Changing Lives — One Opportunity at a Time

Sometimes people do not need everything done for them. They simply need an opportunity — the chance to study, learn a trade, return to work or provide for their family.

These are some of the people Aid Assist Ghana has been privileged to support.

Joseph — From a Village to Nursing College

Joseph grew up in a very poor family in a village in Ghana’s Western Region. His father had no work, his mother was disabled, and with two brothers and a sister, the family struggled simply to survive.

Despite these hardships, Joseph studied hard at his local church school and achieved good results. After leaving school, he helped at the school for just GHS 150 a month.

His dream was to become a nurse — to care for others while earning an income that would enable him to support his family.

The ability was there. The opportunity was not.

Joseph could not afford even the nursing college application forms, let alone the cost of studying.

Aid Assist Ghana funded applications to three colleges. Joseph was invited for an interview and was offered admission to complete his nursing course.

We committed to supporting him throughout his studies, paying his course fees, providing the items he needed for college, a laptop and monthly assistance for breakfast and other everyday expenses.

When we saw the difficult conditions in which his family was living, we also arranged better accommodation and began providing monthly support to improve their quality of life.

Joseph has since completed practical placement and excelled.

The young man who once could not afford a college application is now on his way to becoming a qualified nurse — caring for others, contributing to his community and building a better future for his family.

Vera — Her Dream Is to Teach

Vera dreamed of becoming a teacher.

Her family had very little money, but her mother was determined to give her daughter a chance. She borrowed money from others to pay for Vera's first two terms at college.

Vera hoped she could work at the markets in the evenings to help meet the costs. Unfortunately, this was not possible.

The family could not repay the loans. The people who had lent them money began threatening to take the few possessions they owned, and Vera faced the heartbreaking possibility of leaving college before completing her degree.

Aid Assist Ghana learned of her situation and stepped in.

We repaid the outstanding loans, took responsibility for her future college fees and began providing monthly support.

Vera has since completed practical teaching at a small village school in Ghana's Western Region.

She loved teaching the children — and the children loved her.

She is now looking forward to completing her degree and hopes to teach children in remote areas of Ghana, giving other young people the opportunity that was given to her.

Janet — Determined to Become a Nurse

Janet came from a family experiencing serious financial difficulties, but she had studied hard and held onto her dream of becoming a nurse.

She managed to borrow enough money to submit applications to three colleges.

Then came the news she had hoped for: one of the colleges invited her for an interview.

But instead of being able to celebrate, Janet was distressed. She barely had enough money to travel to the interview and knew that even if she were accepted, there was no way her family could afford the fees.

When Aid Assist Ghana learned about Janet's situation, we provided the money for her to travel to the interview.

She was offered a place.

We then provided the funds for her course and began providing monthly support to help her through her studies.

Janet has embraced the opportunity. She studies diligently and has completed practical placement at one of the larger hospitals, an experience she loved.

A lack of money almost ended Janet's dream before it began. Today, she is working towards becoming a qualified nurse.

Andrea — A Sewing Machne Created an Income

Andrea had completed training with a Master Seamstress, learning to make both women's and men's clothing.

She had the skills and the determination to work, but when her training ended she faced another obstacle.

To obtain further employment or begin working for herself, Andrea needed a particular type of sewing machine. Even second-hand, it was more than she could afford.

Aid Assist Ghana heard about Andrea and provided the machine she needed.

That one piece of equipment changed what was possible.

Andrea is now working from home, making clothes and earning money to help support her family.

Her ambition does not end there. She hopes eventually to establish a workplace where other sewers can work alongside her and build a successful business for the future.

We hope to help her take that next step.

Olivia — Giving Her the Chance to Sit Her Exams

Olivia was approaching her high-school examinations, but examination fees in Ghana must be paid well in advance and her family could not afford them.

Without the fees, all the work she had put into her education could have been interrupted simply because of her family's financial circumstances.

Aid Assist Ghana paid Olivia's examination fees.

Now she has the opportunity to sit her exams and show what she can achieve.

We wish her every success.

Helping Six Fishermen Return to Work

In a small fishing village, one man's damaged boat meant much more than one person being unable to work.

The boat was badly damaged and could no longer go to sea. Five other fishermen depended on that same boat for their livelihoods.

Six men were unable to work.

Aid Assist Ghana funded the repairs to the boat and the necessary equipment.

The boat returned to the water, the fishermen returned to work and once again they could bring fish home to sell.

Sometimes helping one person back into work helps many others at the same time.

Keeping Three Children in School

For one family in a small village, even the cost of local schooling was beyond what they could manage.

Three children faced losing educational opportunities because their family simply could not afford the fees.

Aid Assist Ghana stepped in and paid the school fees for all three children for the following two years.

It was a straightforward act of assistance with an important result: three children could continue learning.

Elizabeth — Learning a Skill for Life

Elizabeth had two young children and desperately wanted the opportunity to learn sewing.

Learning a trade could give her something lasting — the ability to earn an income and help provide for her children.

Aid Assist Ghana funded Elizabeth's three-year training course with the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association and also provides monthly support while she trains.

Her Mistress describes Elizabeth as an excellent pupil and worker.

She is not simply receiving assistance. She is learning a skill she can use to support herself and her family long into the future.

Enoch — Building a Future Through Welding

Enoch's family was barely surviving, but he had a clear ambition: he wanted to become a welder.

Learning the trade would give him the opportunity to earn an income and support his family.

Aid Assist Ghana funded his three-year welding course and provides monthly support while he trains.

Enoch is making good progress.

His goal is eventually to establish his own workshop, earn a living and, in time, help others as well.

What began as an opportunity to learn a trade could ultimately create opportunities for other people too.

This Is What Your Support Can Do

These stories are different, but they have something important in common.

The ability was already there.
The determination was already there.
What was missing was the opportunity.

A college application, school fees, a sewing machine, vocational training or repairing a fishing boat may seem like relatively simple things.

But at the right moment, they can change the direction of a person's life.

Aid Assist Ghana believes in giving people the opportunity to move forward — to learn, work, support their families and, ultimately, help strengthen their communities.

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