• About
    • Our Mission
    • FAQ
    • The Cost of Hope
    • Golf Outing
    • Gallery
    • Partners
    • Media
  • Projects
    • Schools
      • Lawrence’s School Of Hope, Coming 2021-2022
      • Platini’s School Of Hope, 2019-2021
      • Mason’s School Of Hope, 2017-2018
    • Libraries and Computer Labs
      • Abor Library & Computer Lab, 2017
      • Ashiata Library & Computer Lab, 2016
      • The Fritz Cameron Library, 2016
      • The Elena Haasen Library, 2015
      • Tegbi Library & Computer Lab, 2014
      • Ryvanz-Mia Orphanage Library & Computer Lab, 2011
    • Water Projects 2022
      • Sesime, Sponsored By Brother’s Brother Foundation, 2022
      • Edzikorpe, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2022
      • Adzorve Kpota, Sponsored By Olja & Seth Finn, 2022
      • Adzorvime, Sponsored By Ellen & Tom Jones, 2022
      • Ekporkorpe, Sponsored By Jeremy & Kaylee Klingensmith, 2022
      • Agbozumekope, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2022
      • Have, Sponsored By Brother’s Brother Foundation, 2022
      • Dokukorpe, Coming Soon
      • Dodzi Wugate, Coming Soon
      • Xedagbuikorpe, Coming Soon
      • Klokpui, Coming Soon
    • Water Projects 2021
      • Bomini Nkwanta, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2021
      • Kaaka, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2021
      • Tanfiano, Sponsored By Rose Transportation & UpCode Studios, 2021
      • Ampomakrom, Sponsored By Helen Liu Yan & Friends From Singapore, 2021
      • Agana, Sponsored By Tamara & Damon Oliver, 2021
      • Awrata, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2021
      • Klokpe, Sponsored By Rebecca & Zach Lewis, 2021
      • Sowalokorpe, Sponsored By Zachary Kay, 2021
      • Kpotavi, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2021
      • Bayive, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2021
      • Dzorkakorpe, 2021
      • Torve Morgodo, Sponsored By Friends In Singapore, 2021
      • Torve Dugame, Sponsored By Anonymous Donor, 2021
      • Kporwuvi, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2021
    • Water Projects 2017-2020
      • Amangoase, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2020
      • Wetsikorpe, Sponsored By Living Word Christian Church, 2020
      • Gonekorpe, Sponsored By Propel Braddock Hills 7th Grade, 2020
      • Xedzaglakorpe, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2020
      • Mamedo, Sponsored By Jeremy & Kaylee Klingensmith, 2020
      • Atiaveme, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2020
      • Mafi Tsrinyikorpe, Sponsored By Jack & Marge Ednie, 2020
      • Bekpo, Sponsored By Randy & Holli Stegner, 2019
      • Afatsagbleve, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2019
      • Horti, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2019
      • Atsiekpi, Sponsored By Monarch Hospice, 2019
      • Kpevenu, 2019
      • Gayikope, Sponsored By Grace Life Church, 2018
      • Abusakope, 2018
      • Gakpokorpe, 2017
    • Solar Power Projects
      • Sesime, Sponsored By Brother’s Brother Foundation, 2022
      • Kpevenu, 2019
      • Gakpokorpe, 2018
    • Apprentice Sponsorships
    • Medical Relief
    • Christmas Celebration
    • Coronavirus Crisis Response
  • Blog
  • Get Involved
  • Contact
  • Donate Now

Library Doors Open To Hundreds

March 22, 2014 by Steve Greene, MD in Blog
Library Doors Open To Hundreds

It was a long awaited emotional trip that I began a few weeks ago, filled with all the uncertainty of living and doing work in a new village. I was warmly welcomed in Keta as I had been welcomed in Ghana for the past 28 years. The faces were all different but the opportunity in front of me was only too familiar.

I was all too often reminded that I was in a land where their needs are vast and overwhelming, a level of need that cannot be appreciated until you have lived in Ghana. This is Ghana, where even young children tell me “we are suffering” and I understand. Still their smile is infectious.

DSC00592      DSC00425      dsc00488

My path to building a library and computer lab was paved for me hugely because of the partnership I created with a Ghanaian friend Platini. Platini is a human rights advocate and an outspoken child rights advocate who himself has created a small school for 40 children that is a model school against institutional corporal punishment. He personally pays for all expenses at the school with the little he has himself. His life is about the rights of children and creating opportunity for the children of Ghana. Simply put Platini should win the Nobel Peace Prize but never will be recognized for what he tirelessly does everyday. He was the perfect person for me to collaborate with on this project and I look forward to working with him in the future.

Within a day of my arrival in Keta a team was put together to transform an empty office space within a primary school of 900 students into a learning center that would house a library and computer lab. Within a couple of weeks a mason broke down a wall to create a single space out of two; an electrician brought electricity to the site from a source at the opposite end of the school compound and also installed fans and beautiful lighting to this room; a carpenter swiftly built tables, bookshelves and computer desks; a welder created a burglar proof shield over all windows and the doorway; and a painter repainted the entire interior and exterior of the learning center. At the same time in Platini’s school, new desks, tables, chairs and blackboards were being created.   

DSC00443      DSC00547      DSC00518

To add to all the excitement as all of this was starting a television journalist from TV Africa interviewed me. Here is an unedited excerpt from the interview that was later aired on television throughout Ghana. 

Finally when the building was completed hundreds of books lined the bookshelves and new Dell computers were brought in from the capital, Accra, to set up a computer lab. Loaded onto the computers are Encyclopedia Britannica (always a favorite) and World Book Encyclopedia as well as tons of software for reading, math, science, typing and art. The excitement in this new learning center was indescribable.

