A FROME man has returned from eight years in Ghana helping to transform the lives of local people, improving access to sanitation and education opportunities.
Returning to Frome for a one-year sabbatical away from his charity, Dream Big Ghana, Dougal Croudace said, “It’s quite a strange feeling being back in Frome after eight years. Frome has changed a lot.
“It’s turned into a really cool place to live with a lot of new creative businesses and cool places to go out. It’s been great to see my friends and family and experience life in the UK, but I’m starting to really miss Ghana now!
“Ghana has an amazing energy that really grabs you. It’s is one of the safest most beautiful countries I’ve ever visited, the people are incredibly welcoming and friendly and each day is always different.”
Inspired by his experience volunteering in Ghana, Dougal, set up Dream Big Ghana, in 2009. “We provide assistance to people who live in two very poor coastal village communities called Dzita and Dzita-Agbledomi in the Volta region of Ghana,” said Dougal.
“The combined population of the communities stands at around 10,000 and income is derived primarily from fishing and farming activity. The majority of villagers live below the UN poverty baseline of $1.25 a day.
“Since starting our work, we have built 76 EcoSan toilets for families. This has brought health, safety and dignity to around 1,900 children, women and men in Dzita and Dzita Agbledomi. A worthy achievement, but still a long way to go before everyone has access to safe sanitation.
“Also, through the work of the multi-functional Dream Big Community Leaning Centre, we empower young people and adult learners so that they can help themselves to take the first steps out of poverty. As well as supporting the development of literacy and numeracy skills, the Learning Centre acts as a central hub for activities considered important to our village communities – including health and hygiene education, homework support, ICT skills, arts and craft, dancing, drumming and other cultural activities.
“Since it opened in March, there have been more than 3,000 visits to the Dream Big Community Learning Centre, demonstrating the hunger for learning in our village communities.”
Despite returning to Frome for a break, Dougal has been busy promoting and raising awareness of Dream Big Ghana, encouraging local businesses to join the charity’s toilet twinning initiative. “The idea is that we provide these establishments with donation boxes so when customers use their toilets, they can choose to donate after.”
Local businesses The Works Canteen, Sam’s Kitchen, The River House and The Fat Radish and The Garden Cafe have all twinned their toilets with ones in Ghana.
Dougal has also organised a fundraiser on Saturday 18th November from 2.30pm until 11pm at the Silk Mill, with a host of activities for all the family.
On offer during the day will be a super pirates workshop for kids, African drumming workshops, presentations about the charity, a silent auction and much more. The fundraiser will end with music from a number of live DJs. Entry to the event costs £5.
More information can be found on www.dreambig ghana.org.uk/
