By Laudia Sawer
Tema, Oct. 01, GNA- Share Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has commemorated its 20th anniversary, celebrating decades of empowering the youth and caring for senior citizens.
The Foundation, founded by Madam Lily Akua Mintah in 2005 with 20 brilliant but needy children, aimed at supporting the vulnerable within Tema and its environs and reducing the high rate of school dropout within the Tema township.
Madam Mintah recounted that she conceived the idea of a foundation after being involved in a serious motor crash, which awakened in her the need to touch lives before she passes on, thereby using Tema Newtown as a starting point.
According to her, the decision to commence her philanthropic work from Tema Newtown was due to its dense population and high rate of school dropouts and teenage pregnancies, adding that she decided to help these vulnerable children in the area financially and get them access to quality education to become responsible future leaders.
“There is a huge gap in the capacity of our local organisation in the delivery of quality educational facilities and academic support for the young people of our community,” she said, disclosing that over 400 young people have climbed the academic ladder and obtained vocational training, among others, over the years with the support of sponsors and donors.
She indicated that most of the beneficiaries were now teachers, nurses, medical doctors, officers, public servants, entrepreneurs and many more, noting that through the Share Foundation, they were also contributing their quota to national development.
Touching on some of its projects, she said the foundation had implemented several projects across the 16 regions of Ghana through their scholarship schemes, support to orphanages, building of libraries, and establishment of reading clubs, among others.
Madam Mintah said their work had brought many recognitions, adding, however, that financial support from individuals and corporate organisations kept dwindling, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mr Henry Tetteh, a beneficiary, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), expressed his deepest appreciation to the Share Foundation for supporting him throughout his basic education, adding that he joined the foundation in 2009 at junior high school, and the support received helped him through to the tertiary level of education.
He urged other beneficiaries to exhibit good character, be humble and respect the leadership of the Foundation and learn to be able to achieve their dreams through the support being provided them.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah