Rural Education and Development Programme (REDEP)

The Rural Education and Development Programme (REDEP) is an all-volunteer non- governmental organization based in the Ajumako Enyan Essiam District in the Central Region of Ghana where it works. The organization was granted NGO status by the Department of Social Welfare in April, 2001. REDEP is engaged in activities that bring hope to the people it serves through community development programmes that help fill the needs of the people for Health, Education, Environment and Livelihood (hence the acronym 'HEEL'). Our HEEL programmes have the goals of (1) improving the level of health care available in the district (including education in HIV/AIDS), (2) providing instruction and assistance in developing good environmental practices, (3) assisting in the public education process by helping students to stay in school as long as possible, and encouraging those that can to become teachers in the district, and (4) help people develop marketable skills and become productive members of their communities.

MISSION. To help rural people help themselves through the creation of awareness to use their knowledge and resources to improve their quality of life and that of future generations.

ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN:

v REDEP HIV/AIDS EDUCATIONAL PROJECT our organization signed one year contract with Ghana AIDS Commission to undertake HIV/AIDS Educational Campaign in the district of Ajumako Enyan Essiam. This project code named “REDEP HIV/AIDS EDUCATIONAL PROJECT” ended in MARCH, 2005. More funding is needed to continue the project

v ENVIRONMENTAL AND SANITATION PROJECT

This project code named Environmental and sanitation project is a an environmental/sanitation education project for local people, volunteers, school children in Ajumako Enyan Essiam district in the central region of Ghana. The project enhances the public’s awareness, knowledge, and skills to make informed decisions that affect environmental quality. Besides the education, we embark on tree planting and clean up exercises to enhance good climatic conditions in our locality. The tree planting is focusing particularly on degraded wasteland, village common land, farm boundaries, homestead surroundings, institutional land, banks of rivers/stream and other areas not suitable for agriculture.

We have established a nursery bank at Enyan Abaasa to make seedlings of tree species such as accasia species, sannea sianea that is cassia. tectona grandis (teak) mellittia thonnigii (mellittia) and leauceana leucecophala which are ornamental and soil improving trees to the schools and the communities for planting. The project will also provide fruit trees such as mangoes and cashews to the local people . Funding is needed to extend the project to more communities

WATER MECHANIZATION PROJECT. AT ENYAN ABAASA HEALTH CLINIC. v AVAILABLE PROJECTS: · BRIGHTER LIFE: To raise awareness and the level of knowledge of Family Planning, Adolescent and Reproductive Health among the people of Ajumako Enyan Essiam district and beyond. · READING FOR DEVELOPMENT: To remind and encourage the young ones(e.g school children) in the society to take up the habit of reading. · SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT: To enhance the capacity of community development organizations of Ajumako Enyan Essiam district and other district to function effectively in the challenging times. · BRIGHTER FUTURE: To mobilize and sensitize senior secondary graduates of Ajumako Enyan Essiam district to take teaching as profession and fill the vacancies that exist in the schools · PRORECT YOUR SELF: To emphasis on the importance of educating young adults/elderly about the risks they face from malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS and undertake pragmatic steps to control the disease.

. WOMEN WAY FORWARD:

To empower rural women to undertake income generated activities such as grasscutter,snail and mushroom production

Funding is urgently needed for the implementation of these projects.

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Currently REDEP has trained vulnerable women in soap making and they are doing very well. REDEP has also established a Cultural Troupe to use drama and theater to educate people on issues such environmental, hygiene, water and sanitation, HIV and AIDS and many more. Funding and partners as well as volunteers are needed to improve on our efforts. Wonderful people over there are welcome with new ideas and suggestions.