Beyonders Foundation donates furniture and learning materials to a South Tongu District School

Before donation

After donation

As part of living its aims, the Beyonders Foundation responded to the alarming call for the provision of furniture set for pupils of Avuto-Akutukope Basic School located in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region of Ghana. For a long time, these pupils did not have desks to sit and write on and hence sat on the floor during contact hours. The situation got pathetic, as all efforts put forward by the School’s management could not yield the much-needed result. Recently, we got wind of the deplorable condition under which our younger brothers and sisters, the very future of our collective existence, were schooling.

Delighted by our prompt response to their aching challenge, the School organized a well-attended durbar on Friday, 13 October 2017 during which the rich culture of the area such as drumming and dancing were excellently displayed and the donation was made. The faces of pupils, teachers, management, parents of wards, opinion leaders and indeed, the whole community of the Avuto-Akutukope were lit with broad smiles as Beyonders Foundation got to the premises of the School to present the much-needed desks by the kindergarten/nursery section to the School’s Management.

We donated the required number of desks (tables and seats) for the entire kindergarten/nursery section of the School. Additionally, the Team at Beyonders gave out other teaching and learning materials (TLM): writing slates to all the kindergarten/nursery kids as well as pens, pencils and personal development books to the pupils in upper primary and the Junior High School departments. Also, since personal development is one of our flagship programmes, we used the opportunity to organise a personal development session for the pupils as well as their parents/guardians on how to aspire to excel for the glorious future that await them and the role of parents in the academic performance of their children. These were eloquently espoused by Beyonders’ Dr. Richard Letsa, Mrs. Bless Boahen and Master Cephas Akortor. Also, an opinion leader and youth activist in the District, Mr. Maxwell Lukutor, admonished the students to take their studies seriously so as to achieve laurels in the near future and also tasked the gathering to continue praying for the Foundation and its members. Furthermore, the joy of the participants was completed with a full-packed refreshment parcel.

The Headmistress of the School, Madam Angela Husuke, who was so ecstatic, was full of praise for Beyonders Foundation for the great job done and asked that the Foundation will live long and attain higher and greater heights as we aim to inspire the next genius. She also promised she will ensure the items donated will be well maintained and used effectively to enhance teaching and learning in her School.

Achieving results – the Beyonders way

Three years ago, the Beyonders Foundation has decided to support a brilliant but needy student, Master Frank Jaures Zebli, of the Mac-Tetteh Int’l School at Dzodze, Ghana, after the Rev. Sr. Marie Victorine Dorkenoo, SMMC, made an appeal on his behalf. Indeed, our first support was offered to him on September 5^th, 2014 (See first donation:

BEYONDERS FOUNDATION SUPPORTS BRILLIANT BUT NEEDY STUDENT

Ever since, we have been in touch with him through the Rev. Sr. Marie, who is his foster mother. For the entire period in Junior High School, we have supported him with his academic needs.

Few weeks ago, we were glad to hear that the beneficiary has excelled greatly in the recently held Basic Education Certificate Examination. The message informing us of his stupendous feat as sent by the Rev. Sr. Marie read in parts:

Beyonders Foundation, thanks so much for the assistance offered my ward. He wrote the final exam and got aggregate 9, so KETASCO picked him to do science. God bless for all you’ve done.

As part of efforts to continue mentoring this hardworking and brilliant student, we have instituted another package in which professionals in science-related fields such as medicine, among us, will see to it that Frank excels in Senior High School as well, paving the way for the brighter future that lies ahead of him. Since there is a free SHS policy in the country now, he will not require the continuation of the main scholarship package.

Congratulations, Frank! We are proud to be a part of your success. Indeed, at Beyonders, we inspire the next genius.

 

BEYONDERS DIALOGUE SERIES (2nd Edition): MR. KARL D. JULIUS FIEVE

Mr. Karl D. Julius Fieve

Presented in this edition of our series is one of our newest members who is always motivated by practical societal challenges that he feels called to solve. He sees the Beyonders Foundation as the appropriate platform for this purpose. We recently had a conversation with him about some topics. Do enjoy the read.

Beyonders Foundation (BF): Tell us briefly about yourself.         

KJF: I am a BSc. Actuarial Science graduate from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. I also hold an Executive Certificate in Project Management from the African Centre for Capacity Building, (AFCAB), Accra, Ghana. I am a former student of the Sogakofe Senior High School in the Volta Region of Ghana. I am currently the Finance Officer at FYSSO Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation based in Sogakofe. I am a team-player with excellent interpersonal, presentation and communication skills; and I enjoy being analytical, proactive. I like to perform tasks with efficiency.

