New York University adopts community in Volta Region

Adanu, a Ghanaian-led non-profit organization committed to community development in collaboration with the New York University(NYU), adopted Woadze-Tsatoe, a fishing community in the Afadzato South District of the Volta Region in Ghana.

The collaboration is aimed at improving the livelihood of people.

The five-year project by the NYU Stern School of Business (SIV Ghana) and Adanu, is to among other things improve education, potable water, health care and small scale businesses in the area.

Waodze-Tsatoe community is one of the numerous communities deprived of basic social amenities in the Afadzato South District.

The community with a population of about 500 residents, is located several miles away from Have. Residents solely earn a livelihood through fishing. Residents depend on water from the Dayi River, a tributary of River Volta for domestic use. This has led to high rate of water borne diseases in the area.

The unavailability of a health facility is another challenge in the community, as residents walk several kilometers to access healthcare.

The inadequate educational facilities is also affecting teaching and learning at the only basic school in the community.

Following the NGO’s interventions, students from the New University were deployed to the community to provide potable water, new classroom block and sanitary facilities and microbusinesses to empower the residents.

The University and the Adanu NGO, constructed a 3-unit classroom block with offices for the community.

The school, which lacked adequate furniture, was provided enough pupils desks through a collaborative efforts with the GES Planning Officer, Bright Dey and the team.

A small-town water system has also been provided the community to provide them with potable water.

A local batik fabric manufacturing centre has also been established for the men and women in the community to empower them financially.

The community led by their chief, Togbe Dzormeku, thanked the University and the NGO for the gesture, and advised residents to make good use of the support.