GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

In an uncertain financial market, even the most innovative and cost-effective entrepreneurs often do not have access to essential investment capital. This disparity is especially acute for many women in Africa who can barely afford to feed their children, let alone launch a business. Through our program, active in Ghana, the GO Fund distributes low-interest microcredit loans to small groups of entrepreneurial women who then repay the funds with the profits they generate from their small businesses. Their businesses range from palm oil processing, liquid soap production, and the sale of baked goods. However, one thing that all of these women have in common is that they are all battling HIV/AIDS, and are marginalized in their communities. This program is dedicated to not only increasing income of the women, but supporting the women to use their money to invest in the long-term health and safety of themselves and their family.

Currently active in Ghana, the GO Fund’s Sew for Sisterhood program trains women in batik (tie-dye) and sewing in order to make fashion-forward products for a discerning customer. Fourteen women have been trained by fashion designer Monica Wontorski and currently produce all of the fashionable products for sale locally and internationally. The beneficiaries of this program are marginalized women, many of whom are undereducated and/or widowed. Lacking proper education and technical skills training, these women have very few options beyond the traditional roles of wife and mother. The proceeds of the Shop enable them to support themselves and their families. The ultimate goal of this program is for the women involved to become economically independent and self-sufficient.

The ultimate goal of the Pathfinder International School is to provide a quality basic and vocational education to orphans, vulnerable and needy children (OVC’s) in Cape Coast and Abura Asebu Kwamankese and its surrounding districts in Ghana. It strives to give hope and choices to Ghanaian street-children who otherwise would not have the opportunity.
The Pathfinder International Academy opened its doors in early September of 2012. We currently have over 100 students enrolled in classes from Kindergarten to Class 6. As the school progresses, we are excited to increase the student body and implement the vocational program. Currently, the young students are learning English, Math, Social Studies, Science, Fante (their native language), French, and Religious and Moral Studies.

The Go Fund launched a program in 2012 to support a small rural community in the Central Region of Ghana to support their dream of owning a small-scale gari production facility. This social enterprise project is designed to help the women of the village to make a profit from their work in producing and selling gari, a signature element to Ghanaian dishes made of ground cassava. Profits made from the use of the grinding machine will go towards the community to pay changes the community wants to make to their village, such as the construction of a community center. The facility is currently close to production, and only requires a few more resources until the community will be in business.

We have several programs that support women and children who are suffering from HIV/AIDS.

1) Sponsorship: According to UNAIDS, an estimated 170,000 children are orphaned in Ghana due to HIV/AIDS. These children are typically taken in by a relative or a foster family, or they may end up on the streets. In either scenario, these children are typically deprived of the care, nourishment and education they need to survive and thrive. Home for Hope, mentioned above is the only orphanage in the Asebu Abura Dukwa District however the current facility cannot accommodate children with HIV/AIDS. As mentioned above, it is our hope to have built a new facility by March 2011, which will offer shelter for children with HIV/AIDS who have been abandoned. Until then, we have matched vulnerable children with caring sponsors here in the United States. These sponsors provide $40 per month to cover the costs of the child’s food, clothing and medications. This relieves the burden on the foster family and results in better care of the child until a safe place of shelter is provided for them.

2) Community Clinics: We have built strong relationships with many local Ghanaian clinics that are involved in our programs, specifically the HIV Alert Education Program and the Loans for a Better Life Program. The nurses and health professionals support the same populations we do, looking to keep everyone healthy and strong. We give back to some of these facilities that are specifically in need. Additionally, we have played a role in the construction of two clinics in the district. The first clinic is located in the rural village of Musunkwa, and is completed and fully operational. Prior to the construction of this clinic, this community did not have a clinic in the area, and therefore individuals who fell extremely ill would have to travel great distances to get adequate medical care. The second clinic is located beside the orphanage and is in the final stage of completion. This clinic, operated by AYD, will focus on providing care for people (specifically children) with HIV. This will be the first clinic focus specifically on HIV in the local area.