BF: Are you a founding member of the Beyonders Foundation? If yes, what motivated you and if no, why did you join it at the time you did?

KJF: I am not a founding member of the Beyonders Foundation but I was moved to join the group so as to be part a family that seeks to work for the interest of the underprivileged and the voiceless. The desire to contribute my quota to the growth and development of Tongu (the main catchment areas of the Foundation) in Ghana and the World as a whole was a strong factor that made me join the Beyonders Foundation.

BF: How will you measure yourself on commitment to the Foundation on a commitment scale of 1-10? Why that measure?

KJF: I will say, without any bias that, my commitment to the Foundation has not been as perfect as I wanted due to certain personal challenges that I am working to overcome in the shortest possible time. On a scale of 1-10, I give myself 6. In the nearest future, I expect to be more commitment to the Foundation than I have so far been.

BF: What have you contributed to the Foundation? Have you achieved or are you achieving the purpose for which you joined?

KJF: I have not contributed so much to the Foundation in monetary terms but the core values of the Foundation has been my cherish virtues. I have been a very good ambassador of the Foundation by being a role model to the underprivileged and the defenseless in the society with whom I work in FYSSO Ghana. My work makes me meet these kinds of people on daily basis and I impart their lives as much as I can.

BF: What has the Foundation so far contributed to your person?

KJF: The Foundation reshapes my sense of understanding and appreciation of challenges bedeviling our society and puts me in a position to play my part in solving them for our common betterment.

BF: What has the Foundation done so far?

KJF: The Foundation has been the voice for the voiceless and sense of motivation for the depressed by providing guidance, counseling, scholarships and mentorship opportunities to them.

BF: Where do you see the Foundation in the next 5 years?

KJF: I see the Foundation becoming a household name in Ghana and the World at large when it comes to issues of advocacy and standing for the needs of the vulnerable. I also see the Foundation becoming very vibrant and extending its very cherished vision beyond the borders of Ghana, West Africa and Africa.

BF: Do you identify any challenge in your society that the Foundation should take up as a project?

KJF: My community is bedevilled with a lot of challenges. I want the Foundation to organise Guidance, Counselling and Mentorship forum for the Secondary and Basics School students in my community especially for the girl child. I also wish the Foundation could meet the chiefs, headmen, parents and stakeholders in the communities and sensitise them about the value of education so as to make them take seriously the education of their children especially their girls.

BF: Do you recommend anything that needed to be changed in the Foundation so as to ensure greater success in the future?

KJF: I recommend that the Foundation works more closely with other local and international NGOs, District Assemblies, the media, the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), Department of Social Welfare and other social-interest groups to be able to achieve her goals.

BF: What are your last words?

KJF: Beyonders Foundation will grow and develop to fulfil her goals. The Foundation will be like a sanctuary where those whose aspirations are lost can renew their hopes and aspirations. God is in control so all is well with the Foundation and her members.

BF: Thank you very much for your time, Mr Fieve!

KJF: Thank you!

BEYONDERS DIALOGUE SERIES: MR. DANIEL LAWER EGBENYA

 

Daniel Lawer Egbenya

 

The Beyonders Foundation is a youth focused non-profit organization, established on May 6, 2009 and registered at the Registrar General’s Department of the Republic of Ghana under the Company Code 1963, (Act 179) as a Non-Governmental Organisation.

The Foundation’s principal preoccupation is to contribute immensely to helping Young People in the North, Central and South Tongu Districts of the Volta Region of Ghana and by extension to other less privileged areas of the country (where this service is lacking) by assisting them to discover and attain their highest possible potentials, creating an environment that serves to inspire Young People to aspire for excellence wherever and whenever and to encourage them to take active part in the development of the general life of humanity.

In our dialogue series, we engage great minds working to promote development in varied fields. The first interview we had was with the first Executive Director and currently the Director of Programmes and Projects of the Foundation, Mr. Daniel Lawer Egbenya. He is an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast School of Medical Sciences and a PhD Candidate at the University of Oslo, Norway. He holds BSc. (Psychology) from the University of Ghana and MSc. (Neuroscience) from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway. He is also a published author.

Beyonders Foundation (BF): Tell us briefly about yourself.

