A short
story |
There were thousands of starfish stranded and dying on the beach. A little boy saw an old man picking them up one at a time and throwing them back into the sea, "Why bother doing that?" asked the young boy, "there are thousands, what difference will it make?"
The old man replied, "It will make all the difference to the one I have just saved."
And that’s the same with us. We can't help all the poor, but we can make a difference.
Our starfish was a young teenage boy named Charles who was sitting at the roadside crying, when the head of our projects, Osmond, saw him and asked him what was wrong.
The young boy said that his family could not afford to keep him anymore, because he had many brothers and sisters. He came from a rural village called Oboa near Mankessim.
Osmond took him on and helped him with his education. Charles wanted to help his village and children like himself, so when we were on one of our visits to Ghana, he asked us if there was a way to give families like his the opportunity to work.
From this, we started the Farm4life scheme.
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Thank you Son Rise for letting us display our details on your web site
Farm4life is an independant charity.
registered: 1121863
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Just some of the projects include an eight acre pineapple farm at Mankessim for six workers headed by Charles' family, a ten acre rented corn plantation at Akatsi in the Volta Region giving work for ten people, and a six acre farm at Krokohwe helping eight people.
We also have two chicken farms and a new project starting a piggery. Two agricultural graduates who teach agriculture in a school in the Cape coast oversee these projects. These educated men are keen to help us get the most out of the land.
We have many other projects including a hair salon with training facilities, paint spraying and car valeting workshop, a metal machine shop as well as a large internet cafe. We have also been able to offer interest free loans for those who want to start up their own business.
Not only has this given people focus and employment, but has meant that many families can keep their children with them in the villages.
Also through our educational projects we have been able to offer free education.
We want to be able to assist, not change, these rural communities allowing them to maintain their traditional, uncomplicated way of life in a healthy and safe environment.
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How it was all
made possible |
These projects have been made possible by generous people giving £25 through our donation scheme which pays to rent an acre of ground for a year, or buys crops.
Others have held fund raising events or have asked us to speak at their school or organisation. Yet others have helped practically.
One company gave us a second hand forklift truck for us to sell. On a smaller scale, people have helped by displaying posters and collecting mobile phones.
All monies and gifts go direct to the projects and the Gift Aid scheme boosts the income too.
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Want to know more about Farm4life
look on the Farm4life web site
see how you can be involved do you like taking part in sponsored events?
would your school organisation like a small presentation on the life of Debra an overview of the day in the life of Debra age 7. In a small village in Ghana.
If so contact us and we will give you full details
contact details bottom of this page |
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