Loading ...Achievements
For over five years, SHIFSD has been an active participant in development work within the Central Region of Ghana, specifically at the Buduburam Refugee Settlement and its environs. SHIFSD undertook various projects successfully, and continues to undertake programs and activities in the area of Functional Adult Literacy using the Regenerated Freirean Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques (REFLECT); complementary education for out-of-school children; HIV/AIDS prevention; skills training, and micro-credit with education.
Our organization has provided literacy and numeracy skills to over 279 Liberian Refugee Women through our Adult Literacy Program. The program is ongoing and now receives support from the Ghana REFLECT Practitioners Network (PAMOJA Ghana). Action Aid International Ghana initiated the REFLECT Program through SHIFSD in December of 2004 at the Buduburam Refugee Settlement.
SHIFSD, through its activities, has also improved the literacy and numeracy skills of out-of-school children through the Accelerated Learning Program, formerly the Children Better Reading Project. The ALP is the only completely free primary school at Buduburam. It is sponsored by Ibis West Africa, and currently has an enrollment of approximately 250 disadvantaged children between the ages of 8 and 17. The student body consists both of students who had never before attended school, and of drop-outs between the ages of 8-17 whose parents cannot afford to send them to school. They are in school for 20 hours each week, studying math, science, social studies and writing.
SHIFSD has significantly contributed toward the increase in students’ knowledge on HIV/AIDS and STDs through the formation of student Anti-AIDS Clubs in some schools within the Buduburam Refugee Settlement. It has also distributed free Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials and over 100,000 male and female condoms to Camp-based organizations and residents of the settlement since 2004 with support from Action Aid-Ghana, Ibis West Africa and others. In addition, the group has trained 173 HIV/AIDS Peer Educators between May 2004 and June 2006 with support from Peer Education Program International, Action Aid International Ghana and Ibis.
It has awarded full sponsorships to three (3) needy Liberian Refugee Children in April 2006 with support from Mrs. Susan Middleton and Family based in the USA. The sponsorships cover tuition, books and others fees, and are expected to run from primary school up to university level.
The organization has also awarded nine-month sponsorships to seven (7) Liberian Refugee Women, six of whom recently completed its Adult Literacy/REFLECT Program, to enable them to acquire skills in sewing and fashion design. These women, upon completion of the skills training, will benefit from SHIFSD Micro Credit with Education Project being piloted by SHIFSD. The beneficiaries will receive entrepreneurial skills training along with one sewing machine each on loan in order to start their own small businesses.
SHIFSD conducted a Needs Assessment and Refugee Survival Strategy Survey in collaboration with the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA) at the Settlement in 2004.
SHIFSD also conducted a baseline survey on the State of Education at the Buduburam Refugee Settlement in May 2005 with support from Ibis West Africa and organized series of Gender Training Workshops for Buduburam Refugees in collaboration with ABANTU for DEVELOPMENT.
In collaboration with Unite for Sight, SHIFSD facilitated the establishment of a Mobile Eye Clinic at Buduburam - January 2005.
