ghana
check out the list of kindness below
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your name to be added to the list upon donation (allow for 24h or so)
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economic value added: eur 65,000 and counting
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check out the list of kindness below * your name to be added to the list upon donation (allow for 24h or so) * economic value added: eur 65,000 and counting *
it really doesn’t matter where, but if one is able to help they should
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visits to ghana once every 1-2 years to help with small grassroots projects in two areas: medical and education
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it could be anywhere, but this is where fate led me in 2020
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no, your donations go towards the projects in ghana 100%
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in the medical area i help with installation, repair and training of medical equipment, but also general clinic fit-out
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since both my wife and i are teachers, we have also started collaborations with local schools, offering scholarships to orphaned children
ghana visit 5 in oct 2026:
accra, nkawkaw, kumasi, techiman, tamale, chinderi
currently in the planning stages this trip will serve multiple purposes. one part will be to participate in a multi-site project of (re-)establishing endoscopy procedures together with german technicians without borders and german rotary volunteer doctors. then the trip will include a visit of tamale eye hospital, dr. judith simon. and finally, a site visit in rural chinderi at st. luke’s eye hospital, where we have been involved before.
ghana visit 4 in oct & nov 2024:
tamale, mole np, chinderi, hohoe, kpandu, vakpo
on this trip we travelled as a couple and engaged in educational projects alongside my activities in the medical area. for example, we set up a handful of scholarships for orphaned children, donated learning materials to schools. there is a lot left to do. starting with basic infrastructure such as sanitary facilities for schools, materials, etc.
ghana visit 3 in march 2023:
tamale, bolgatanga, chinderi
one of the laser systems had an issue, and another system from a different manufacturer also. so upon returning from my second trip i got in contact with the respective manufacturers and obtained spare parts and service instructions. so, on this trip i got to repair some systems again.
somehow me being in the country made the rounds and people from the northern regions brought their equipment in need of repair to bolgatanga for me to look at. some things i could fix, others not. there is always a lack of the bare necessities. no hardware stores in ghana, i’m afraid. so typically a bit of mcgyver methodology is the way to go. gaffa tape and all.
by now i come prepaired and leave behind toolsets in all locations, so that the local technicians can do some work themselves.
ghana visit 2 in oct & nov 2022:
tamale, bolgatanga, mole np, chinderi
during this second visit i got install another laser system in the rural community of chinderi.
there were deep conversations with a ghanaean priest, a visit in tamale with a new friend, dr. judith and her ghanaean family, including deszo, ishmael, grace and others, to check on another laser system that was recently moved to her clinic, plus a visit to bolgatanga to look after some ophthalmic equipment there.
in mole np i get to see elefants for the first time in my life. and i make a new friend, osman.
ghana visit 1 in feb & march 2020:
jachie, lake bosomtwe, tumiabo, kakum np, cape coast, el mina, accra
this was my first trip to ghana, heck - to africa!
what an adventure it has been. and only because i was open to something new and unexpected. it goes back to a random phonecall. not completely random. but out of the blue. a professor emeritus of ophthalmology calls me to ask for the donation of medical equipment, back then from the company i worked for. he would like to introduce a laser treatment for glaucoma in ghana and our lasers supposedly are the best. we talk, talk some more. the company can’t quite donate an entire system valued at €25,000, but we work out a deal.
the system gets delivered to ghana. another phone call: there is nobody available in west africa to install the system, could i?
i could. i can. i do.
one thing leads to another and here i am - changed forever.
the list of kindness
these are the people that have supported and keep supporting our projects - you know who you are and the others should too!
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ingi & ralph
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nadine & toralf
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josi & daniel
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klara & karl
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ida & nico
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antje & bernhard
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annabel
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niklas
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kon
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agi
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julian
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magali
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lorenz
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andreas
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doris
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isi & bibi
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körni
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michi & christoph
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silke & tina & caroline
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tom
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isolde
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dennis
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volker
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anci & friends
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joel
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heike & roman
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leni & martin
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bärbel & uwe
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steffi & mochtar
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martina & thomas
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käthe & paul
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renate
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luise
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tina & thomas
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karin
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le quatre merde
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eva & rupi
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andi
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teresa & felicitas & laura
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ingrid & roland
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der kogler
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lisa & lothar
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angelika & roman
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kathi & frank
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slavi
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lorin
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stefan
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ingrid
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frank
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anne
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alicia
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agnes
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johannes
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anne
* ingi & ralph * nadine & toralf * josi & daniel * klara & karl * ida & nico * antje & bernhard * annabel * niklas * kon * agi * julian * magali * lorenz * andreas * doris * isi & bibi * körni * michi & christoph * silke & tina & caroline * tom * isolde * dennis * volker * anci & friends * joel * heike & roman * leni & martin * bärbel & uwe * steffi & mochtar * martina & thomas * käthe & paul * renate * luise * tina & thomas * karin * le quatre merde * eva & rupi * andi * teresa & felicitas & laura * ingrid & roland * der kogler * lisa & lothar * angelika & roman * kathi & frank * slavi * lorin * stefan * ingrid * frank * anne * alicia * agnes * johannes * anne
people often ask us what happens to the money they donate. the simple answer is that we try to use every euro where it can make the biggest difference.
most of our work is centred around improving healthcare in ghana. we organise the collection and transport of both new and used medical equipment, arrange for it to be shipped to hospitals and clinics, and help install it once it arrives. where possible, we repair equipment that is already there, as keeping existing machines running is often much cheaper and quicker than replacing them. we also visit healthcare facilities, take stock of what they need most, and try to connect them with companies, organisations and individuals who may be able to help with equipment, supplies or expertise.
we regularly take part in outreach programmes, bringing healthcare to communities that have little or no access to medical services. we work alongside local doctors, nurses and clinic staff, supporting them in practical ways and helping to improve access to diagnosis and treatment for their patients. our aim is not simply to donate equipment, but to help build sustainable healthcare services that continue to benefit local communities long after we have left.
one project we are a little proud of was helping to improve a neonatal unit. with relatively little money, we were able to give the ward a fresh coat of paint, making it a cleaner and more welcoming place for mothers, babies and staff. we also financed a neonatal resuscitation training mannequin, allowing healthcare workers to practise life-saving skills for premature and newborn babies. it is a simple investment that will continue to save lives for many years to come.
more recently, my wife and i have started supporting education as well. we believe that giving children the opportunity to stay in school is one of the best investments anyone can make. we have begun providing scholarships for orphans and children from disadvantaged families, helping them pay school fees, buy essential supplies and continue their education. we hope this programme will continue to grow in the years ahead.
every donation, no matter how small, helps us achieve something tangible. a few euros can buy essential medicines, repair a piece of medical equipment, contribute towards a shipment of supplies, or help a child remain in school.
every euro counts – and in ghana it goes much, much further than it does in europe. together, we can make a real difference.
economic value added & souls touched
economic value added:
discounted prices obtained for medical equipment totalling € 50,000
donated spare parts totalling approximately € 3,500
travel costs carried privately totalling approximately € 9,000
repaired equipment back in working order: unknown, but useful anyway
number of souls touched by the project:
unknown, and not counting