BIBIR-GHANA, a local NGO in Africa

BIBIR-GHANA, a local NGO in Africa

Bibir means “childhood” in Dagaare. Its initiative has been setup to offset the urgent needs identified in Ghana and to protect children and encourage them to study and grow as human beings, to become the major motors of change in their communities.

Currently, Bibir’s integral development-focused projects are running in Burkina Faso and Ghana where management have adapted their action plan to the specific characteristics of each area. Management believe in maintaining a long-term presence in areas so that they may help to create a better future.

THE IDENTITY OF BIBIR

Management of this Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) believe in the individual community’s capacity to bring about improvements in their own living conditions. Thus, all projects are local initiatives that focus on the development of the country and attend to the specifics of each population: culture, language, forms of behavior and ways of understanding the world. Management point of departure is respect.

In addition, project personnel come from the local community, something that facilitates projects execution and involves members of the community in the planning, performance and evaluation of each activity.

BIBIR’s PROJECTS IN GHANA

Five years ago, Bibir opened its Ghana office to provide social services to the largely poor society. As the name suggests, Bibir’s primary focus are children, and so its activities have always commence within the framework of education. Every girl and boy has the right to grow up happy and to have his or her basic needs provided for. Through the support the NGO provide to schools it oversee the child’s nutrition, monitor their health and ensure that they are learning in a safe, appropriate environment, equipped with the required resources.

The NGO works simultaneously in the production sector, too. Management implement sustainable projects in areas such as crop production, livestock, farming, fishing, artisan work or crafts, etc. Likewise they facilitate the construction of facilities such as wells, irrigation systems, classrooms, etc.

Thanks to these actions performed with the support of Bibir and the full participation of the local population, the entire community benefits from improved living conditions.

Some of Bibir’s Projects:

§ Distribution of educational materials to schools

§ Medical check-ups in schools

§ Construction and renovation of classrooms

§ Donation of school furniture

§ Provision of library services to basic school pupils

§ ICT or computer training and remedial classes

§ Crop innovation, etc

VISION: In Ghana, Bibir exist to encourage sustainable socio-economic development of the disadvantaged people in Northern Ghana for “the best interest of the child”, by providing the platform for community participation, creating the enabling environment for the survival of growth and development of the child in their own communities.

MISSION: While it exist to strengthen the development initiatives of poor communities and provide the platform necessary for community participation and action for sustainable development, it is also to help the disadvantaged people towards identifying the path of realization of their rights and potential for sustainable grow.

SUMMARY REPORT FOR CROP FARMING PROJECT

The crop farming project has been in existence since 2005 with the aim of making food available at the household level. In the 2009 cropping season, 160 farmers were assisted in the areas of ploughing their farmlands and supply of fertilizers. The following districts benefited in the Northern Region of Ghana where we operate; Tamale Metropolis, East Gonja and Tolon-Kumbungu Districts. Between 2005 and 2009 an estimated amount of GH¢43,768.00 was spent on the crop farming project.

OBJECTIVES OF CROP FARMING PROJECT

1. To make food available at the household level hence food security.

2. To curtail the habit of parents taking their wards from schools to the farms especially during the farming season.

3. To help fight poverty amongst the inhabitants in the various communities.

4. To help educate beneficiaries on modern methods of farming so that they could discontinue from the outmoded ways of farming that involves the use of the hoe and cutlass.

ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PROJECT

1. With the data collection system introduced, all beneficiary farmers now have their wards in school during the farming season instead of being used regularly as farm-helps. This is because the Field Coordinator visit schools from time to time to monitor the attendance and performance of these children.

2. The farm yields have also improved over the years and it is because of the education and workshops organized for the farmers.
3. The men are busy now with farming activities whiles their women are also given assistance to trade.

TAMALE METROPOLIS

An amount of GH¢3,584.00 was given to 50 beneficiary farmers in two farming communities under the Metropolis. The communities are Gunaayili and Young-Dakpemeyili. Apart from Young-Dakpemyili where the farmers were not given fertilizer because of the high fertility levels of their farmlands, Gunaayili farmers had 3 bags each of fertilizer and their farmlands also ploughed for them at a cost of GH¢40.00 for each of them.

TOLO-KUMBUNGU

In the Tolon-Kumbungu District, BIBIR-GHANA also assisted 110 farmers from seven communities in the area. The beneficiary communities are: Gbullung, Mbanaayili, Gingani, Bogunaayili Lower, Bogunaayili Upper and Gupanarigu. An amount of GH¢10,978.00 was spent on the above mentioned farmers in ploughing and procurement of fertilizers. Each farmer had his 2 acre farm ploughed for him and also given 3 bags of fertilizer.