FOUNDATION BEWA GHANA

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School furniture
Every few years we help the Mother Cares school with maintenance and the purchase of new school furniture. We do this as sustainably as possible and in collaboration with the local carpenter.

Nika Nika grinding machines
With the purchase of the grinding mills, Mother Cares is able to process its own raw materials and earn a small income by offering this service to the surrounding villages.

Toilet block
Mother Cares received a new toilet block for the resident children and the schoolchildren. The new block has separate toilets. When it was completed, we donated a year of toilet paper and menstrual products.

Kindergarten
When the Mother Cares school opened, we built a solid kindergarten with local craftspeople. After a severe storm in 2018, part of the school was rebuilt. We had large round tables made especially for the youngest children, giving them plenty of space to colour and make crafts.

Junior high school building
Due to the growing number of pupils and children moving on to secondary school, Mother Cares decided to offer Junior High School programmes as well. We built a detached classroom where pupils are less disturbed by noise from the primary school.

Playground
A great playground was donated for all the children. They play there with so much joy. It is accessible to all children from Mother Cares and the surrounding villages. This way everyone meets new friends and the children have a safe space to be active.

School bus
Mother Cares received this school bus years ago from another donor. The coaster needed maintenance, so we had it completely refurbished. The children of Mother Cares are regularly invited to perform with drums and dance. They travel with the coaster so that these trips are more affordable.

Fufu machine
The Ghanaian dish fufu is a favourite of many children. It is a lot of work to make fufu manually, so we bought a good machine that makes it quickly. With this machine, Mother Cares can easily turn affordable ingredients into a delicious and nutritious meal.

Solar panels
The regular electricity grid often fails. This leaves the children in an unsafe and dark situation and prevents them from studying in the evenings. We installed solar panels on the roof, allowing a full night of 'lights out' to be covered.

Water projects
Clean drinking water is essential. That is why we have prioritised this from the very beginning. We had a new well installed at the school, invested in large water storage tanks and regularly have existing wells cleaned and repaired.

Start up capital
Many people in our community have good ideas for starting their own business but do not have the means to begin. We have been able to help many of them with start up capital. Read more about the one to one programmes.

Individual support
Children who attend school at Mother Cares, move in, or move out can count on our support. This can be a contribution to dental or hospital visits, education or rent, or a pile of books in their area of interest. We are also available on WhatsApp for personal support.

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Lola Nouwens
^{founder & chair}

Lola is a mindset coach and creative entrepreneur with a deep passion for helping people find their own path. She has almost twenty years of experience working with young people in Ghana and is often present for one to one contact and emotional support. Within the foundation she plays an important role in managing projects, setting up new initiatives and maintaining contact with Mother Cares.

Ilse Solon
^{founder & treasurer}

Ilse has a practical and down to earth approach and a long history in social support work. She strongly believes in the importance of a safe foundation for everyone, with a roof over their head and access to care and support. She spends a lot of time in Ghana, where she focuses mainly on fostering self reliance. With her experience and grounded mindset, she ensures that our projects make a real difference.

Mirian van Doren
^secretary

Mirian uses her educational background to develop achievable educational projects that encourage personal growth and talent development. Her focus is on providing education and support to children so they have the chance to pursue their dreams. Mirian is passionate about creating opportunities for the young people in our community to discover and develop their full potential.

Hans Neggers
^{legal adviser}

Hans has been involved with the foundation from the very beginning. With his legal background he ensures that everything within the foundation is carried out in a sound and responsible way. With his experience in the banking sector he is a valuable adviser to the foundation and a reliable partner for financial and legal matters.

Ad Nouwens
^{entrepreneurial adviser}

Ad shares more than forty years of entrepreneurial experience with our young people. He offers them a critical perspective and helps them set realistic and achievable goals that move them toward independence. Within the foundation he is our business conscience and an expert adviser for the daily board.

Barbara Arthur
^{partner in Ghana}

Barbara is a driven and decisive leader who, as director of Mother Cares, leads the organisation with energy and vision. She has a background in HR and works as a Program Officer for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. Her dedication, networking skills and discipline contribute to the growth and development of Mother Cares.

Georgina Afriyie
^{partner in Ghana}

Georgina is the general manager of Mother Cares and a trusted partner for us. Her work at the immigration service and her care for the children make her not only a wonderful contact person but also someone who listens and offers valuable advice as a big sister. Her involvement is essential for both the children and the Mother Cares team.

Sylvester Ofori Baasi
^{partner in Ghana}

Sylvester supports Mother Cares in several practical ways, such as picking up pupils from remote areas with the school bus. As a student at Cape Coast University he is technically skilled and a calm, hardworking young man with many ideas for the future of the home and Ghana. His loyalty and kindness make him an important pillar of support within the organisation.

Joyce Obeng
^{in memoriam}

Mama Joyce was the founder of Mother Cares and dedicated her life to providing care for children in difficult circumstances. With her motto building hope for the needy she initiated many projects and touched thousands of people. Mama Joyce inspired Lola to start the foundation. She passed away unexpectedly in 2021 and we miss her deeply. Her legacy lives on in the work of Mother Cares and the community she built.

