It has been far too long...

The theme of today is...It has been far too long.  Too long since I have posted, and too long since I have rested my feet on the hot clay of the Volta Region.  We've come a long ways in that time though.

When I last wrote to you we had only just started raising awareness and fundraising for a small income generating project at a school for marginalized children in the Volta Region of Ghana, West Africa.

In the short 4 months since then, we have begun building the structure and nearly completed it.  Soon we will outfit the structure with cages and begin raising grasscutter (great cane rat).  Grasscutter are a real staple in Ghanaian cuisine, and will hopefully be a particularly important emergency food and income source for the school.

What's next you ask?  Well, no great project ends at the completion of the build.  Next, we will be creating a business plan including ways to evaluate the outcomes of the project.  In November, we'll hold a ribbon cutting celebration for the kids at the school and officially launch the project with the full management and support of our Ghanaian partners.

Here's to prosperity, full bellies, and ultimately smiling children!

Ghana is GREAT - Child Labor is NOT!

I love Ghana.  It's my second home.  I fiercely defend it when people question why I love it there so much.  I find that often, even on this blog I've talked about all of the great parts of living there.  In doing so though, I've missed some of the details of my experience.  Despite it's stabile democratic government, beautiful views, friendly people, and amazing culture, there are still things that could improve.  Ghana remains a developing country.  It's amazing views are dotted with villages and cities that remain plagued by extreme poverty, difficult economic and working conditions, and parts of a labor market that profit from child labor.  Children are laboring in markets, as head load carriers, fishing, cocoa production, Indian Hemp fields, in homes as domestic workers, and in mines.  It's often subtle and you might not notice it, but if you look closely enough...with a keen eye, you'll see its devastating effects.

A school I am developing a project for serves 250 vulnerable and marginalized children.  Most of whom have been rescued from the worst forms of child labor in agriculture and domestic work.  Please consider a donation that will help us address the after effects of child labor.  Help us give these children and opportunity to survive and thrive so that their children will not meet a similar experience.

The Melesem Project at Crossover International Academy

Working in Ghana again

Hi Everyone!  I've started a new project in Ghana.  We are working on building a food and income source for marginalized children rescued from child labor.  Check out our website below.  Are you interested in getting involved?  Contact us!

www.melesem.com