Brief history

1979 - 2010

2010	Activities in the anglophone area: Clinique St. Matthieu in Nkongsamba / Camerun A large number of impoverished people suffering from eye-diseases could have been treated ophthalmologically by a fund that had been fed by donors. Mrs. Dr. Herz has further expanded the hospital to be able to treat even more patients. She is also regularly supported by German ophthalmologists. St. Agatha's Commercial College in Hohoe / Ghana Scholarships are awarded to indigent students of the college and support is granted to the sister convent. Thanks to the archbishopric Cologne the school has been provided with a new roof which caused costs of approx. € 10,880. Supplement to the salary of general practicioners at the St. Anthony's Hospital in Dzodze / Ghana GenoGyn Rheinland still supports the St. Anthony's Hospital in Dzodze / Ghana by monthly supplements to the salary of the doctor Dr. William (€ 150). The modification and expansion of an ambulance has been finished. In December this new ambulance has been officially inaugurated on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the hospital. The foundation WEITER SEHEN could again bear the costs that occur since 2009 for training and further education of four specialists at the hospital. A Container with hospital beds and bedside cabinets (University clinics Bonn), ultrasonic equipment and smaller medical devices (donations from registered doctors) could again be sent to the hospital, thanks to the financial support of GTZ (Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit). Construction of a pharmacy and dispensaire for the St. Josephs Hospital Nkwanta / Ghana In May 2010 the construction and furnishing of a pharmacy for the St. Joseph's Hospital in Nkwanta / Ghana commenced. The project has a value of approx. € 60,000. The BMZ granted an allowance of 75%. Training of the hospital management for the St. Johns of God Hospital Duayaw Nkwanta / Ghana The foundation WEITER SEHEN finances the three-year training of Sister Comfort at the University of Accra to become a hospital manager. Hospital beds for maternity ward in the Catholic Hospital in Battor / Ghana The new maternity ward was provided with 25 used hospital beds. So the expectant respectively young mothers do not need to lie on mattresses on the ground any more. Construction of an ophthalmic workshop in Nhotakota / Malawi The ophthalmic workshop could commence its operations with its new building. The chairman of our partner association "Brillenwerk e.V." personally attended the ceremonial inauguration. Expansion of the "Trade School/Home for the Disabled" in Eikwe / Ghana The official inauguration of the new built training center in Eikwe, the "Trade School/Home for the Disabled", took place on December, 15th 2010. It is a facility for deprived and physically disabled youths who are trained in four different professions. The facility comprises accommodation and workshops with adequate equipment as well as a residential house for teachers. The BMZ took over 75% of the costs. Additionally the administrative-organizational work of the facility has been structured by a specialist, who also developed a sustainable training concept and a strategy for the financial sustainability of the facility. It is planned to transfer this concept to other potential professional training centers to push the integration of physically disabled youths, to train the staff adequately and to prepare the facility for the integrative training of the target group which so far has been almost unconsidered in the country. Support of secondary school graduates of the Shashemane Catholic School for the Blind in Ethiopia Through a Bavarian parish, various private donations and the Catholic "Blindenwerk” annually € 5,000 could be contributed to the secondary school graduates of the Shashemane Catholic School for the Blind in Ethiopia since 2008. Activities in the franyophone area: Sainte Elisabeth de la Trinité clinic for the poor in Calavi / Benin Since poverty is continuously growing a medication fond in the amount of € 5,000 has been established. It is the sister's aim not to reject anybody who is not able to pay for the treatment. Eye-ambulance hospital in Ouagadougou / Burkina Faso The ambulance hospital J. L. Goarnission in the capital city Ouagadouou that has been completely renovated and largely redeveloped by us at the beginning of the year 2000 is working independently and has a local eye-specialist. Regular subsidies are supposed to make the treatment affordable for the poor class of population. Unfortunately the facility was hit hard by a flood disaster in the reporting period. The aa/D has provided assistance in repairing the damages as well as in purchasing a current generator. Dispensaire in Fada N'Gourma / Burkina Faso In Fada N'Gourma / BF a new eye center has been established under the sponsorship of the local diocese with financial support from the BMZ. The clinic commenced its work with treatments and first operations. The ophthalmologic supervision of this facility is ensured by "Licht für die Welt". Currently small improvements regarding the equipment and the temporarily financial support are made. Eye-station in Diébougou / Burkina Faso The clinic is working independently. It is planned to grant subsidies to operations and treatments in the future if necessary. A priest, who was working as a nurse, is continued to be trained to become an eye-nurse until 2011. Additionally an earlier seminarian, who was working as a doctor, will be trained to work as an eye-specialist. The co-operation with "Licht für die Welt" that started in 2008 has again proven ist value in the reporting period. Support in the training of eye-specialists for Burkina Faso Together with "Licht für die Welt" the aa/D has been supporting the training of three doctors, who are supposed to be employed in the rural regions of Burkina Faso since the end of 2009. The costs for these educations will total around € 60,000 per doctor in four year. The aa/D will cover 50% of these costs. For 2010 the number of trained doctors is planned to be increased to five. Establishment of a orphanage in Diébougou / Burkina Faso The German corporate group "Assistance