There are many small orphanages and group
homes in Ghana that receive absolutely
no funding from the government, and don't have a single steady funding
resource. The men and women who run these homes do so out of a sense of of
duty to their community. They help, because nobody else has. The need is so great for orphan care that within a matter of months a “small” home may
be caring for several dozen children.
Eban Project assists the orphaned child (and their home) in a variety of ways. The needs of these children are quite varied, depending on the living situation and
history of the individual child. Read
below to learn about our current Orphan Care Projects.
Educational Sponsorship:
We find that many
orphanages in Ghana do not have the resources to send the children in their care
to school. As a result, these children “graduate” from the orphanages with
little or no job skills. The cycle of
poverty then continues to the next generation,
and leads to a new generation of orphans.
By sponsoring an orphaned child's
education, you are not only assisting that child, but also protecting the next
generation of Ghana's children from becoming orphans due to poverty.
For a donation of $35 per month, you can sponsor one child's education. 100% of your donation goes directly to the child's education. There are no administrative fees. You will receive a photo of your child, as well as (at least) quarterly updates. In addition, you may send letters to your child once monthly. Your child will write you a letter (or draw a picture) at least once quarterly. 100% of your donation goes directly to your sponsor child's educational needs.
Click HERE to learn more about the orphaned children in our program who are currently awaiting sponsorship.
For a donation of $35 per month, you can sponsor one child's education. 100% of your donation goes directly to the child's education. There are no administrative fees. You will receive a photo of your child, as well as (at least) quarterly updates. In addition, you may send letters to your child once monthly. Your child will write you a letter (or draw a picture) at least once quarterly. 100% of your donation goes directly to your sponsor child's educational needs.
Click HERE to learn more about the orphaned children in our program who are currently awaiting sponsorship.
Childcare Grants:
Orphanages and group foster
homes in Ghana often have no way to hire additional caregivers. Ghana Social Welfare's residential home
standards include specific child to caregiver
ratios. To stay within the good graces
of Social Welfare, and to
properly care for the children, the homes need to stay within the standard
ratios. Eban Project helps to solve this problem through childcare
grants.
EP gives a specific orphanage or group home a grant in the amount of 150 cedis per month, for no less than six months, so that the orphanage can hire a much needed childcare giver. The caregiver is required to sign a “Statement of Understanding” about certain basic childcare principles, including a promise that they will not use corporal punishment on the children in their care. At the end of a grant period, EP and the home director evaluate the childcare worker. At that time, future grant determination is made. Through this program Eban Project is not only solving the problem of too few workers within orphanages, but jobs are provided for women whose family may have otherwise been in a vulnerable position without the income.
A donation of $500 can fully fund one Childcare Grant. One grant provides, for six months, a job for a women who needs it, and a loving caregiver to children who are “hungry” for the love and touch of another person. At current exchange rates ($1= 1.87GH) $80 covers one month of a six month grant. All donations, of any amount, are greatly appreciated.
If you would like to assist us in providing Childcare Grants, please CLICK HERE. Designate "Childcare Grant" on the donation form. 100% of your donation will go directly towards a Childcare Grant.
EP gives a specific orphanage or group home a grant in the amount of 150 cedis per month, for no less than six months, so that the orphanage can hire a much needed childcare giver. The caregiver is required to sign a “Statement of Understanding” about certain basic childcare principles, including a promise that they will not use corporal punishment on the children in their care. At the end of a grant period, EP and the home director evaluate the childcare worker. At that time, future grant determination is made. Through this program Eban Project is not only solving the problem of too few workers within orphanages, but jobs are provided for women whose family may have otherwise been in a vulnerable position without the income.
A donation of $500 can fully fund one Childcare Grant. One grant provides, for six months, a job for a women who needs it, and a loving caregiver to children who are “hungry” for the love and touch of another person. At current exchange rates ($1= 1.87GH) $80 covers one month of a six month grant. All donations, of any amount, are greatly appreciated.
If you would like to assist us in providing Childcare Grants, please CLICK HERE. Designate "Childcare Grant" on the donation form. 100% of your donation will go directly towards a Childcare Grant.