Daniel Lawer Egbenya (DLE): It’s always difficult when asked to say something briefly about myself because I am wonderfully and fearfully created implying that I have a lot that defines me. Well, firstly, I must indicate that I don’t see achievements or places of origin to be the prime issues that identify an individual. In this regard, I am a person who is defined by the conviction that every human, regardless of one’s distinctive background, has an innate humanity that may be masked in certain cases. It is our collective responsibility that we extend the greatest assistance to one another in such instances. Therefore, I believe that my exact identity should be defined by my propensity and earnest desire to, at all times, use my modest achievements to help make the life of another better. Lastly, I am defined by the obsession to the notion that all humans have the ability to achieve great heights when motivated. This led me to share the idea of having a Foundation that will ensure the development of our young people through motivation and allied programmes with like-minded individuals. This gave birth to Beyonders Foundation.

BF: Are you a founding member of the Beyonders Foundation? If yes, what motivated you and if no, why did you join it at the time you did?

DLE: Yes, I am. The motivation was hinged on my belief that each individual can achieve the greatest thing in life when inspired. Inspiration creates an inner sense of motivation that is of great importance in any engagement especially when progression gets tough along the way (which will definitely occurs in any status quo-changing engagement).

BF: How will you measure yourself on commitment to the Foundation on a commitment scale of 1-10? Why that measure?

DLE: Certainly, that’s a difficult task to do especially knowing that salt doesn’t praise (or mark, as the case is) itself. But I should quickly add without any iota of doubt or hesitation that my commitment level to the Foundation is very excellent. This is exhibited in all my responsibilities to the Foundation which are aimed at ensuring that we live our Mission as we aspire to attain our Vision.

BF: What have you contributed to the Foundation? Have you achieved or are you achieving the purpose for which you joined?

DLE: I have contributed enormously to the Foundation. This ranges from ideas to relevant logistics and monetary resources and so on. Certainly, I am achieving the purpose for which this Foundation exists.

BF: What has the Foundation contributed to your person so far?

DLE: Indeed, it has contributed a lot to my personal development and has shaped my thinking in various and significant ways. It has provided me with the rare privilege to continually impact the lives of less privileged individuals by making them realise their innate and inherent potentials to achieve greatness in life. This is, indeed, awesome!

BF: What has the Foundation done so far?

DLE: It will be an understatement to try to put a numerical point to the attainment of the Foundation over the 6 years of its existence. We have meaningfully and significantly impacted the lives of thousands of youth who hitherto due to their geographical background or place of birth may not be able to attain the heights they have currently gotten to. Most of these youth live in the forgotten corners of our country, Ghana, where they have been psyched to think that great achievements is the preserve of some few. However, we have changed this status quo in our catchment area: the three Tongu Districts of the Volta Region of Ghana and other areas in Ghana where our services are lacking. These young people are making great strides in academics, health, apprenticeship, trade, leadership and businesses etc.

BF: Where do you see the Foundation in the next 5 years?

DLE: There are huge prospects for the Foundation. In the next 5 years, we should be able to implement some of our projects and programmes which are yet to be realised. This includes the commencement of operations of the Skills Training Centre (to be established) that anticipates to train youth (who are unable to go through mainstream or formal education) in vocational and technical skills coupled with business development strategies. I anticipate that we will be able to also reach higher number of youth with our current programmes such as personal development seminars and scholarship packages.

BF: Do you identify any challenge in your society that the Foundation should take up as a project?

DLE: I think improvement in the current scholarship package and the implementation of the Skills Training project will help tremendously in offering opportunities to brilliant but really needy students as well as providing a means of employment hence livelihood to youth in my society.

BF: Do you recommend anything that needed to be changed in the Foundation so as to ensure greater success in the future?

DLE: We are doing very well as a Foundation. However, since change is the only universal constant, I think we should increase our effort in the establishment of the Beyonders Foundation Campus Clubs which aims to serve as our branches in senior high schools. We should, also, maximise our efforts at raising funds for our operations.

BF: What are your last words?

DLE: It has been a great 6-year period since the establishment of the Beyonders Foundation. I appreciate and celebrate all who have contributed in varied ways to ensuring this success. The Executive Council, the Patron, the entire membership, partners, sympathisers and well-wishers, “ayeeko” to you all. The future looks outstandingly bright as we strive to achieve our aim. The future, to me, is shaped by our thoughts today. Let’s shaped our tomorrow by engaging in positive thoughts. Always remember that an inspired mind is an achiever!

BF: Thank you very much for your time, Mr Egbenya!

DLE: Thank you!

