which has mobilised them and built their capacity in improved agricultural practice.
Through the project, the people, especially women have been empowered to contribute to the development of their communities.
Some beneficiary communities
Some of the beneficiary communities include Ofosukrom, Akotekrom, Kumi Kwakwo, Achiasehene, Asopongi and Oforikrom, Maatekrom, Aboabo Parkso, Mensakrom, Ningo Sunkwenya and Asuokoo.
There was joy at Akotekrom, one of the beneficiary communities, when officials of The Hunger Project handed over the facility to the people.
Speaking at the ceremony to hand over the project at the Programme Animator, Mr Samuel Among Neequaye, said prior to the partnership with the Hunger Project, the people had serious challenges in improving their crop yield, access to funding, healthcare and child labour, while women had no equal opportunity as men, stressing it had taken the commitment, unity, sacrifices and conscious effort of the people to come this far.
After the self-reliance status, he said, “We are ready as a people to take up the leadership role. There is hope for us and the future looks bright to build on the structures in place and carry out the project to improve on our living conditions.”
In his remarks, the Country Director of The Hunger Project - Ghana, Mr Samuel Afrane said unlike other conventional development strategies that treated the poor and hungry as the problem instead of the solution, “The Hunger Project facilitates systematic mind-changing and capacity building”.
Model
Delivering a keynote address, the Chief Executive Officer of the Hunger Project, Mrs Asa Stogstrom Feldt, said the Akotekrom Epicentre was one of the first projects to attain the status of self-reliance and would be a model for others in Africa.
Mrs Feldt said, “The celebration marks the withdrawal of The Hunger Project financial support to the partner communities although they will continue to receive support to end hunger completely in the area.”
She said she believed development led and driven by the community was the surest way to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as a global community.
The traditional leaders in the area later enstooled Mrs Feldt as the Queenmother of Akotekrom and was christened Nkosuo Hemaa Nana Yeboah II.
Women empowerment
Later in an interview, the Chairperson of the epicentre, Ms Comfort Asiedu, said she was happy the intervention had led to a reduction of teenage pregnancy, prevention of HIV and AIDS, inculcation of saving culture and the empowerment of women in the community.
The epicentre has facilities for the operation of a Community Health Planning Services (CHIPS) compound to cater for the health needs of the people; a micro finance unit which encourages the children to save part of their earning and have access to loans; an agro-chemical centre for the supply of agro inputes and a conference hall for community meetings.
The Hunger Project is a non profit charitable organisation incorporated in California, USA, committed to the sustainable end of hunger in the world.
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