The meeting of Friends of Ahotokurom (FOA) held on 30th July was well attended. We started with a delicious lunch and got to know each other in general chatter.
Thanks to St Columba’s
Sister Pat, director of Ahotokurom, and Mark Mantey, the assistant director, were both present. They spoke about the project and hope for the future. They said thank you to St Columba’s Parish for their contribution last year. This is being used in the general fund, which includes minor repairs to homes and medical/social support to vulnerable families - so keep the funds coming in, it could be the difference between life and death in Ahotokurom.
Fundraising report
Fr Douglas Bull, from Rainham Parish, is the treasurer of the FOA and spoke about the fundraising in the parishes. Mary Collyer, who spoke to us at St Columba’s last year, is from Holy Cross parish in Carshalton. They have raised nearly £50,000 for a minibus. What a difference this will make!
Planned projects
Mary Conlan, the representative of the DMJ Associates, deals with child care. For the first time ever all the children are attending school. Those who can achieve academically are encouraged to continue in secondary school, while those who are not academically inclined are supported through vocational training to help them to find work. Thanks to Rainham parish for their support in this.
Other contributions came from Sister Felice, Regional Co-ordinator of the DMJs in England, who gave feedback on their work, from David Edward, formerly a parishoner at Rainham, who set up the web site and prints leaflets etc. and from Mary Conlan who deals with Child sponsorship.
In the longer term it is hoped to develop an IT project. This would help the less able children and adults to find a job.
I hope this gives some idea where your money goes. The total raised in the past year from all is £20,000 which goes a long way in Ghana.
Website
The Ahotokurom website is well worth a visit for up-to-date information on the project. The ‘Latest News’ section includes an archive of news back to March 2002, and shows just what has happened over a few short years.
‘100 club’
Here at St Columba’s, the 100 club has now reached its target and has enough members for the first draw to be held. Watch out for details of prizewinners, and thanks again to all for your support.
Lori Ansell, Adrian Steel