BEYONDERS FOUNDATION SUPPORTS BRILLIANT BUT NEEDY STUDENT

The Beyonders Foundation, on 5th September, 2014, donated some items as part of a scholarship package to the 11-year old Frank Jaures ZEBLI to help him continue with his education at the Mac-Tetteh International School in Dzodze. It was a response to an appeal made by Rev. Sr. Marie Victorine Dorkenoo, SMMC, a French teacher at the Dzodze -Penyi Senior High School. The donation was made in Dzodze in the Volta region of Ghana on behalf of the foundation by Mr. Joshua Ashiagbor, a member, and received by Frank’s benefactress Rev. Sr. Marie Victorine Dorkenoo, SMMC.

  Rev. Sr. Marie Victorine Dorkenoo, SMMC

The items donated include: a school bag, a mathematical set of instruments,  six blue ball pens,a drawing board, three graph books,
two cumulative record books,a big note book and twenty exercise books. Rev. Sr. Dorkenoo, SMMC was grateful for the act of charity and prayed that “this benevolent organisation continues to grow from strength to strength”.

Author: Edzordzi Agbozo

BEYONDERS FOUNDATION DONATES TO TWO HOSPITALS IN GHANA

The Beyonders Foundation, a youth focused NGO operating in the southern part of Ghana has donated to the Sogakope and Adidome District hospitals. The foundation donated medical equipment worth about GHC 5000 to the Adidome Hospital on July 7, 2014 while it donated about 10 bags of blood to fill the blood bank of the Sogakope Hospital on July 5, 2014. The donations were responses to appeals from the hospital administrators of the two hospitals.

Members of the foundation with head of laboratories, after the blood donation to Sogakope Hospital

Speaking to Dela Radio, a private radio station in Adidome, the administrator of the Adidome Hospital said the equipment would assist to alleviate frustrations medical workers go through working with defective and sometimes improvised gadgets. He thanked the foundation for the donation and appealed to other benevolent organisations to emulate the kind gesture of the Beyonders Foundation. Mr. Emmanuel Dzivor, the foundation’s Director of Information also reiterated the call of the administrator adding that service to the hospital benefits the whole society. The head of Laboratories at the Sogakope Hospital also thanked the foundation and appealed to you people to start cultivating the spirit of community service and voluteerism as the foundation’s members are doing.

Members of the foundation with Hospital Administrator and some staff of the Adidome Hospital

The donations were part of the activities marking the 5th anniversary of the foundation.

Author: Edzordzi Agbozo

BEYONDERS FOUNDATION DONATES TO TWO RURAL JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN GHANA

As part of the Beyonders Foundation’s 5^th Anniversary celebrations, the foundation made donations of books and pens to Dendo and Avakpedome Junior High Schools in the South and Central Tongu districts, respectively, of the Volta region of Ghana on Monday July 9, 2014. The donations were made by a team of Beyonders consisting of Mr. Edzordzi Agbozo, the Director of International Affairs of the foundation and Ms. Magdalene Dugbaza, a member.

             Students and teachers of Dendo Junior High School with the team of the Beyonders Foundation

These two schools are located in the very poor communities and they do not have the needed facilities for smooth academic life. The  Avakpedome Junior High School is a school that accommodate visually impaired students from the district and the near-by villages.

        Students and teachers of the Avakpedome Junior High School with the team of the Beyonders Foundation

Seventy-six books and pens to the students were donated to the students of  Dendo Junior High School and a total number of forty-one books and pens were donated to students at the Avakpedome Junior High School. The head teacher of the Dendo Junior High School, Mr. Anyidoho, was grateful to the foundation for the donation and added that it is a great motivation to the students who lacked basic academic facilities. At the Avakpedome Junior High School a visually impaired female student entertained the audience with a very soothing song. The head teacher of the school asked the Beyonders Foundation to continue their excellent efforts to promote education in the area.

Mr. Edzordzi Agbozo, on behalf of the foundation, admonished the students to be studious so that they could be in the position to also help other people in the future.

Author: Edzordzi Agbozo

HISTORY IS ON THE MOVE

Indeed!

POSSIBILITY PERSPECTIVE - Dr. Lawer Egbenya

Success is so delightful that when you are tagged to achieve it in a worthy task, you tend to feel so pleased and blissful even though you are yet to pay the bill (perform the task). Yeah, the deeds of yesterday and years are great in predicting the happenings of today and tomorrow’s events. That’s the beauty of life but hey it isn’t that simple always. I dare say it is even much difficult to hold unto that cliché in today’s occurrences in an individual’s life not to attempt considering it on a global arena.

