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St. Joseph’s High School, Bibiani, Western Region, Ghana, Africa

Who we are and What we are doing …

ClapforJesus is a 501c3 charitable organization whose primary objective is to fund the construction of a residential high school in the Western Region of Ghana, Africa, which will eventually accommodate five hundred boys and girls.  The mission of this school is to produce a number of future leaders, grounded in Christian principles, who will pursue careers as teachers, doctors, nurses, engineers and government leaders.  These future leaders would have the potential to significantly upgrade the quality of life of the people in this region.  The building of St. Joseph’s Catholic High School is inspired by the efforts of a Catholic Priest from Ghana, West Africa, who is looking for ways to help alleviate some of the pain and hardships endured by the people of his community. Father Simon Assamoah is the Pastor of Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus, a church located in the town of Bibiani, in the Western Region. Extreme poverty and disease are a common condition in this sub-Saharan region of Africa. Most people here are living on little more than a dollar a day and may suffer from hunger, cruel illnesses and diseases, such as AIDS, Malaria and River blindness. Despite these difficult conditions the people of Ghana remain hopeful and optimistic about their future.

More than 80% of those living in the Western Region of Ghana are Christians.  Quite literally, signs are everywhere – it is quite normal to see commercial establishments wearing their Christianity on their sleeve so to speak.  There are numerous retail establishments with names like “Trust in the Lord Welding and Machine Shop” or “Mother of Mary Hair Salon”.  In fact, the idea for our name, “Clap for Jesus”, came from a general merchandise store that Tom Clements saw on his initial trip to Ghana.

Their faith, hope, and optimism are contagious, as we in our community of Duluth, Georgia (North Atlanta), found, when Fr. Simon came to serve the parish community of St. Benedict’s in 1998.  He came to us after serving the people of Aberdeen Scotland, as Pastor, for four years where he also earned his Masters in Business Administration and after serving the people of Ghana for ten years before that.  Father brought to North Atlanta a message of hope for a better world, gratitude for the blessings we have and the responsibility to reach out to those in need. In the most humble and frank way, he raised our awareness of the needs of our brothers and sisters in Africa.

On his return, Fr. Simon quickly identified the most crucial needs of the people and determined areas that would provide immediate relief. Through his efforts, and the financial support of several church communities in North Atlanta, Fr. Simon was able to provide wells and mechanical pumps as a source of clean drinking water in fifteen surrounding towns and villages. Our second project with Fr. Simon was to build a parish rectory to house the parish priests, seminarians and unfortunate orphans who are sheltered on a temporary basis.  Our third project was to build a nursery to take care of the large number of children who are left alone while both parents work to make ends meet.  He also saw an urgent need to improve the level of medical care in the area, and sought supplies and means to supporting the efforts of an over burdened medical facility and staff.   We have found through multiple projects (amounting to almost $300,000) with Fr. Simon that he is focused, business like, financially accountable and compassionate to the needs of his people. 

Fr. Simon soon came to realize that his efforts, while important, needed something more to impact the community’s long term needs the way he envisioned.  He knew the solution to bring real and lasting change to the region would be through education.  By providing a High School education, members of these communities could learn skills and trades as a means for the next generation of young people to tackle improving the living conditions for themselves, their families and their neighbors.

What we do…

As the primary financial resource for this West African community project, we have a goal to raise $2.0 million dollars for the construction and initial start up of the school.

After the completion of the school, the Ghanan government, the Ghanan Catholic diocese and local tuition and charitable contributions will provide financial assistance for the ongoing operating costs of the school.

Members of the US team, including a Civil Engineer, have visited Ghana twice in the past year to lay the groundwork for the High School project.   Members of the team will continue to travel regularly to the school site near Bibiani to advise and assist in the project management, and to oversee the proper use of resources and good stewardship of contributions. We will also continue to work with officials in national and regional government to seek additional financial assistance, service, and support. 

Our Duluth, Georgia based operation is staffed 100% by volunteers, allowing all funds contributed to this organization to go directly to the efforts in Ghana. 

Why Ghana…

The people of Ghana are happy, humble, and grateful for what they have. A recent study conducted by a College Professor, Prof. Rutt Veenhoven, from Eramus University in Rotterdam,  ranked Ghana as the 10^th happiest place on earth. That study included all nations rich and poor alike. With the little they have, the people of this West African Nation remain optimistic and hopeful. The Republic of Ghana is fortunate to have a stable democratic government that is interested in serving the needs of its people.  Additionally, Ghana is currently blessed with ample annual rainfall and rich soil.  This enables most rural people to both have drinking water and to feed themselves.  Although there is little tax base and not much significant investment capital, the government has slowly embarked on a country wide build-up of electrification and road building.  They understand that both are vital to improving trade and to opening many economic doors.  While the Ghanaian government is very pro-education, unfortunately, there is not enough money to do everything, so schools and health care in rural areas are largely left to outside humanitarian organizations like ours.  A stable government, growing infrastructure and the ability to feed themselves alone will not take them to the next rung on the economic ladder.  Education and health care will do that.  If they are to reach the next rung, it is largely up to us to help them get there.    

Why build a School…

In the district where the school will be located, there are eighty junior secondary schools (equivalent to our middle schools) and just four senior high schools.  These schools are extremely overcrowded with sixty or more students per classroom making it extremely difficult to provide a quality learning experience.  The building site, which was donated to the diocese by one of the local chiefs, is 125 acres and ideally suited for the campus plan.  At full build-out, the campus itself will occupy about 25 acres.

A phased construction plan has been developed to achieve an opening of the school in September 2007 with an initial enrollment of 80 students.  Phase I construction will include:

• A class room building, part of which will also temporarily serve as a boy’s dormitory

• An assembly hall, which will also serve as an administration building and dining hall

• Two bungalows; one will provide housing for the principal and the headmaster, the other two will serve as the girls dormitory.

• Site preparation, including paved roads, electric, fresh water towers, waste treatment and athletic fields

In the following year, Phase II construction will include a dormitory building and a dining hall.  This will increase capacity to about 200 students by September 2008.  Capital costs for Phase I and Phase II will be approximately $1 million.

Phase III will complete the build out of the campus with another classroom building, dormitory, additional bungalows, library, science lab and chapel.  Costs for Phase III will be approximately $1 million, with completion in 2009 and the ability to house and educate 500 students.   

The government and local leaders also recognize that education as key to making a difference for future generations of Ghana.  As mentioned, the school has the support of the local Chief who has contributed a 125 acre building site for construction of the school and a working farm. The working farm will be used to supplement needs of the school, but will also serve as a working classroom to improve agricultural practices. In partnership with Clap for Jesus and the local diocese, the Ghana government has agreed to pay the on-going costs of all the teachers and administrators upon opening.

Jesus calls us to reach out to the poor and needy. “I was hungry and you gave me food…I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you game me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me…” St. Joseph’s High School will not only provide education and training for many students for years to come, but it will also serve as the heart of the community for this region of Ghana.