Progress at Osonson Epicenter
Today, the Osonson Epicenter has completed its building, a major asset to the community and the physical focal point of community-driven change. A team from JMJ visited Ghana in July 2010 where they took part in the formal commissioning of the epicenter building. A mechanized borehole provides a safe, clean and convenient supply of water, especially for the epicenter’s clinic and nurses’ quarters. Providing a source of convenient water also means that women who spent hours every day trekking to secure water now have more time and energy to work their farms, start small businesses, focus on schooling and other productive pursuits.
In the period July-December 2010, the following has taken place:
- A group of community members are making progress on building a 3–unit classroom block (having completed the digging of the foundations, molded 150 cement blocks, and mobilized 11 trips of sand and 2 trips of stones).
- 140 people (71 men and 69 women) participated in six HIV&AIDS educational sessions in six different communities. The topics discussed included causes and effects of HIV&AIDS, prevention, stigmatization and discrimination of people living with HIV&AIDS
- Through the Women’s Empowerment Project, seven educational sessions covering eight communities were organized for 507 people (226 men and 281 women). Topics discussed included Domestic Violence, Human Rights, Gender Roles, Children’s Act, Wills Act, and Intestate Succession Law. The women were pleased to learn that the government had a legal provision which gave women the right to own and dispose of property. One woman stood up and proclaimed that she was going to make a will to ensure that her daughter would be able to inherit her property. Traditionally, women have not inherited property in Ghana.
- 125 people attended the clinic comprising 47 men and 78 women. They were treated for ailments including malaria, skin diseases, and diarrhea. 48 children were immunized.
"Funding an epicenter is a significant increase in JMJ's long-term support of The Hunger Project. This commitment in action inspires me personally as it is a clear demonstration of our desire to make a difference in the world—enabling us to do so as a community and an organization." - Steve Portner, CEO, JMJ Associates
