MJTWMS Enables MCST to Build Doors to Profitability

In the Spring of 2015, Mr. Abubakar, our hard working president of Moringa Community School of Trades (MCST) Ghana, secured an agreement for the school and students to build over 100 entry doors and many wardrobe units for new apartment buildings in Cape Coast. Although the job site was at a considerable distance from our school compound in Breman Baako, taking on this project was exciting as it would clearly help to fulfill the goal of having MCST self-fund where ever possible. 

What enabled this work was our famous Mr. Jeffry’s Third World Machine Shop (MJTWMS) which   in the early days of the project cut all the boards for the roof framing, windows, doors, and cabinetry for all our school's buildings using generator power alone.  Later MCST would be fortunate to secure grid electric hook up but to this day, the ability to transport a MJTWMS and a generator to any job site, no matter how remote, helps get the job done in record time.  Added to this productivity is much improvement on fit and finish accuracy for all our Moringa Made products over traditional hand labor methods alone. 

This innovative machine from the very beginning has proven time and again to be the most productive and utilitarian asset we have on the ground in Ghana.

As the termite population of West Africa is much higher than most other places in the world, only masonry construction can be employed to insure longevity of any building.  Although most Ghanaian building structural components are either clay or primarily block and concrete, all doors, windows, roofing, and internal accouterments are made of wood.      
Interiors of the better built city structures are all fitted with built-in wooden wardrobes (or closets) that are multi-functional for storage and other uses.  Along with this custom door building agreement, MCST also contracted to build many interior wardrobes for the housing unit projects as well. 

It was intended that this 2015 design/build agreement would not only stand to give MCST carpentry students a valuable work study opportunity but the profit from the project would help fund our school operating costs and teacher salaries throughout a good part of the year.  As this particular buyer on this agreement has proven to be less than honorable in meeting his agreed payment terms, MCST remains hopeful to land better and more secure contracts in 2016 and future years.  MCST offers a remarkable service for a fair price so we are confident with time and growth of reputation for quality work, all our MJTWMS’s will continue to play a pivotal role in the sustainability of Moringa Community Org / Ghana.

 

Bridge Over River Moringa 2015 Update

In the original 2014 Bridge Over Moringa Blog Entry we showed the devastation our hard won Moringa Bridge suffered in yet another flash flood that had decimated not one but now our second earlier built bridge as well.   

 All need to understand that what we refer to as Moringa River is actually a small, slow flowing creek most of the year.  But then the rainy season comes and the creek will grow 20 to 30 times its normal size within hours when particularly torrential rains come. 

The inevitable and recurring flash floods destroy nearly everything in their path washing away a lot of hard won work and progress.  Having lost two iterations of our Morigna Bridge construction over the last 4 years, a particularly violent 2014 flash flood was the final blow.  

Moringa Community however, is not an organization that gives up.  Abu, yet again rallied the village to come to our aid to restore the only way into our compound from the main road.  Early in the 2015  dry season when the creek was at its lowest and the weather at it hottest, this significant reconstruction project was begun. 

Moringa USA funding for this construction was limited to just $6,800. These funds went toward the purchase of 20 units of 4’ diameter cement culvert pipe, bags upon bags of portland cement, aggregate, diesel fuel for hauling supplies from the capital, tractor and dump trailer rental, lumber for form construction, plus many bags of rice and beans to feed our volunteers workers.   

      Hurray for our teachers, staff, students, Baako villager volunteers, and the generosity of  40 American project supports that have donated so far in 2015 that have enable this bridge to become a reality.
      Please note that as of the date of this Bridge Update entry, we are still 22% shy of our $48,000 annual MCST budget subsidy goal and the year is nearly up. Again we remind that MoringaCommunity.org USA is an unpaid volunteer 501C3 were you can rest assured that 97% of your fully tax deductible contribution is applied directly to our programs in Ghana.   You will not find a higher valued programs to cost ratio in any other charity.  Please donate today.

2014 accomplishments & 2015 goals

A huge thank you to all that donated to MoringaCommunity.org since the release of our 2015 Newsletter . We will do our best to provide a regular update of the progress we're making towards meeting our annual operating budget of $48,000 in support funding to keep the Moringa Community School of Trades (MCST) fully operational. When you realize that MCST is providing a high school level education as well as practical vocational trade education to as many as 60 students a year in addition to paying our maintenance salaries for fifteen Ghanaian staff members (9 of which are college educated), this figure is, not only very small but, quite reasonable by African standards.  

Each month, our supporters and those that find us worthy of support will be able to monitor the updated total amount of funding that will have been donated from January 1, 2015  through to the current posting date indicated on our Funding Thermometer (at left).  As all can see, we are currently running on relative fumes as we unfortunately only had a total of $26,146 donated for the entire 2014 year so as of the date referenced on the gauge our treasury is in rough shape for this late in the year.  Please lend us a hand and donate today!  Your donation is fully tax deductible and any funds donated now will help us get started in 2016 with the hope of more support to follow throughout the year. At least we hope. 

We can promise that we will not come to you for more money than just what we need but folks we do need at least some ongoing funding.  We cannot do this work without it.  Please also know that all our American personnel are unpaid volunteers. The only salaries your donation may be applied towards are for the average $135/month salaries paid to our teachers on the ground in Ghana. Since the outset of this project, our mission has been to become as self-sustaining as possible. With the products and services our staff and students create for sale as a part of their practical vocational training, we've accomplished our goal in that MCST self-funds much of its full operation expense. Although MCST does indeed self-generate much of its annual operating budget, our trade school still needs some outside support just as every school in the world does, no matter their location. For a more detailed account of the latest and greatest accomplishments and goals of MCST, please read our 2015 Newsletter!

Please help us keep this wonderful project operational by making a fully tax-deductible donation today in any amount you are able.  In addition or in place of cash donations, we do have other very specific needs you can review by checking our 2015 Wish List.   These needs include several great mission projects for clubs, churches, youth groups, and even individual families that want to be more actively involved. 

Thank you and a Happy New Year! 
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