Our first newsletter: How, what, where ...?

Author: Ad van Rangelrooij

Featured

On Whit Monday, May 20, there will be an open day at organic pig farm Van den Bogert. This is part of "Beleef de Bommelerwaard". We will be there to sell delicious fresh sausages. The proceeds will go to the school in Ghana.

The open house starts at 10 o'clock. Will you also come and have a look at the pigs?

How did Share Ghana originate?

The idea for the Share Ghana foundation came about when we went to organize the party in honor of Dian and I being "happily not married" for 40 years. We wanted a financial contribution instead of a gift. We wanted to spend that financial contribution well and soon we agreed that we wanted to support projects in Ghana. This because we have a special bond with Ghana. Especially because Sebastian Yanore is our son-in-law and comes from Ghana. In addition, Diede once volunteered there. In 2019 we went to Ghana with our family. This was a year after Lotte and Sebastian's wedding. There we met the Yanore family, celebrated the wedding one more time and made a nice tour. Because we wanted to contribute structurally, we decided to set up an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization/Good Cause).

How it began

Construction of high school classrooms

What did we have to do for this?

Last year, at our 40-year "happily unmarried celebration," we asked for contributions for educational projects in Ghana. We formalized this by establishing the Share Ghana Foundation. To do this we:

- Established the foundation and had this recorded at the notary in Kerkdriel, thanks to Lianne Clement and the notary. No fees were charged.

- We opened a bank account at the ING. This is because a business bank account for an NGO is possible here.

- We have applied for and received an ANBI label.

- We have formed a board of five people. More about this in this newsletter. Here are the pieces in which we introduced ourselves. Piece about the involvement of Sebastian's father (George).

- We created a website, www.shareghana.nl

- We have made a careful start with fundraising

- The first results of the donated money are visible

Purpose of the foundation

- Scholarships: We would like to give scholarships (grants) to children who otherwise would not go to school. Both in primary and secondary school.

- Improve infrastructure: The school where we are currently operating needs an upgrade. Especially the high school building needs a lot of work. By now there is a floor, and roof, there are windows and it has been painted. However, furniture, for example, is still needed.

Halfway

The roof is finished

What did we do?

- Our party raised over 2,500 euros.

- The company Zermelo, in its Christmas promotion, offered staff the opportunity to donate to ShareGhana and doubled the total amount. This raised 1500 euros

- The Protestant Church in Kerkdriel paid attention to ShareGhana in the March Lent Action. We made a presentation at a congregational evening there on March 13. In the following weeks that raised 1000 euros.

- We have been offered computers and accessories through a number of channels. We are certainly going to make use of these to make them suitable for use in Ghana. This will be done by Noetie, who is also on the board of the foundation. The first laptops have already arrived at their destination.

- On 20 May next we will be selling one of their products (garlic sausages) on the open day at the organic pig farm of the vd Bogerd family in Hedel, with the proceeds going to Share Ghana. A nice gesture that we gratefully make use of.

- In January Sebastiaan went to Ghana. This for the presentation of the bull for his doctoral research and for family visits. He was able to see what was done with the construction of the school. From the money that has now been donated, the windows and doors have been placed in the school at Bolgotanga and the concrete has been poured on the floors. The walls have been plastered and the outside of the building has been painted.

The exterior is finished

Fundraising

We are going to set up campaigns again this year. If you have any ideas of your own or would like to contribute, please let us know. If you want to be kept informed, we have a mailing list via WhatsApp (where you can only read messages posted by us). You may also sign up for the newsletter, and we will keep you informed that way. On behalf of Sebastiaan, Lotte, Noetie (our 5th board member, friend of Sebi and Lotte, living in Wageningen with Ghanaian father), Ad and Dian

If you want to sign up for the newsletter or make a donation, follow this link to fill out our form: https://forms.office.com/e/qUQqbR3idU.