Ghana
CALUNA'S KITCHEN
Encounters… that is were de most touching life stories are hidden. Nothing leaves us indifferent.
Nelson, Ghanees student in Antwerp took us to his homeland and birth village in 2015. Van De Wiel Ghana “Social Kitchen, in Afari started almost immediately after that trip. The building, the licences, recruiting the kitchen team, in such a short notice the first 52 children could come and fill up their stomach, forget the hunger they had to coop with for so long, too long!
Afari, lies in the green region of Ashanti, 1 hour drive from Kumassi, far from all economic activities, that we saw in the big cities. Little farm projects where rice, yam, sweet potatoes, other vegetables and lots a fruits are grown and lots of cacao, as the only source of income in that region. The will to work and get an income is present, only the opportunities are absent, so it is surviving for lots of families.
The village has two schools and several Christian church communities, but most of all a lot of hidden poverty. Ghanees are proud people, don’t ask for any help, and feels a shame when you propose to help. It is true the school or neighbours that we detect families in need, check their situation. Lots of orphans, single parents, fathers as well as mothers, children of disabled or sick parents, and others without any source of income. These are the children who are part of the feeding program. For 52 of these we also pay the school fees and support 10 families.
In November we already had 125 children coming every day, 7 days a week, for their plain meal with clear drinking water and 3 times a week a portion of fruit as desert. Some of the bigger children ask 3 times for a full plate before their hunger is stilled. It is very often their only meal. Caluna has called the parents and insist on their part of the responsibility in the future of their children. Giving them a breakfast, as small as possible, is more than important. Going to school with an empty stomach does not activate their brains… we insist on that part.
For 2017 we would like to welcome 150 children in CALUNA’S KITCHEN and more …
Nelson, Ghanees student in Antwerp took us to his homeland and birth village in 2015. Van De Wiel Ghana “Social Kitchen, in Afari started almost immediately after that trip. The building, the licences, recruiting the kitchen team, in such a short notice the first 52 children could come and fill up their stomach, forget the hunger they had to coop with for so long, too long!
Afari, lies in the green region of Ashanti, 1 hour drive from Kumassi, far from all economic activities, that we saw in the big cities. Little farm projects where rice, yam, sweet potatoes, other vegetables and lots a fruits are grown and lots of cacao, as the only source of income in that region. The will to work and get an income is present, only the opportunities are absent, so it is surviving for lots of families.
The village has two schools and several Christian church communities, but most of all a lot of hidden poverty. Ghanees are proud people, don’t ask for any help, and feels a shame when you propose to help. It is true the school or neighbours that we detect families in need, check their situation. Lots of orphans, single parents, fathers as well as mothers, children of disabled or sick parents, and others without any source of income. These are the children who are part of the feeding program. For 52 of these we also pay the school fees and support 10 families.
In November we already had 125 children coming every day, 7 days a week, for their plain meal with clear drinking water and 3 times a week a portion of fruit as desert. Some of the bigger children ask 3 times for a full plate before their hunger is stilled. It is very often their only meal. Caluna has called the parents and insist on their part of the responsibility in the future of their children. Giving them a breakfast, as small as possible, is more than important. Going to school with an empty stomach does not activate their brains… we insist on that part.
For 2017 we would like to welcome 150 children in CALUNA’S KITCHEN and more …
FUTURE
With Nelson in charge in Afari, Van De Wiel Ghana and Caluna Belgium have decided to expand this project and to support them to become a self-reliant project, for the local community en with their help.
NGO, all the paperwork has been delivered at the Social Welfare dept. and we hope to receive our registration and certificate very soon. The complete administration of the project is in Afari, from where the social kitchen and all future activities will be supervised.
In the meantime we have bought 1,38 acres (5.583 m2) of land to have a bigger social kitchen and add other elements witch are important for the local community and the future of its children.
1.500 m2 will be used for building : # bigger social kitchen up to 250 children daily, to provide their most important meal of the day, 7/7. # office and permanent administration # computerclass # workshop space for women # workshop space for disabled persons # give away shop for shoes and clothes for the children # rooms for volunteers and other visitors who want to participate in the activities and support the project.
4000 m2 will be used for a permaculture agriculture project. Becoming self-sustaining is very important on our long term vision, but also to teach the children and the local community that will be involved.
The future of CALUNA’S KITCHEN as well as the future of all our other projects depends on the help, gifts, donations and generosity of you all. We are proud to mention that 100 % off all gifts are fully invested in the local project, because we have no operating costs to deduct, these are covered by our Maecenas out of an other company.
BE 62 6451 2477 3761 - reference DON KITCH
NGO, all the paperwork has been delivered at the Social Welfare dept. and we hope to receive our registration and certificate very soon. The complete administration of the project is in Afari, from where the social kitchen and all future activities will be supervised.
In the meantime we have bought 1,38 acres (5.583 m2) of land to have a bigger social kitchen and add other elements witch are important for the local community and the future of its children.
1.500 m2 will be used for building : # bigger social kitchen up to 250 children daily, to provide their most important meal of the day, 7/7. # office and permanent administration # computerclass # workshop space for women # workshop space for disabled persons # give away shop for shoes and clothes for the children # rooms for volunteers and other visitors who want to participate in the activities and support the project.
4000 m2 will be used for a permaculture agriculture project. Becoming self-sustaining is very important on our long term vision, but also to teach the children and the local community that will be involved.
The future of CALUNA’S KITCHEN as well as the future of all our other projects depends on the help, gifts, donations and generosity of you all. We are proud to mention that 100 % off all gifts are fully invested in the local project, because we have no operating costs to deduct, these are covered by our Maecenas out of an other company.
BE 62 6451 2477 3761 - reference DON KITCH