Latest Construction Update

As Jeff continues preparation for the upcoming trip later this month, the construction of the Moringa Community Training Center is nearly complete.

Look at these incredible pictures Abu just sent from Baako, Ghana, where the bright blue Moringa Community truck is proudly parked next to its new partner in the continued development of this grass roots organization!

There are so many people to thank in the village for their endless dedication to making this cause a reality. For updates on the new staff and volunteers in Ghana, check our website!

Rotary Club presents $5,211 check

Last week, founders Jeff and Linda Lohr attended a luncheon where the Spring-Ford Rotary presented the $5,211 grant check to Moringa Community.

Pictured from left to right are:
Jeffry Lohr, Linda Lohr, Janet Neff (Spring-Ford Rotary), Mike McCarthy (Rotary District 7430 Governor), and Damien Petaccio (Spring-Ford Rotary President). Not pictured, because he is the photographer, is Glenn Holcomb, who facilitated introductions of the project to various Rotary Clubs that supported the grant.

The ceremony was held at the Vo-Tech School in Limerick, PA, less than a mile from where the Moringa Community project was conceived. Moreover, the function of the Vo-Tech School is harmonious with the founding purpose of Moringa Community - to build strong and effective lives through education in the trades and escape hunger through their own industry and hard work.
Many thanks to the Rotary Club for their belief in our project!

Construction in final phases

Abu has recently sent more pictures of the progress at the Moringa Community Training Center in Baako. With the roof and electrical rough-in complete, the finishes are underway! The stucco coating has been applied and decorated with the traditional West African Adinkras (symbols of hope, and faith, dynamism, friendship, and interdependency).
Meanwhile, Jeffry is finalizing preparations for his trip in just a few weeks! Stay tuned and consider supporting the growth of this grass roots endeavor through our website!

Abu's update of 11/30

Following a period where local volunteers would alternate between construction of the Training Center and harvesting the last crops of the season, the roof structure is now complete and awaiting the installation of the roofing sheet and rain gutters.
Plastering will continue after the electrician finalizes conduit and outlets. A temporary electrical line will be installed for a January opening while work on the permanent line is advanced.

With the potential shipment of small agricultural tools, such as rakes, hoes, watering cans, and tools, the Training Center may also be able to support a small garden for use in the Food Preservation program. Suitable crops for the region could include tomatoes, onions, shallot, okra, string beans and other beans, egg plant, cabbage, sweet pepper, chille peper, carrot, cucumber, squash, plantain, banana, cauliflower, pineapples, orange, lemon, mango, lettuce, cow pea, and citrus. There may also be the ability to build bee hives as part of the Woodworking Program that could result in small batches of honey.
As the Training Center opens in early 2010, there will be much to report on progress and results.

2009 Rotary Grants Awarded

The hard work has paid off!
Over the past year, Jeff and Linda Lohr have made multiple presentations to the Rotary Clubs in Royersford, Pottstown, and Collegeville about the mission and work of Moringa Community. Additionally, Abubakar “Abu” Abdulai was able to connect with the Ghanaian chapter and obtain a formal letter from the Takoradi Rotary Club in Ghana. As a result of these efforts, Moringa Community was awarded a 2009 Spring-Ford Rotary Club grant , as well as a 2009 Western Montgomery County District Wide Rotary International Grant. This translates into more than $5,000 to support the Moringa Community training programs in Baako, Ghana.
Congratulations and thank you all! Stay tuned for updates on the work supported by these grants.

Abu's 10/26 Baako update

I am very excited on how our center is coming up. This last week we worked on the gable and organizing the roofing members. We also built a shed to at the training center so we can work under cover when it is too hot and protect the Mr. Jeffry's third world table saw, as it could rain at any time. The shed is just temporary structure using local materials.

The area bis also in the last part of the growing season, so each week a group of volunteers alternate their work on the training center and their farms, preparing the land for next season.

We also now have our official Ghana business certificate of an NGO operating in that district.

I am saying are we doing well and the work is moving fine.

Thank you all for the support.

Successful fundraiser raises the roof!

Thank you to all of the contributors to our recent fundraiser. With you generous support, we have raised the money that was needed for the roof of the new Moringa Community Center in Baako. Visit our website for more details and pictures of the progress!