DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOL FARMS (DASFA) ANNUAL REPORT 2005

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE TO SCHOOL FARMS (DASFA) ANNUAL REPORT 2005 ………………………… Dr J.A Kwarteng (National Director) ……….…………… Date Executive Summary Development Assistance to School Farms (DASFA) is a not-for-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) that promotes the teaching and learning of Agriculture as a practical, interesting and profitable subject in schools DASFA works with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the establishment of school farms and gardens to achieve this aim The major activities undertaken during 2005 included:  Implementation of TeleFood project providing rabbits and water storage at Cape Deaf School for the Deaf and Mankessim Senior Secondary Technical School  Local IT providers were taken to all TGC sites for inspection and study to enable them develop proposals aimed at bringing internet connectivity to schools for TGC activities These proposals were forwarded to TGC in USA for evaluation  Simultaneous International Teacher Training (SITT) for 22 teachers and principals of schools in the Central Region These participants were trained on The Growing Project which included: training in internet communication and use of TGC website, practice of chatting with partner teachers, review of project objectives, record keeping, training in assembling and setting up of EarthBoxes within the layout of a school farm/garden and tour of an established school farm  Webcast between Flowers Gay School, Cape Coast and Seaton Elementary School, Washington, D.C as part of TGC activities  Addition of more EarthBoxes to participating schools to bring the number in schools to 20 Earthboxes each Setting up and replanting TGC vegetable gardens (EarthBoxes and planting on beds) Proper procedures and techniques for making vegetable beds were demonstrated to all members participating in TGC  Fencing of Mfantisiman Girls Secondary School Garden and planting on beds This was in addition to replanting of EarthBoxes  Volunteer interns from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) students from USA and a student intern from The School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast (UCC) were attached to DASFA and trained to work on TGC projects  Training of Rotary Club representatives and teachers from Aggrey Memorial Secondary School (AMSS) and St Aquinas School on TGC projects and EarthBox set-up  Harvesting and sharing of produce and profits from school gardens  Field visits were undertaken to Growing Connection project site at Cape Coast School for the Deaf by Denkyira Students and Mankessim Sec School Introduction Development Assistance to School Farms (DASFA) is a not-for-profit non-governmental organization (NGO) that promotes the teaching and learning of Agriculture as an important practical, interesting and profitable subject in schools DASFA works with relevant stakeholders to facilitate the establishment of school farms and gardens to achieve this aim DASFA also facilitates the training of agricultural teachers and school farm assistants as well as the formation of agricultural clubs—Agro-Youth Clubs—in schools to encourage and promote agriculture as an exciting and profitable venture The activities of the agricultural clubs are supported by a team of volunteers who are mostly teachers of agriculture or agricultural extension agents of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) Several enterprises such as the production of various vegetables and the rearing of some livestock are actively undertaken on the school farms by students, teachers and extension agents working and learning together Students keep records as part of their activities and share in the benefits of their labor as part of a “Learn and Earn” concept promoted by DASFA DASFA was registered as an NGO—Registration Number G-7169 —with the Registrar General’s Department in December of 2000 The NGO’s registration certificate was also renewed with the Department of Social Welfare (Registration Number D.S.W./1643) during the year under review This Annual Report covers activities during 2005 and the Financial Report over the same period Activities Date/Period January – February Activities Teachers meeting The meeting discussed progress and problems facing school farm projects and ways to move things forward Site Visits by IT providers Local IT providers were taken to all TGC sites for inspection and study to enable them develop proposals aimed at bringing internet connectivity to schools for TGC activities These proposals were forwarded to TGC in USA for evaluation Simultaneous International Teacher Training (SITT) 22 teachers and headteachers of schools in the Central Region were given an overview of The Growing Project which included: Review of Project objectives and presentation on record keeping, training in assembling and setting up of EarthBoxes within the layout of a school farm/garden, tour of an established school farm, training in internet communication and use of TGC website, practice of chatting with partner teachers in the USA EarthBoxes sent to schools bringing the number to 20 at each school March April Remarks EarthBoxes were set up and planted at school for the Deaf GTZ Stakeholder meeting DASFA participated in a National Grascutter forum in Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region DASFA’s TGC activities in Ghana currently incorporates grasscutter rearing in schools Setting up and planting of EarthBoxes in Flowers Gay Schools (FGS) with Volunteers from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) Setting up and planting of EarthBoxes at Flowers Gay School Denkyira Students visit Cape Deaf to observe TGC activities They Denkyira Students undertook field visits to Growing Connection project site at Cape Coast School for the Deaf and the University University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) students from USA work in TGC projects May – June also pay a visit to the University Farm Setting up EarthBoxes at Mankessim Secondary Technical School (MANSEC) and planting on beds Proper bed making techniques demonstrated UMES volunteers visit JUKSEC Student Intern from the University of Cape Coast (UCC) participates in DASFA’s TGC activities —field supervisory visits etc of Cape Coast Farm Setting up TGC vegetable garden (EarthBoxes and planting on beds) at Mankessim Senior Secondary Technical School Proper procedures and techniques for making vegetable beds demonstrated to all members participating in TGC The School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast (UCC), attaches a student intern to TGC project The student is trained and begins working making several routine and training visits to TGC project sites Field trip by Mankessim Sec School to Cape Coast School for the Deaf July – August Fencing of Mfantisiman Girls Secondary School Garden and planting on beds Replanting of