Lovefeast with Akropong School for the Blind
Cheers, applause, and smiles greeted the arrival of the team from ‘Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation’, a Christian charitable organization when they arrived at the Akropong School for the Blind in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region last Friday, December 3.
December 3rd has been designated by the United Nations as International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Each year on this day, the World Health Organization joins other partners around the world to commemorate the day.
MyHelp-YourHelp Foundation as part of its 3rd-anniversary celebration, opted to put smiles on the faces of students and teachers of the Akropong School of the Blind in the Eastern Region of Ghana. Their motivation was from a scripture in the Bible; Luke 14:13-14 “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the mime, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you: for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.
Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation fed about 400 students, teaching and non-teaching staff, and other dignitaries present. They also donated assorted items worth over 43,000 GHS.
ITEMS DONATED
1. Sachet Water – 50 Bags
2. Bottled Water – 17 Packs
3. Faytex Sanitary Pad – 9 Boxes
4. Toilet Roll – 612 Pieces
5. Life Buoy Soap – 3 Boxes
6. Hand Sanitizer – 20 Pieces
7. Hand Washing Soap – 24 Pieces
8. Soft Drinks – 15 Packs
9. Mackerel – 4 Boxes
10. Pepsodent Toothpaste – 3 Boxes
11. Close Up Toothpaste – 2 Boxes
12. Milk – 5 Packs
13. Tin Tomatoes 1 Box
14. Maize – 2 Bags
15. Millet- 2 Bags
16. Rice – 4 Bags
17 Sugar- 2 Bags
18. Bed Sheet- 400 Pieces
19. Pillowcases – 400 Pieces
PROFILE OF AKROPONG SCHOOL OF THE BLIND
The Akropong School for the Blind is a government-supported school established in 1945 by Presbyterian Missionaries for the visually impaired. It has a regular school from Kindergarten to Junior High School. It has a rehabilitation center for adult visually impaired people, a vocational department for artisanal training, and a music department to train those talented in that field. The school currently houses over 370 students aside from teaching and non-teaching staff.
ACTIVITIES AND DONATION
In a welcome address by the Headmistress of the school; Madam Veronica Dery, appreciated the visit of Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation and stated that it was timely. She further mentioned that although the school receives donations from time to time, these are woefully inadequate to cater to its ever-increasing needs. There’s no better love than this, likening it to the selfless submission of Jesus Christ. With the school’s motto being: “My help comes from God”, God brought us to help from Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation. She however expressed worry about how some parents abandoned their wards entirely after enrolling them in the school. This compelled some students to spend the vacation period in the school. She took the opportunity to appeal to parents not to perceive their “disabled” children as a liability but to give them all the needed support and love in order to enable them to live their dreams.
Madam Jessie Dzokoto of the Akuapem-South social welfare and community development: Speaking in the local dialect reminded everyone present that disabilities exist which may mostly not be the fault of those affected. She therefore urged everyone to follow in the footsteps of the Myhelp-Yourhelp foundation.
In an address, Madam Angelina Nagertey (Head of Social Welfare at the Akuapem South Municipal Assembly), pointed out that it is the responsibility of all and sundry to support persons with disabilities. She added an appeal to the government to increase the common fund to support the vulnerable in society. She also urged all civil societies and philanthropists to come on board to assist persons with disabilities and commended the Myhelp-Yourhelp foundation for a very good job.
The students entertained their guests with music performances, Quiz competitions, News casting, and mimicking of various animals. Members of the foundations could not but allow themselves to be swept off their feet onto the dancing floor by the remarkable musical performance by the school band along with some of the students and dignitaries present.
According to the Founder and CEO of Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation, Mr. Nicholas Cofie, the talents exhibited by the students on the day confirm the words of Mark Twain “You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus”. He expressed ultimate fulfillment just by the contentment emanating from the faces of these young ones.
He however mentioned that the Foundation was unable to do many such projects since it relies mostly on the contributions of its members to undertake its projects. But he believed that, as stated by Hudson Taylor, — “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply”.
He applauded Virtue Clothing, Unilever Ghana Ltd, Bond Savings & Loans, Randa Cakes & More, Cake Haven Gh, Nuvivcakes, Labianca, Obiri Yeboah Foundation, Jodi Constructions, Abbi’s Healthy Fruit Juice, Salama Transport, Liberty Industry Ventures, and all others who supported this mission in cash or kind.
Rev. Samuel Adjei-Debrah (Apostolic Church of Ghana and PNC Presidential hopeful) indicated that everyone is a candidate for disability. He hence called on the government to plan for the disabled and vulnerable in society, who are in the minority. He further encouraged other affluent individuals and corporate bodies to emulate the gesture by the Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation.
Receiving the Items, The Coordinator for Akuapem South Municipal Assembly, Madam Lydia Akueteh expressed great satisfaction at the initiative of the NGO. She threw a challenge to other NGOs to follow suit.
In an interaction with the students, Beatrice Cofie could not hide her joy. She, on behalf of her colleagues, exhibited utmost appreciation for this gesture as they laid their beds with the newly presented bedsheets and pillowcases. She further urged the government to complement this by assisting with the provision of textbooks and laptops to aid teaching and learning.
The foundation, prior to the project held over the weekend, had successfully undertaken 14 Major projects since its inception on March 28, 2018: 7 orphanage projects and 7 Community-based projects.
The President, on behalf of the entire Leadership of the Foundation, further expressed his profound gratitude to all members of the foundation for their maximum support towards the love feast and donation Programme, especially to persons who gave their valuable time to plan the program, those who sought for sponsorship, people who gave their substance (money and items), the caterers and drivers for the day, the media team and all members who traveled with the team to assist in making the program successful. He also thanked all who stood in the gap to pray at dawn and in secret, for this accomplishment.
Media Houses: Adom Tv, Citi Tv, Joy News, ETV GBC, Daily Graphic