Friends of Tafo is a UK Charity that facilitates and inspires sustainable development in education, health, employment and infrastructure in the town of Kwahu-Tafo, Ghana, West Africa.

This is the ninth FOT Newsletter, which comes to you as Ghana celebrates its 50th birthday, Kwahu-Tafo entertains MTV, and the Development Council plans the town's journey into the future...

Ghana is 50!

The star comic entertainer Kat came to Tafo to conduct a dance workshop with hundreds of kids, interview the Chief, and see for himself and for MTV viewers all round the world what FOT has done.

 

 

 

(left: Kat learns the Talking Drums in Tafo)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Schools throughout Kwahu-Tafo were stimulated to think about the meaning of the 50th Anniversary by the challenge of an Art Competition for all children, and a Short Play Festival.

 

 

 

(far left: Ghana at Fifty)

 

(left: an entry to the school art competition to celebrate the 50th Anniversary)

 

 

 

 

 

The Next Five Years

 

Objectives have been agreed for Kwahu-Tafo's development under three headings: Education, Job Creation and Quality of Life / Infrastructure. We have defined a range of projects large and small to be carried out over the next five years. Some of the things FOT needs to do will need annual funding such as help to the disabled and needy pupils, incentives for students and teachers and an apprentice fund. Some projects are one-offs, and top of this list comes the next building stage at the Senior Secondary School.

 

(above: important visitors to a refurbished well)

The SSS

The school now has more than 200 pupils (when we started it had 10!), studying Business and General Arts. It is run by ten staff accommodated in two tiny rooms. The Ghana Education Service requires us to build proper facilities for the school's staff and administration. This will be a large undertaking for FOT, but we have broken the cost down into 'bite size' pieces of around £2,000 each and are keenly looking for donors to help us have the building up and running for September.

 

(Left: MTV visit the Senior Secondary School)

Twinning

Three UK schools have now struck up relationships with schools in Tafo. The latest is St. Paul's School in London, which is fundraising through a number of excellent activities to improve sanitation in Tafo schools - a wonderful initiative which will make a daily difference to the lives of boys girls and staff, who in many cases have literally nowhere to go...

Presteigne Fund

A medical practice in Presteigne in Herefordshire has decided to give 1% of its annual profits to helping the poorest people in Tafo pay their National Health Insurance subscriptions. We know some people who have had to forego help for want of 55p.

The Farm

The Development Council has a big plan to start a poultry/goat/sheep farm to be run on a cooperative basis. This will draw on the traditional skills of the Tafo inhabitants and provide an income-generating focus. We are seriously looking for start-up funding.

 

What you can do...

 

Giving to FOT puts you directly in touch with a community where we make sure you see speedy effective results.

 

The Empire Strikes Black 4!!, FOT's annual fundraising comedy show at Hackney Empire is on May 27th. Be dazzled by the best in black talent while seeing films of where your money goes. It's a great night out, and it makes a huge difference to our funds. Don't miss it! Make sure of your tickets by calling 020 8985 2424 now!

 

Donations: join our list of generous friends! Donations by cheque, standing order are welcome - please contact us. For donations by internet click here.

We can also transport unwanted educational books and toys to Tafo, where they will be appreciated beyond words.

 

Major thanks for recent donations go to: Mortgage Keys, the Presteigne Fund, SAFE Emmanuel College, Samuel Whitbread Community College, Christmas Card buyers and all of you who have personally given donations and attended our events.

 

New Tafo Book: Life, Love and Death: Conversations with six elders in Kwahu-

Tafo, Ghana. Cost: £5 + p&p This book records the wisdom of six elders in Kwahu-Tafo, and includes touching pronouncements on issues such as the art of growing old, respect, blessing and cursing, money, love, death and funeral; themes which will be of relevance for all generations and which will never become outdated. To order click here.

 

 

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