We in the western world throw things out and, somehow, those things make their way to Ghana. I see people using and re-using things that seem that they would not have any life left. In my travels, I have found four needs that seem attainable. I am putting them out in the blogosphere, because they seem surmountable.

1. The Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind needs $3100 to buy materials to have the deaf students build furniture for the blind students. How can we raise $3100? I have looked for grant funding, but most of them have restrictions that would leave this school out. For example, we are not requesting a large enough sum of money or the source will not provide funding to a state funded program. Please help me to find $3100 for the Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind. What are funding sources that we could look to for support for this particular project? The materials would go to the wood working class and they would build the furniture on site. What a sense of accomplishment and contribution these students would feel!
2. The audiology clinic is seeking several types of equipment to use for early detection of hearing loss. Their needs includes Otoacoustic Emissions/Auditory Brainstem Response screening device and, really, any other equipment that you think could be re-used. The amazing thing about Ghana is that those items that we in the U.S. rotate out about every 3 to 5 years, may be re-used in Ghana. Please consider donating equipment to support the needs in Ghana.
3. The University of Education, Winneba has 50 blind students. The university only has two Braille embossers, one of which is not functioning. Here is another opportunity to donate equipment that is being rotated out of commission, but may still be in functioning or near-functioning condition.
4. Here at the University of Education, the interpreters are longing for recent literature on interpreting and interpreter education (such as Patrie’s Effective Interpreting Series), while sign language teachers and future teachers here are yearning for text books (such as, Signing Naturally). If you have any extra copies or older versions of books, journals, or textbooks, please let me know.

Frank and I will be in the U.S. from 4 December 2015 to early January 2016. If you are able to offer any assistance, please contact me.

Thank you for reading this and considering ways to support these endeavors, whether by ideas about funding sources, cash, equipment and materials donation, or by your thoughts, prayers, and positive energy!

Part 2 What we brought back from the U.S.

As you may know, before I left for the US, I posted the above blog identifying ways to assist the people I have met in Ghana. The response was overwhelming! I received boxes of books, videos, three audiometers, and a laptop! A fund was set up to raise money for the materials needed at the Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind (if you would like the link, please let me know). Fortunately, we left Ghana bringing very little with us to the States. In fact, my carry-on bag was packed into my larger suitcase. On our return, we ended up checking 5 bags and we each had a carry-on bag and a personal item. See the bounty of what we were able to bring back to Ghana! Thank you to all who contributed.