The Organization:
AME, a UK charity since 2014, provides education to disadvantaged children, emphasizing sustainability with an organic farming enterprise. Through a unique model in Ghana, it cooperates with the government while ensuring financial independence and maintaining autonomy, notably in paying teachers' salaries, minimizing running costs. The school offers accommodation, extracurricular activities, and pastoral care, fostering self-sufficiency in Wioso, Ahafo Ano South West in Ashanti Region.

The Social Economical Need:
Wioso Senior High School, located in a rural area of Ghana's Ashanti region, was established to offer top-tier secondary education to local youth. With only two secondary schools in the district serving a population of around 65,000, many students end their education after primary school due to limited access to secondary education. A significant challenge nationwide is that many students lack opportunities to pursue tertiary education after completing secondary school. In response, AME implements scholarship programs to support students' educational journeys beyond secondary education.

The Approach:
Alma Mater has cultivated an inclusive, student-centered approach aimed at maximizing each student's potential. Our faculty members are empowered to devise innovative teaching methods that actively involve students, integrating the local environment into the learning process.

The Impact:
The impact of the school and its students is immeasurable. Not only do the students have the opportunity to pursue further education where possible, but they also acquire skills to secure gainful employment and provide for themselves and their families. The focus on girls' health and well-being is significantly influencing the future of local society in the area. The school has provided a significant economic boost to the region with graduating over 750 students, and up to 97% of them gaining access to tertiary studies.
The school is currently attended by 351 pupils, 199 of whom are girls (May '24).

For example, with the support of TGF, Alma Mater Education will produce the first female medical doctor in our district: Priscilla, who is currently studying Physician Assistant courses at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

The Organization:
St. Joseph's School was established in Domeabra in 2001. The problem of unequal educational opportunities and the lack of quality education for the rural child is what motivated the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny (which began in France in 1807) to start St. Joseph's School. The goal was to increase life opportunities for rural children. It's major focus is to foster the dignity of the human person and it does so mainly through education and the provision of equal opportunities for all. Since St. Joseph's School was established, over 1.000 children from the village and neighbouring villages have had the opportunity of receiving quality primary education with about 95% children completing their basic education.

The Social Economical Need:
Domeabra, located in the Ahafo-Ano South-West District of the Ashanti Region in Ghana, is a rural farming community with approximately 5.000 residents. Similar to many villages in Ghana, Domeabra faces limited opportunities compared to urban areas. At the inception of St. Joseph's School, the community lacked essential amenities like electricity, proper roads, and clean drinking water. Education was also a challenge, with few teachers willing to stay due to the village's deprived conditions, resulting in limited access to education beyond primary school. This disparity in educational opportunities between rural and urban areas hinders future job prospects and economic development. Though, providing quality and affordable education to children in Domeabra can significantly improve their life opportunities and reduce poverty levels.

The Approach:
The school's main strength lies in its strict supervision of teaching and learning, discipline, and instilling a sense of purpose in the children. Regular in-service training for teachers ensures they are effective in facilitating learning. With support from the Toni Garrn Foundation and other donors, the school has expanded its reach through a school bus service, received renovations, solar lights, a water pump, and a new biodigester toilet facility. As part of its sustainability plan, the school aims to initiate a mixed farming project to enhance nutrition and generate income.

The Impact:
St. Joseph's School has significantly impacted the lives of Domeabra's residents and its surroundings. Academically, approximately 95% of students have completed secondary school, with about 68% progressing to tertiary institutions. Financial constraints prevented 5% from attending secondary school and 32% from accessing tertiary education.
Nonetheless, the school stands as a success story, providing quality education and serving as a model for nearby schools, inspiring academic excellence. Additionally, it has empowered the local community through job creation, offering in-service teaching training for interested youth, and engaging in climate change initiatives.
The school is currently attended by 348 pupils, 161 of whom are girls (May '24).

The Organization:
Abato's Kingdom Medical Center was established in 2018 as a small clinic serving mainly pupils from Abato Junior School. The facility is now a Level three Health Center licensed by the Ministry of Health in Uganda to reach more than 1.800 people in its catchment area.
Our Medical Center has been able to upgrade to a Level Three medical Facility with several departments including but not limited to Dental, Diagnostic, Maternity, Out-patient and In-Patient departments offering a wide range of services with the exception of surgery.

The Social Economical Need:
Although Uganda has made available free medical care at it's government-run institutions, access to quality health care for the country's poorest is still very lacking. The national health care system is strained by several barriers which include long waiting time, early closing of essential health facilities, drug stock outs, lack of adequate healthcare workers in the facility, lack of ambulances, lack of privacy due to infrastructure deficits, poor sanitation in health facilities and poor-quality service delivery.

The Approach:
Kingdom Medical Center offers holistic healthcare through three main programs:
1. quality medical services onsite
2. free annual medical camps targeting specific health issues
3. and regular community health outreach visits facilitated by ambulances.
Their initiatives aim to provide accessible and comprehensive care to improve community well-being.

