Empowering Education in Ghana: The Journey of Talents Empowerment Foundation
In Ghana, access to quality education is often limited in deprived communities. Recognising this pressing need, we established the Talents Empowerment Foundation with a clear mission: to provide educational resources, financial support, mentorship, and exposure to schoolchildren in remote and deprived communities in Ghana. Since its inception, the foundation has been dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of these children, ensuring they have the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.
This blog post explores the journey of the Talents Empowerment Foundation, from its humble beginnings to its impactful initiatives in Ghana's education sector. We will delve into the challenges faced by the education sector in deprived communities, the process of incorporating an NPO in Ghana, and the foundation's accomplishments since its establishment.
The Need
As the name implies, non-for-profit organisations (NPO) are incorporated not to make profits but to serve charitable beneficial purposes. Incorporated NPOs may serve various purposes, including education, health, environment, science and technology, etc.
As a MasterCard Foundation scholar nurtured to give back to society, I have been eager to do the little I can to impact and contribute positively to society. I therefore decided to incorporate an NPO to serve various purposes in the education section in Ghana. However, I needed to understand the need in specific areas of education in Ghana. I knew there were challenges confronting the education section, and although governments claim to do what they can, most challenges persisted.
To get first-hand information and establish what areas our NPO (my two siblings got involved at this point) should target, we surveyed one hundred teachers across various public schools in deprived communities in Ghana. Yes, we focused on deprived and remote communities because the educational challenges are prominent in these parts of the country. Although primary education is supposed to be free, we were shocked at the survey’s findings. We summarise the findings below.
Out of the 100 responses:
- 61% of the teachers mentioned that schoolchildren had to pay some fees to supplement the government’s efforts. The fees included printing fees, PTA dues, sports levy, and feeding fees.
- 46% of the teachers stated that children in their schools are not exposed to practical ICT training
- 55% of the respondents stated that their school did not have ICT resources
- 27% of the respondents mentioned that their schools lack textbooks, and 20% said their schools lack textbooks, exercise books, uniforms, pens, and pencils.
- 21% of the teachers mentioned that their schools are in communities without electricity.
Backed by the information from this survey, we incorporated Talents Empowerment Foundation LBG (TEF) to execute various projects to benefit schoolchildren and schools in deprived communities in Ghana. Although various NPOs target the education sector in Ghana, we wanted to focus solely on deprived communities. Our main objective, therefore, is to provide educational resources, financial support, mentorship and exposure to schoolchildren in remote and deprived communities in Ghana.
The Journey
There are different processes involved in incorporating an NPO in Ghana. Unlike incorporating a business to make profits, we applied with two government institutions. First, we registered our business name (NPO) with the Registrar General’s Department. In this process, you would provide information about business officers, auditor(s), and address of your business, among others. After getting the business incorporation documents, you can verify the name of your business at the Registrar General’s online portal. Checking this is important to ensure that the name as captured on your incorporation documents is the same as what is in the Registrar General’s database.
The next step after incorporating your NPO is to acquire a licence to operate. We applied for the licence with the Non-Profit Organisation Secretariat of the Republic of Ghana unit of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. This process is rather long, and while waiting for the actual licence, we got a temporary licence that permitted us to operate for three (3) months. We provided additional information and documentation and had to undergo background checks, among other verification processes, to acquire our licence.
What We’ve Done Since Incorporation
Since our incorporation in May 2023, we have executed various donation exercises under different programs targeting schoolchildren in deprived communities. We have donated
over 1,350 exercise books, 60 backpacks, 1,100+ pens, pencils, sharpeners and erasers, 260+ sanitary towels for girls in remote areas, and 9 desktop computers. We are about to roll out a financial aid program to provide scholarships to about 20 students in various public schools in Ghana.
Bridging the Digital Divide: Donation of Computers
One of the challenges schools in deprived communities face is the lack of access to technology. Many schools have never had computers, leaving students without essential digital literacy skills.
Our donation of nine desktop computers marks a significant milestone in our efforts to bridge the digital divide. These computers will provide students access to information and educational resources and equip them with practical ICT skills that are increasingly essential in today's digital world.
Menstrual Health and Education: Donation of Sanitary Pads
Another critical issue affecting girls' education in deprived communities is the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products. Many girls miss school during their monthly cycle because they cannot afford sanitary pads, leading to gaps in their education and impacting their overall well-being. Our donation of 260+ sanitary pads aims to ensure that girls can attend school regularly, regardless of their menstrual cycle, and have the opportunity to receive a quality education. This is an exercise we plan to do periodically to achieve maximum impact.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Visit our website at talentsempowermentfoundation.org to learn more about our initiatives and how you can support our cause. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children in deprived communities in Ghana.
Contact: 0204213310 or 0249336203
References