Project GROW Celebration!

Today is the day we have all been waiting for, Project GROW Day! GROW stands for Ghana Rural Opportunities for Women.  In 2003, Dr. Vida Yakong wanted to make a change in the community she grew up in. The idea of Project GROW was sparked when Vida was sponsored to complete her Master of Nursing at UBCO. How can we empower the women in my community? What do they need to make their own health decisions? After interviewing many of the women, she found that they needed resources in order to make them more independent. Some of the resources needed were goats. Goats are used as a form of currency. They are securement, should the people need money if someone gets sick, or they do not have enough to pay for their child's education. The women in the community decide who should get a goat based on need. They only buy female goats. Once a goat becomes pregnant, the woman must pass the first female baby back to Project GROW and the baby goat then gets passed along to the next woman who is in need. 

Giving the goats out at Project GROW Day

It’s a cycle of giving back! 

Now, since Project GROW is entirely volunteer-run, how do they acquire these goats and other resources? Back in Kelowna, each year as a final capstone project for 4th year nursing students, we work to fundraise for Project GROW. We sell donkeys, carts, baskets and shea butter.  Michelle and I had the privilege of doing this! Each year, the students and teachers who go to Ghana bring home hand woven baskets and shea butter from the village. The shea butter gets melted back down, essential oils added in for scent, and then placed into 2oz tins to sell. The baskets are part of the silent auction at the Global Gala.  In 3 months, we sold over $3000 worth of shea butter and baskets and these funds went towards the building of a roof for the nursing accommodation at the Nyobok Okanagan Community Health Centre.  The clinic was also built via fundraised money. 

We had the privilege of watching how the women make the shea butter.  It is an extensive and labour intensive process! They begin by picking the shea nuts off the tree and peeling the outer layer (this is a fruit that they can eat) before placing the nuts into large bowls. Shea nuts are white and feel almost rubbery! Once satisfied with the amount of nuts, they will boil them for 4 hours before placing them out in the sun to dry for 2 days which tints the nuts to a dark brown. From here the women lay out cardboard and find good smashing rocks in order to crush the shea nuts.

Smashing shea nuts

Large bowl of liquid shea from the grinding
mill. This is very heavy!

Afterwards they take the smashed nuts to the grinding mill (another item that has been bought by Project GROW) where it is put through the grinding mill and becomes a dark chocolate coloured liquid! 

Making shea butter...or chocolate???!!!

In a shady area they bring out all the liquid shea and begin to mix it with water. They consistently add water and mix, to thicken up the shea. The women knead the now thickened shea butter for 3-4 hours, continuing to add water. This brings out the white colour as seen in the final product. Near the end of the process, a hardened oil separates from the water. The oil gets added into a pot and boiled down to a liquid. After this they cool it and pour it into the water bottles we take home! It was such a humbling experience to see the entire process of how it is made before coming to Kelowna to be broken down and sold. 

Hailey and Rachel mixing the shea butter

The first Project GROW day was 10 years ago and had 17 women. This year, there are over 950 recorded members, and  another 150 new women came to register. Since 2008, women are more empowered within their communities, there is education for them and their children, they are respected by their husbands, and are considered contributors to household income. Violence rates have decreased as well as death rates amongst women and children. 

As the day started, more and more women and men gathered. There were easily over 350 people attending. The beginning of the day started with the Chief of Sakote and one of the Project GROW women opening us in prayer.  Then multiple speakers shared their thoughts and Dr. Vida gave a very empowering speech. After the speeches, cultural dancers greeted the chief, Dr. Vida, and everyone else before the Project GROW team began distributing donkeys and goats. There were 3 donkeys and carts this year and 64 goats total (30 bought, and 44 newborns given back) - the most they have ever had! Near the end of the ceremony, the women came together for a dancing and singing collaboration, where we all got up to join them. The Chief joined too!  You could not have wiped the smiles off our faces!!!

The celebration at Project GROW Day

At the very end of the ceremony, the Chief handed each of us our own leather purses that the Project GROW women purchased for us. And then, right when things were wrapping up, we were hit with a very intense rain storm.  Everyone scattered!  Overall this is one of the best days we all could have ever been apart of. 

There are still women who want to join Project GROW and new communities who want to become involved.  These women and communities need resources.  Project GROW is a 100% volunteer organization.  There are no administrative fees involved.  Every single dollar you donate to the organization goes directly to the women who are members.  If you are intrigued, want more information, or perhaps feel a desire to donate check out their website:  www.projectgrow.ca.  

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Project GROW this year and to see the organization in action.  It inspires me!

Blog post by Rebecca Wheatley, 4th year UBCO BSN student.