The Impact:
Till date (May '24), Kingdom Medical Center has treated over 5.000 patients, addressing prevalent ailments like red eyes, respiratory infections, peptic ulcers, dental issues, and malaria. This year (2024) alone 40 pregnant women received essential medical care, contributing to improved community health and well-being.

Since this year we are pleased to be working together with "Eau Thermale Avène" to focus on the renovation of the Medical Centre. Take a look here to find out more about the collaboration.

The Organization:
Village Health Works (VHW) is a nonprofit active in Burundi, East Africa. Its mission is to provide quality, compassionate health care and education in a dignified environment while also addressing the root causes of illness, poverty, violence, and neglect. Collaborating with those it serves, VHW integrates health care with education, food security, and other areas. The Kigutu International Academy (KIA) is a VHW initiative educating a new generation of ethical and entrepreneurial young leaders.

The Social Economical Need:
As a landlocked nation with a population of 13 million, Burundi faces a myriad of challenges including poverty, inadequate diets, population growth, environmental degradation, climate-related shocks, and gender inequality in resource access. Chronic malnutrition, especially among children under 5 and pregnant or breastfeeding women, is a pressing issue. Despite recent progress, school dropout rates remain alarmingly high.

The Approach:
VHW's healthcare approach expanded from primary care to community-based activities, including prevention and patient support at home via 200+ Community Health Workers. Recently, it further expanded with the opening of a training hospital. In education, VHW enhances classroom instruction quality through teacher training and creates a conducive learning environment by improving facilities and providing basic services like nutritious meals.

The Impact:
Clinic consultations at VHW increased from around 10.000 in 2008 to over 55,.000 in 2023, with 200+ Community Health Workers (CHWs) conducting over 76.000 household visits. VHW operates a vibrant preschool, the first in the area, alongside a Girls Empowerment Program and an English Access Program for high school students region-wide.
In 2023, it served over 31.500 meals to students of all ages, and anticipates the first KIA class graduation in July 2024.

The Organization:
Founded in 2018, Totya Platform is a community-based organization providing support to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. They offer emergency medical aid to prevent HIV and unplanned pregnancy, as well as treat injuries and infections acquired as a result of rape. Additionally, they provide online (through a toll-free helpline) and in-person trauma counseling, along with legal aid to pursue justice for survivors. Furthermore, they raise awareness and advocate for a swift response to sexual violence to prevent such incidents within the communities.

The Social Economical Need:
According to the Uganda Police Crime Report 2022, 35% of all girls below 18 years experience sexual violence daily in Uganda, significantly impacting their psychological, social, and economic well-being. The culture often stigmatizes victims, making it difficult for them to seek help. Moreover, victims also face medical costs and disruptions in education or work, which further hinders their economic stability.

The Approach:
Totya Platform addresses sexual violence in Uganda through a multifaceted approach, offering emergency medical care to prevent HIV and pregnancy, as well as treating infections and injuries. Additionally, they provide psychological support to help survivors heal from trauma and offer legal assistance to pursue justice. Their efforts extend to education and awareness campaigns aimed at preventing violence and empowering communities, creating a supportive environment for survivors to heal and thrive.

The Impact:
As of April 2024, Totya Platform has provided emergency medical care to 1,038 survivors of sexual violence, conducted over 10,000 online counseling sessions, and carried out 784 home monitoring visits. Additionally, they have taken legal action against 550 perpetrators of sexual violence, resulting in 179 convictions.

Their outreach efforts have reached a population of over 50,000 through various awareness initiatives, including 50 community awareness events, 9,855 local radio station announcements, and 110 school awareness events. Furthermore, they have trained 100 change influencers and community volunteers to further spread awareness and support survivors.

The Organization:
Plan International Rwanda is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children's rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. And it is girls who are most affected. Plan International has been operating in Rwanda since 2007 to change harmful gender and social norms as well as policies that hold children back from reaching their potential.

The Social Economical Need:
In Rwanda, only about half of all children complete primary school. This is due to a number of factors: inadequate school equipment, poor teaching quality, the poverty of many parents and child labour. Early childhood development is also a critical issue. Although the foundations for successful learning in primary school are laid in pre-school, the enrolment rate in kindergartens and pre-schools is only 18 percent.

The Approach:
In Bugesera, two new centers for early childhood development (ECD) were established and 75 community members are currently trained to become caregivers for small children. They are trained in pedagogy and learn about standards for early childhood development and the national curriculum for early childhood education.
In addition, 50 young mothers are given vocational and entrepreneurial training so they can earn their living expenses by themselves and ensure that their children receive early childhood education and care.

The Impact:
This project had an impact on the whole family and community. Giving little children the chance of an early childhood education, they are supported from the very beginning. But also other family members are relieved of their task of taking care of the young ones, enabling them to pursue their own educational goals.