EarthBoxes Visit by Rotary Club/ Aggrey Memorial Secondary School (AMSS) to DASFA/TGC office and training site at Cape Coast school for the Deaf to observe how it all fits within the school farm system Rotary Club members visit to Cape Coast School for the Deaf teachers from AMSS and teacher from St Aquinas School, Accra Harvesting and sharing Students make and enjoy sandwiches with a of EarthBoxes produce at portion of the produce from the EarthBox Flowers Gay Schools garden Visit to Seaton Elementary School Washington, D.C Resetting of EarthBoxes in School Garden and planting of lettuce Ida participated in TGC Planning Meeting in Washington D.C and visited Seaton Elementary School Washington, D.C where she participated in resetting of EarthBoxes in School Garden and planting of lettuce Webcast Webcast between Flowers Gay School, Cape Coast and Seaton Elementary School, Washington, D.C as part of TGC activities Nomination of JUKSEC and CAPEDEAF for Farmer’s Day Awards Visit to schools by Mr Odoi and Mr Ackaah Inspectors from the Ghana Education Service Directors—Mr Odoi and Mr Ackaah—visit two TGC schools as part of assessment of school farms for Farmers’ Day Awards Approval of TeleFood proposals and commencement of Rabbit projects at Cape Deaf & Mankessim Sec Sch Approval of TeleFood proposals and commencement of Rabbit and water storage project at Cape Deaf School for the Deaf and Mankessim Senior Secondary Technical School Engagement of teachers and support staff from St Aquinas Sen Sec Sch., Accra Aquinas Senior Secondary School approved to participate in TGC activities Training for Aquinas postponed because of scheduling difficulties Completion of TeleFood Project Completion of TeleFood Project Water storage system added to support TGC activities at the School for the Deaf and Mankessim Secondary Technical School September – October November December Sharing of farm profits for students of Cape Coast School for the Deaf As part of a profit-sharing agreement students received their share of the farm proceeds This took place with a brief ceremony at the end of a Parent-Teacher Association meeting Donors and Funding Sources DASFA received funds for office support from the United States Committee for FAO for running the office and various activities TeleFood project (TFD-03/GHA/005) provided 4,000 USD to fund a rabbit rearing project and water systems at the School for the Deaf The financial transactions involving the TeleFood project ware handled directly by FAO All payments made under TeleFood were made by FAO directly to the contractors and service providers Salaries Some of the funds received as office support from the United States Committee for FAO for the year provided a small salary for one full-time employee to oversee DASFA’s administrative and financial activities Investments DASFA has no investments Financial Report The Financial Report for 2005 is attached as Appendix II The Growing Connection Project (TGC) DASFA is a partner in the The Growing Connection project (TGC) and the lead body for TGC activities in Ghana TGC seeks to encourage young students in the USA, Ghana and Mexico to cultivate vegetables and—hopefully—eat what they grow to improve their nutritional status The laudable idea is being championed by the United States Committee for FAO and the American Horticultural Association An innovative tool being used to accomplish the cultivation of vegetables is the EarthBox DASFA has successfully completed trials in cultivating various vegetables in the EarthBox in Ghana School Agricultural Clubs in Ghana that are participating in the Growing Connection project have been actively involved in the cultivation of vegetables in their school farms and vegetable gardens both in the soil and in EarthBoxes as part of the Growing Connection Project An information communication technology (ICT) component will enable teachers and students participating in the Growing Connection Project in the USA, Mexico and Ghana to stay “connected” and share ideas through internet connectivity The IT component will facilitate e-mail correspondence and interaction through the Growing Connection Website It will also help participants to have access to agricultural information available on the net Visitors to DASFA/TGC Project activities included: Prof James Walston, The American University of Rome Ms Lorna Butler, Iowa State University, Dr Esi Colecraft, ENAM Project Mr E A Odoi, GES National Co-ord Agric & Env Education Mr Ackaah, GES Ms Elizabeth Ohene Dr A Addo-Quaye, Vice Dean School of Agriculture Main Activities Planned for 2006  Expand the scope of TGC activities to completely include St Aquinas Secondary school and Odorgonno Secondary School in the Greater Accra region and expand activities to new schools in the Central Region  Continue to search for and engage local partners to support DASFA and Growing Connection Activities  Support new schools with vegetable seeds and small livestock when means allow  Continue to improve existing agricultural enterprises in all TGC schools  Build capacity of TGC Agro-Youth Clubs in schools through leadership training  Organize Integrated Pest Management (IPM) training for all TGC Agro-Youth Clubs  Continue to explore the issue of internet connectivity for schools  Build networks and linkages with other youth-related NGOs and school groups who would like to incorporate TGC activities into their programmes and who have the financial means to support their activities  Formally request a site at the University of Cape Coast Technology Village to mount an EarthBox demonstration  Hold TGC meeting of Heads of Schools and participating teachers  Facilitate exchange visits among participating schools  Continue to encourage teachers in Ghana involved in TGC to engage more with partner teachers in the USA through regular internet café visits  Get important personalities in the country to visit TGC project sites Appendix I : DASFA’s Activities in Pictures CAPE COAST SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, Cape Coast Rotary Club visit to the school’s garden Students receive share of profits MANKESSIM SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL, Mankessim MFANTSIMAN GIRLS SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL, Saltpond Balcony Garden JUKWA SECONDARY SCHOOL, Jukwa Simultaneous Teacher Training, Cape Coast Appendix II : Financial Report 2005 ... Connection project site at Cape Coast School for the Deaf by Denkyira Students and Mankessim Sec School Introduction Development Assistance to School Farms (DASFA) is a not-for-profit non-governmental... within the layout of a school farm/garden and tour of an established school farm  Webcast between Flowers Gay School, Cape Coast and Seaton Elementary School, Washington, D.C as part of TGC... Gay Schools garden Visit to Seaton Elementary School Washington, D.C Resetting of EarthBoxes in School Garden and planting of lettuce Ida participated in TGC Planning Meeting in Washington D.C