DSC00793      DSC00572      DSC00882

DSC00596      DSC00628      DSC00701

DSC00745      DSC00663      DSC00692    

DSC00787      DSC00825      DSC00800   

DSC00722      DSC00895      DSC00741     

DSC00898      DSC00927      DSC00911

From the sea of faces at the school emerged many individual students who I got to know and love on a personal level. James is a 21 year old primary class 6 student (year prior to junior high school) who gravitated to the work site each day, so I got to know him and his beautiful story very well. Though his family could never send him to school as a young boy they rather chose that he would work on the farm to help his family sustain itself. But starving for an education James found his way to this school at the age of 18, knowing that if he wanted to become something in this world he needed an education. His determination inspires me every day.

DSC00601      DSC00762

While in Ghana for 3 weeks I was reminded each day of why I had come there. Children and young adults like James are hungry for education and starving for a future. I am so proud of the library and computer lab I leave behind, as I believe that it will provide hope and great opportunity in Ghana for years to come. Please listen to the words of Desmond, the teacher who will manage the library, as he speaks of what this gift means to the children in Keta.  

This library and computer lab is the gift from so many generous donors here in America, a gift so gratefully appreciated by hundreds of children today. As the voice of these Ghanaian children I thank all those who have contributed to my mission. Many have donated money, but contributions of books, shoes, pens, bookbags and even toothpaste and toothbrushes were delivered to many smiling faces. I am already looking forward to the next chapter of Hope for Ghana’s mission to bring opportunity through education to the children in Ghana. Please continue to share the word of this mission as I continue to raise funds for the next library and computer lab in Ghana.

DSC00685

Article by: Steve Greene, MD

Tweet
Share
Pin it
Previous StoryThe Next Generation Next StorySummertime Update From Ghana

Leave A Reply: Cancel Reply

(this will not be shared)

(optional field)

  1. Darla Jo Huber Reply

    Dr. Greene, You are a remarkable man. You bring hope to all of those whom you come in contact with. May this dream and hope of yours flourish beyond what you could have ever imagined. Darla Huber and Family

    • Steve Greene, MD Reply

      Darla thanks for your beautiful words. It is indeed hope that this mission is about. More than any one book or piece of learning software I left behind, I believe that the greatest gift I leave behind to the children in this wonderful village is hope.

  2. Harrison Enene Reply

    Wow! Thank you for being such a great inspiration and hope for many. May God richly bless you and your ministry.

    • Steve Greene, MD Reply

      Amen. Thank you Harrison for all your support. When I'm back in Ghana I would love you to visit Keta to see what has been built for these children. God bless you.

      • Harrison Enene Reply

        I would be more than grateful to. Thank you Steve.

        • Steve Greene, MD Reply

          Harrison see you in Ghana very soon!

  3. jakob vinsick Reply

    Dr. Greene, It's great to see you bring your great knowledge to these kids.

    • Steve Greene, MD Reply

      Jake, thanks so much for the interest you've shown in my mission.

Contribute Today

$250,000 GOAL IN 2022

MAKE A DONATION

Inspirational Feedback

You are changing lives with your love and your hope and your financial support. Your life and their lives will never be the same again. And truly if you touch the heart of one person for one second and make a difference in their life, your life had meaning. I feel that if you look in the face of someone "truly" in need and help them in any way, even with a hug or a kind word, you are never the same. And I do believe that is our life's purpose. God is happy with you. You are doing all he asks of us and with kindness and gratitude. He is who we please when "whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you have done unto me." -Michelle Locke, Pittsburgh, PA
_________________________

Thank you for your role in restoring faith in humanity. -Noorah AlSabah, London, England
_________________________

Reading each email nearly brings a tear to my eye. Not only the benevolence that you have bestowed but the passion that you have to do more makes you truly a humanitarian. Thank you for continuing your tireless work but also for proving that there are great people in this world doing amazing things for others. Too often that is lost among the stories of prejudice, hate and tragedy. To the people of Ghana, you are saving lives with each drop of water, textbook and block of a schoolhouse. -Aaron Salyards, Pittsburgh, PA
_________________________

When kids prefer to run to the library during a school break instead of playing with the other kids, when kids are willing to sit on the floor to read in an already overcrowded library during that break, then you know that Hope for Ghana is doing exactly the right thing in that community. -Christian Haasen, Hamburg, Germany
_________________________

What a magnificent job you are accomplishing. I can't believe what has been done in the weeks you were there. This is why we are here and you have really been inspired to carry on with this work. God bless you and I do pray for you every day that God continues to enlighten you and protect you in this most beautiful project you have undertaken. The children seem so grateful they have Uncle Steve. God bless you and may he hold you in the palm of his hands. -Dee Paiano, Pittsburgh, PA
_________________________

Thank you for sharing the pictures and videos. Your speech was very touching, sweet and straight from the heart. What you are doing is amazing. Not many people are able to help out as much as they would like to. Thanks to your efforts, you've made it possible for others to help out where they can too. Hope for Ghana is a way for others around the world to pitch in and make a difference for the kids of the future. Thank you for all your hard work. -Ezgi Muderrisoglu, Cork, Ireland
_________________________

Wow!!! Seeing the pictures, the smiles, the work being done, the bracelet, is extremely touching. It is absolutely incredible what can be accomplished in such a short time when faith, hope and love are involved! -Susan Chikalla, Pittsburgh, PA

WHO WE ARE

  • Our Mission
  • Projects
  • FAQ
  • Media
  • Tax Documents

JOIN US

  • Golf Outing
  • Get Involved
  • The Cost Of Hope
  • Contact
  • Visit Ghana

SHARE US

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • News Updates

SHOP HERE

  • Our Shop
  • Baseball Caps
  • Ghanaian Bracelets
  • Masterpiece Painting
Copyright 2021 - Hope for Ghana