The Power of Community (Thank You ICCES!)

Meeting between ICCES, the Besease Community, and the Women

Since I left Ghana in July, the real work of Enliven Mama Africa has been occurring. No longer is Enliven Mama Africa about an obruni (white) girl and a Kumasi man talking to random single mothers in Besease.


Enliven Mama Africa is about the community of Besease. Enliven Mama Africa is about the wider community of Atwima, the district due west of Kumasi.

I lived in the Atwima District for a year, in the town of Boko. However much I write about Besease, Kumasi-town, and Nkawie, Boko is my home. Between Boko and Besease, there is a town called Twedie. Twedie is the home of a school called the Integrated Community Center for Employable Skills (ICCES).

Rosina Kwateng and her son, Christian

ICCES has offered Enliven Mama Africa their services. Five days a week, a teacher will travel from Twedie to Besease to teach 14 single mothers seamstress skills. ICCES is also providing chairs for the women to use during lessons. The benefits of ICCES are many: they will offer the women an official certificate, they are well-established in the Atwima District, and they teach five days a week, with school-time vacations.

I am astounded by the generosity of ICCES and their desire to partner with us. Because of ICCES, these women have the opportunity to receive a formal trade education.

We Will Not Stop

Elizabeth Osei and her daughter

The question I get almost daily about our efforts in Ghana is this: "West Africa, huh? What about Ebola?"

What about Ebola indeed? The virus has not been reported in Ghana to date. Research states that Ghana is at a high risk for Ebola. A few volunteer programs have already  cancelled their program trips to Ghana because of the threat.

I understand volunteers not wanting to travel during this time, but I grieve for the work that will be lost because of it. Even more than that, I grieve for the people who lose the opportunity to visit Ghana, a country that has changed the hearts of many.

As there has been no reported case of Ebola in Ghana, the Global Leaders trip is still on. If there is a case, the trip will be cancelled. I will be disappointed that this piece of Enliven Mama Africa's work cannot go through.

But if the virus comes, if the trip is cancelled, it won't stop the fact that 14 single mothers will be enrolled in trade school. It won't stop the supportive efforts the Integrated Community Center for Employable Skills and the Besease community have shown to the women striving to better

Ebola has caused much suffering in Liberia, Sierra Leon, and Guinea. If the virus were to come to Ghana, efforts to make communities stronger, efforts like Enliven Mama Africa, would be needed more than ever.

We will not stop. 14 single mothers are eager to be enrolled in trade education. An entire community is coming together to provide a room, tables, and chairs for their young women to be educated.

We will not stop. 14 single mothers are prepared to invest time into their future and the future of their families.

We will not stop. Enliven Mama Africa is strengthening Besease, whether I am there physically or not.

Besease Community Members