Ghana Red Cross Society

A seed grant for a 2007 DME course held in Accra, Ghana, was awarded to the Ghana Red Cross Society, Eastern Region for its “Action with Mothers’ Clubs and Queen Mothers’ Association Income Generating Project for PLWHIVs in New Juaben Municipality” project. The course participant - and seed grant applicant - was Benonita Bismarck, Head of Programs.

The project's goals were: (a) to assist people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) to become self-employed and self-reliant and (b) to reduce the stigmatization of the disease for family and community members.

Based in Ghana’s New Juaben Municipality, the project trained 20 PLWH and Mother’s Club Members in vocational skills to make tie-dye and batik clothing and linens, plus soap and pomade. The project also provided small start-up loans to purchase the initial supplies. The group formed a cooperative and opened a small “Neighbors Shop” to sell their artisan wares and other basic market goods.

The income enabled the participants to purchase critical anti-retroviral therapy (ART) drugs and help provide for their families’ needs. Perhaps even more importantly, this self-reliance was incredibly empowering for the PLWH participants while also reducing the stigma of AIDS among family and community members. Participants received further support in the form of psycho-social counseling and support group meetings.