It all started when the roll call for the participating nations for the most admirable and splendid sport on the great continent of Africa was made. Names such as those of the Continent’s giants like the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Indomitable Lions of my super hero Samuel Eto’o’s Cameroun could not be heard…

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CHANGE WE NEED

Great perspective

POSSIBILITY PERSPECTIVE - Dr. Lawer Egbenya

It is said that change is the only constant parameter in the universe; anything else under goes one form of transformation or the other at a point in time. This change, in almost all cases, is a must and a necessity that must be attained. Intriguing as it maybe, some people don’t think about the essence of change; the relevance of change is not in their psyche. To them, the status quo is always the best.

A prominent mark of the adherents of the status quo is the ability of not thinking about change; they do not think about envisaging how the other option would be should they consider doing it. You know what? Sometimes, we must undergo some life experiences at a stage in life because once that is done, our psyche about the need for change is more than bound to change. One critical example that comes to…

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FIVE YEARS OF SPLENDID YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN LESS PRIVILEGED COMMUNITIES

‘We cannot build our own future without helping others to build theirs.’ – Bill Clinton (42nd President of the United States of America)

It’s been a dream driven by the strong desire to bring to reality the inalienable aspirations and burning desires of many youth to excel in life. With this, the now flagship youth development NGO called the Beyonders Foundation commenced in 2009. The Beyonders Foundation is a youth focused, non-profit organization registered with the Registrar General’s Department of the Republic of Ghana. We believe with conviction that youth development is at the heart of those concerned about the future of a healthy humanity because in this 21st Century, young people need a sense of direction and inspiration to be able to make it in life.

Indeed, five years in the life of every great organisation is a milestone worthy of celebration. In line with her vision of inspiring Young People to discover and pursue their God-given potentials, the Foundation had held many value added, life-enriching, highly educative and informative programmes including human development seminars and provision of financial assistance to poor but really needy students.

Over the last five years, our programmes and projects have reached about three thousand young people mostly in less privileged communities. These programmes namely the Startrite®, Focus®, Choice®, Visioneer® and the Library® were held for participants from Sogakope Senior High School (SOGASCO), Adidome Senior High School (ADISEC), Mafi-Kumase Senior High School (MASEC), Christian Youth Groups in Mepe, Tefle Junior High Senior, Sogakope Junior High Senior ‘B’, Manna Mission School (Teshie), Ebenezer Senior High School (Dansoman), Sogakope Junior High Senior ‘A’, Mafi-Gborkope Junior High Senior and Christian Youth Groups of Mafi-Kumase.

Participants at these programmes are making great strides in various fields of human endeavours. They have on countless occasions commended the Foundation for assisting them to make better, bigger and brighter choices at some vital stages in their lives. Bringing smiles onto the faces of these young people is what has kept us going over the last five years. What else could be more rewarding and a lifetime achievement than to see a young man or woman approach you in a place you think you won’t know anyone and s/he goes: ‘You have inspired me. Since that day in our School, my life has changed for the better and I am here because of that experience at your Seminar’!

In marking our 5th Anniversary, I cannot forget that one thing which has driven us to this immeasurable height: our Principles. Our incontrovertible believe in our unmatched core Principles of God-given Purpose, the Potency of Inspiration, Diligence, Integrity, Creativity and Serviceability still reigns high.

The Anniversary which starts this Saturday, 5 July, 2014 will be climaxed on Saturday, 12 July, 2014 with a durbar @ the District Assembly Hall, Sogakope in the Volta Region @ 11am. Various activities including blood donation, donation of stationery and medical equipment, and seminar will be held during the week of celebration.

Yet to see the day light is one of our heartbeat projects: the Skills Training Centre which will train young people who do not have the privilege of following formal education to discover their vast potentials that the world has been earnestly waiting for. Learners at the Centre shall be taken through a series of courses that will prepare them to be efficient managers of small businesses that they will set up from the development of their skills. The inability to get this through in the last few years is as a result of inadequate funds. As we aspire to attain a decade in the next five years, we believe with conviction that this Centre will be set up and will become the Centre of Excellence in Skills Training in the Country and beyond.

Certainly, the much assistance offered by each and every one during the 1st 5 years of our operation is well appreciated. We thank you and look forward to an even greater and better cooperation as we help develop our fellow young people.

To my comrades who have lighted this flame some five years ago, I salute you this day for standing out to be counted as those who in the passage of time felt touched by the plight of humanity especially those who live in the forgotten corners of our world. Dear ones, let’s in this atmosphere of deserving celebration and uncontrollable ecstasy renew our unflinching support, commitment, dedication and the ever present burning desire to attain even greater heights in the next five years. You are, indeed, awesome!
To God be the Glory!
Congratulations on our 5th Anniversary.

Long Live Beyonders Foundation,
Long Live Ghana.

Author: Daniel Lawer Egbenya