From a meeting in Ghana to a movement that changes lives
Some encounters change everything. For Lola, that moment came in 2006 when she met Mama Joyce Obeng in Ghana. A woman with a heart as big as her dreams. With Mother Cares, Mama Joyce created a home, a school and a future for children and young people who needed it. Her energy and dedication moved Lola so deeply that she simply had to contribute. It began with small fundraising efforts for school fees, but soon grew into something bigger.When Lola’s childhood friend Ilse joined her in Ghana in 2012, she was immediately sold. Together they decided to start a foundation to support the work in a more structured way. With a steady board and ANBI status, Bewa Ghana grew into a foundation with impact within just a few years.

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Mother Cares
Our regular partner in Ghana is Mother Cares, a non-profit where children and young people in vulnerable situations can find temporary shelter, education, personal guidance and opportunities to grow independently.

• Read about Mother Cares

Young adults
We support young adults in Ghana in building a stable future by thinking along with them, creating opportunities, and empowering them on their own path. These are individual trajectories with one to one contact with the young people.

• Read about our individual programs

Mother Cares Orphanage and Welfare Home
Mother Cares Orphanage was founded in 2005 by Joyce Obeng. What began as a home for a small number of children quickly grew into a place that now houses around fifty children. The home provides a safe and loving environment for children in difficult circumstances. The intention is always temporary care. In cooperation with Social Welfare, the government agency responsible for children in care, each child’s situation is carefully assessed. Where possible, alternatives are sought, such as family reunification, foster care or adoption. The home focuses on personal development and independence, with an emphasis on education, but also talent development through music, dance and other creative subjects.

Mother Cares Educational Complex
Mother Cares Educational Complex was set up to address the lack of accessible schools in the poor area of Agona Swedru. What started as care for toddlers grew into a full primary school, and later a junior high school was added up to the third year. The school is located on the same site as the home. Sick children at school can rest in the childcare centre, and children from the home can use classrooms for weekend study. For many parents, school fees are a heavy burden. Mother Cares works with parents to arrange flexible payment plans, where parents only pay for lunch or transport, depending on their income. This keeps the school running and ensures children have access to quality education regardless of their financial situation.

Mother Cares Girl Child Foundation
Mother Cares Girl Child Foundation was founded in Joyce’s birthplace, Gomoa Benso. This project focuses on young girls still living at home and facing the many challenges of growing up in a vulnerable situation. Issues such as teenage pregnancy, prostitution, drug and alcohol abuse, and forced removal from home are common obstacles for the girls. In cooperation with local organisations, sessions are held with guest speakers who provide guidance on important topics such as personal hygiene, sex, self-respect and respect for others, and the value of education. The goal of the Girl Child Foundation is to provide girls with the right information and guidance, while also encouraging their parents to support their daughters.

Mother Cares Outreach
Mother Cares Outreach supports families and individuals in difficult circumstances. This project provides material assistance (such as clothing and school supplies) and offers coaching sessions to provide emotional and practical support. In addition to individual support, Mama Joyce organised an enormous annual party for thousands of children from surrounding villages. In cooperation with local businesses, she made sure every child received a gift and was treated to delicious food, live music, bouncy castles and snacks. After her passing, her daughter Barbara Arthur continued this tradition in her mother’s name, so that these children can still enjoy an unforgettable day every year. This is one of our favourite initiatives to which we contribute annually!

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One time donation
^{make a contribution}

Would you like to contribute to our projects? Thank you. You can transfer any amount you choose directly to our bank account or via this link*. If you would like your contribution to go to a specific project or part of our community, please mention this with your donation.

Recurring donation
^{continuity for the community}

Thinking about becoming a regular donor? Amazing! You can arrange this through this link*, through an automatic transfer via your own bank or by sending us a message. This is also possible for businesses. We are ANBI registered, which means your donation is tax deductible.

Join the family
^{become a volunteer}

Bewa creates connection and hopes to make our individualistic society a little more collectivistic. Does that sound like a good plan to you as well? We are always looking for volunteers! Currently, we also have vacancies for board members. Join the club?

Materials
^{to donate in Ghana}

Once a year, a board member travels to Ghana. During these trips we can bring a limited amount of materials. In the past, we have made the community happy with donated laptops, a bag full of toothpaste and football boots and outfits.

Treasurer
As treasurer, you are responsible for the foundation’s bookkeeping and financial administration. You advise on donation requests, monitor fundraising, and ensure that all documents for our ANBI status are in order.In addition, you can, if desired, contribute to other areas of the foundation, such as supporting projects, guiding young people in 1-on-1 programs, or maintaining the website.

Secretary
The secretary is responsible for internal and external communication. This includes responding to emails, managing social media, and keeping donors informed. You also plan meetings, prepare agendas, take minutes, and track action points.As with the treasurer role, you can expand your responsibilities if you wish, for example by supporting projects or guiding young people.

For both positions: you do not need to have been to Ghana, but experience with travel and other cultures is a plus. We communicate with our partners and young people in English. What we are not looking for: someone who wants to 'save the poor children in Africa.' What we are looking for: someone who is aware of their own privileges and believes in mutual collaboration. Our partners and young people have plenty of talents, ideas, and ambitions. We seek someone who wants to think along and support them without deciding what is 'best' for them. This requires an open and curious attitude, understanding of different perspectives, and a willingness to truly listen. With creative thinking, we can together reach sustainable solutions.

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