Akyiaa Foundation is a non profit charitable organisation which seeks to aid in community development for children, youth, elderly and the general public within local communities in Ghana. The idea was born from a burning desire to help people who are eager to acquire more knowledge. Most of the schools and people do not have an adequate supply of books, making it impossible to learn more than what is presented in schools. Libraries have a great influence, they go through the whole family and create a great sense of community which is part of the rich culture in Ghana but is gradually been eradicated.
Libraries play a broad and valuable role in communities and society as a whole. People can read, explore, share information, knowledge and culture. Library is essential to the cultural progress of a country. It helps the country to fight illiteracy by providing information literacy, knowledge, better career prospects, and social inclusion as well as promote the general well-being of the community. Libraries and expanding access to information technology goes way beyond the library and into the classrooms and benefit society as a whole.
The youth of today are our future and every effort should be undertaken to ensure their overall development is safe mentally, physically and spiritually. When these needs are not catered for it can bring about devastating implication on family and society as a whole. Kotei is a vibrant community with lots of hostels serving Kwame Nkrumah University students and local primary schools. The vision is to start the project at Kotei and roll it out to other communities.
VISION
The vision is to build libraries in communities where such facilities are lacking, thereby creating a central point where people can come to learn and also socialize.
Mission
It is the mission of the Foundation to build libraries in local communities to help the children supplement and learn more than what is presented in schools.
Drop in centre for the elderly/retired population. Offer reading materials and run activities to stimulate them and also tap into their rich experience to pass onto the youth. To offer a central welcoming and friendly place for the community to meet, reach out, interact and share ideas.
To provide information and advice on health and well-being.Objectives
To build libraries in local communities to equip children and entire community to acquire more knowledge as well as enhance community spirit.
Early intervention - to identify youth who are at risk an opportunity to work with a caring mentor to improve their ability to develop a positive attitude towards their future.
Run extra curriculum activities eg after school clubs, films, games thereby enhancing education through play. (studies have shown some children open up and interact better through this means).To empower young people to break the habits that leads to trouble and dropping out of school, spilling out onto the streets and joining disruptive gangs.
To partnership with corporate Ghana to embark on apprenticeship scheme for the youth, with the vision of securing a job for their future.