Orphanage Food Assistance:
It is not an
exaggeration to say that most orphanages and group homes across Ghana do not know
where their food will come from each month. The
homes receive no government subsidy, and usually do not have an ongoing outside financial
partner. They rely on local churches and
well-to-do families to provide. Many times we visit homes where the
storeroom may only have enough food for a day or two, to feed 30 or more children. Other times, a home may have enough grains
for the month,
but not have the funds to purchase any meat or vegetables for the children (leading to
kwashiorkor malnutrition). Eban Project comes along side needy homes
to provide food and safe drinking water.
We typically do not provide funds (that could be mismanaged),
but rather ACTUAL food. This assures
that the children benefit from the donation
that has been made.
We provide food to “acutely” in need homes and “chronically” in need homes. There are a small number of homes that we give an ongoing donation to each month. These are homes that we feel are providing quality care to children, but simply need assistance making sure the children eat at least twice per day. A typical donation may be 300-500 cedis worth of food (heavy on meats, fruits and vegetables). In addition, there are sometimes homes who have an “acute” need for food. Their storeroom is empty and they have no funds to purchase food for the next day. Whenever possible, we provide these homes with a one time donation of food. Past donations have ranged in value from 100 to 1000 cedis.
To make a donation to our Orphan Food Assistance Program, please CLICK HERE. Mark “Orphan Food Assistance Program” on the form. We gladly accept donations in any amount. 100% of your donation goes directly towards the purchase of food.
We provide food to “acutely” in need homes and “chronically” in need homes. There are a small number of homes that we give an ongoing donation to each month. These are homes that we feel are providing quality care to children, but simply need assistance making sure the children eat at least twice per day. A typical donation may be 300-500 cedis worth of food (heavy on meats, fruits and vegetables). In addition, there are sometimes homes who have an “acute” need for food. Their storeroom is empty and they have no funds to purchase food for the next day. Whenever possible, we provide these homes with a one time donation of food. Past donations have ranged in value from 100 to 1000 cedis.
To make a donation to our Orphan Food Assistance Program, please CLICK HERE. Mark “Orphan Food Assistance Program” on the form. We gladly accept donations in any amount. 100% of your donation goes directly towards the purchase of food.
Foster Homes:
There are times in our work
with vulnerable families that we are introduced to a child that is in
need of short or long-term foster care.
Many orphanages and
group foster homes in Ghana are already caring for more children than they can adequately provide
for. As a solution, Eban Project has partnered with a small group
of single mothers to provide safe and loving private foster homes to children
who are in need of
care and protection.
EP Foster Moms (lovingly referred to as “Aunties”) are well known to our staff and have been provided with training in childcare. In addition, they have signed a “Statement of Understanding”, agreeing to important basic childcare principles, not the least of which is standing in agreement with us that corporal punishment is not an appropriate discipline for an orphaned child. EP Foster moms care for up to 4 foster children at a time, depending on her personal ability and resources. Our Foster Moms are given a small compensation, and the children's needs are provided for by Eban Project.
If you live in Ghana (particularly in Greater Accra Region) and are interested in becoming a Eban Project Foster Family, please CONTACT US. It is very difficult to identify loving and qualified foster families in Ghana. We would love to hear from you!
EP Foster Moms (lovingly referred to as “Aunties”) are well known to our staff and have been provided with training in childcare. In addition, they have signed a “Statement of Understanding”, agreeing to important basic childcare principles, not the least of which is standing in agreement with us that corporal punishment is not an appropriate discipline for an orphaned child. EP Foster moms care for up to 4 foster children at a time, depending on her personal ability and resources. Our Foster Moms are given a small compensation, and the children's needs are provided for by Eban Project.
If you live in Ghana (particularly in Greater Accra Region) and are interested in becoming a Eban Project Foster Family, please CONTACT US. It is very difficult to identify loving and qualified foster families in Ghana. We would love to hear from you!
Christmas Project
Beginning each October, Eban Project partners with many individual donors to provide Christmas blessings for hundreds of orphaned and vulnerable children in Ghana. Christmas 2012 we provided Christmas cheer for around 400 children! Several foster homes and orphanages are provided with food for a Christmas feast (including live goats). Each child is given what may be their only gift. Sometimes we are able to provide a new traditional outfit to be worn at Church, as Christmas is definitely a religious (rather than secular) holiday in Ghana. In schools we have been able to purchase much needed books, as well as giving a treat to each child attending. This project is a happy highlight to the end of the year, and we look forward to reaching more children in the future!
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