The United Link
Djole's Work in Africa
The children of Djole are actively involved in helping our brothers and sisters in Africa. The children of Djole are descendants of the people of Ghana as there is a direct link between Ghana and Charleston, South Carolina. Slave ships from Ghana landed on the shores of Sullivan's Island across the water from Charleston. Eighty percent of enslaved people in the United States came through Charleston. The children of Djole felt the angst of their ancestors when visiting Elmina Castle in Cape Coast, Ghana. In addition, our interactions with children in Ghana who are suffering issued to Djole the call to action. Our work in Africa has extended beyond the initial work we conducted in 2006 to conduct AIDS dance dramas in several places in Ghana. Since Djole left Ghana in August 2006, we and the Nkabom Artist and Craftspeople Association have partnered to conduct the following activities:
- Raised funds for an orphanage in Cape Coast
- Made teddy bears to send to children at Princess Marie Louise Hospital in Accra
- Sent the teddy bears along with handmade quilts for hospitalized children made by Gethsemani Quilters (neighborhood seniors group of African American Quilters)
- Raised funds to help a girl child pay school fees to finish high school
In partnership with Nkabom and Sullivan's Island Elementary School, we:
- Provided funds for rice and school fees for children who come to the Street Children's Academy in Accra
- Raised funds for treating children with HIV/AIDS at the Korle-Bu hospital in Accra
- Raised funds for treating children at the Princess Marie Louise Hospital
In addition to our ongoing relationship with Korle-Bu Hospital, Princess Marie Louise Hospital, and the Street Children's Academy, we are very involved in working with Nkabom, Gethsemani Circle of Friends, and the Medical University of South Carolina on Project OKURASE. The children of Djole hope to visit the Nkabom Centre and work there when it is finished. In the meantime, we continue our fund raising and our community service in the Charleston community.
