Support child health for Shaya's birthday!

Why I've chosen to support Engage Globally for my birthday

I am on the Board of Directors of Engage and my family and I are closely connected with Ghana. I care deeply about helping children and women globally, including in rural communities where resources are limited. I appreciate Engage's community-led approach which centers local knowledge and leadership, and strengthens local capacity to create long-term sustainable progress. As a board member, I also know that our projects, at relatively low costs, make a significant difference. 

Our child health program 

Because our partner communities lack access to clean water, children are susceptible to many bacterial and parasitic infections, impacting eyes, skin, and intestinal health. In our partner communities, these issues were causing many children to be absent from school. In one village, intestinal parasites were contributing to malnutrition and stunting, which can cause lifelong learning challenges. And, tragically one child lost his eyesight in one eye due to an infection. 

In response to this worsening situation, teacher concerns, and family requests, we have launched a new health initiative. This program is led by Madam Latifa, an experienced local nurse and midwife who has worked with us as a health educator for several years. In June, Latifa visited our five schools to assess children's health needs. In July, she returned with colleagues to treat 90 children with infections. 

This fall, Latifa recommends that we re-assess all of our students, follow up on treatments, identify additional health concerns, and connect children with local health services when needed. If funding allows, she will also check on younger siblings. 

Your donation makes a big impact:

• $50 - snacks and pencils for a school of 100 children so they have a positive experience with the visiting nurse

• $112 - evaluating and treating a class of 28 kindergartners for infections

• $240 - ten pairs of shoes for children who do not have them, to reduce hookworm infections from contaminated soil

• $400 - evaluating and treating a school of 100 children, ages 4 to 11, for infections

• $500 - funds our emergency health program which provides mothers with transportation and funding for their children's medical treatment at regional health clinics. This fund was used to save the sight in the child's other eye after his severe infection. 

• $1500 - rainwater catchment tank to provide water at our schools and reduce waterborne infections

More about Engage Globally

Engage Globally partners with nine rural villages in Ghana's Northern Region, where many people live on less than $2 a day. Our local partner, Community Empowerment Resources (CER), works on education, vocational training, women's agriculture, job creation, environmental conservation, and health. All our programs are interconnected so that supporting one strengthens the others.