Humanitaire" could celebrate the inauguration of the first part of the orphanage for boys; its enrollment-program and the medical school check are continued and pupils were handed solar lamps. A vehicle has been purchased for the mobile ambulance. Establishment of an eye-station with operation room and an optical workshop in Sévaré at Mopti / Mali The construction of the eye-station has started in June 2010 after the application for financial support had been approved by the BMZ. The furnishing shall be purchased soon. Contemporaneously the education of domestic staff has been promoted by the training of nurses and eye-nurses, the training of a doctor, further training of an eye-specialist, etc., often with financial support from the foundation WEITER SEHEN. Establishment of an eye-center in Maradi / Niger The building of the eye-center in Maradi / Niger that was started to be constructed in 2008 has been completed and furnished. Due to the difficult situation in Niger unexpected costs arose. The financial funds for the project have been totally spent. Since for a transitional period personnel costs will partly have to be financed further financial support is necessary. Establishment of the social-center Catherine in Maradi / Niger Through a project-sponsorship by family Becker novices haven been supported in establishing a social-center at the outskirts of the dessert in Maradi / Niger since two years now. At the beginning the area has been surrounded by a wall and the novices have been trained appropriately. Now it will be supported to build a grain storehouse and to create a possibility to store and issue food to mothers and kids. Additionally it is planned to build schools, orphanages, medical storages and to purchase training material. Nurses' home for ward in Atakpamé / Togo Due to the high utilization the maternity ward and the normal ward built in 2008 in Atakpamé / Togo, that was finances with support from the corporate member, the association "Togo Neuer Horizont e.V." and support from BMZ, need a nurses' home. The BMZ promised to bear costs in the amount of € 70.000.
2009	We continued the close cooperation with Dr. Herz and the Clinique St. Matthieu in Nkongsamba / Kamerun. Thanks to a large number of donors and supporters it was possible to provide financial assistance for improving the eye sight of many patients. The construction and renovation works of the Ambulance of the St. Anthony's Hospital in Dzodze / Ghana have been completed. The GenoGyn Rheinland continues the payment of 150.00 EUR monthly subsidy for Dr. Williams as incentive for his continued stay and services to the hospital. The construction of the Optical Workshop in Nhotokota / Malawi was delayed due to heavy rainfall. By now the Workshop might have been completed. Currently our partners are working hard to resolve the problem of electricity supply. A large part of the new buildings for the Disabled Trade School / Home in Eikwe /Ghana has been completed. Thanks for the financial support of the BMZ, the German Hit Foundation and many other supporters many physically disabled children and youth can receive vocational training for their future income and life. The Eye specialist working at the Eye Clinic in Ouagadougou / Burkina Faso is being financed by the government of Burkina Faso, thus sustainability has been ensured. We supported the institution in renovating / replacing parts of the infrastructure which were destroyed by floods. The institution is working independently and would need assistance as and when it becomes necessary. The constructional works at the new Eye Care Centre in Fada N'Gourma / Burkina Faso are almost completed. Currently the necessary equipment are being purchased. Our partner "Licht für die Welt” with our financial assistance will be taking care of the medical staffing. After the heavy floods, donations of foodstuff and medical supplies in the Dioceses of Fada helped in fighting hunger and poverty. A request has been made for the development of an Eye Care Centre in Mopti / Mali as per the example in Diébougou. The application for the financial subsidy is currently with the BMZ. The Clinic including its Eye Care Department in Maradi / Niger has been completed and is now waiting the completion of the training of local personnel to be financed by aa/D. The Clinic in Atakpamé / Togo is fully working. Due to the many patients and demands for health care it has become necessary to provide accommodation for on call medical staff during the night. The application for financial subsidy is with the BMZ.
2008	In the Clinique St. Matthieu in Nkongsamba / Camerun the ward could have been finished. The supply with water was improved through a well drilling. In fall the extension of the building of St. Anthony's Hospital in Dzodze / Ghana as well as the renovation of the old ambulance commenced. The main burden of financing is shouldered by the BMZ. With a top-up on his salary, paid by the GenoGyn Rheinland, the doctor Dr. William could be convinced to continue his work in this hospital. An application to the BMZ and its approval paved the way for the building of an optical workshop in Nhotakota / Malawi. This is connected to the local hospital. It has been initiated by the association "Brillenwerk Malawi e.V." in Klingenmünster. In Eikwe / Ghana the existing training center for young physically disabled people is expanded. An application to the BMZ has been approved and a specialist for the consulting of concept, curriculum and organisation development started his work. The renovation of the eye-station in Ouagadougou / Burkina Faso was supported as well as the further training of a governmental ophthalmologist. Financial resources have been provided for individual aid. In Fada N'Gourma / Burkina Faso the building of an eye-station began. Domestic ophthalmologists from the eye-center in Zorgho, which is run by "Licht für die Welt", are supposed to carry out operations there. The eye-station in Diébougou / Burkina Faso has become independent as local ophthalmologists are operating there since 2007. A cooperation with "Licht für die Welt", which supports the eye-station, is planned. The eye-station in Maradi / Niger has been finished. The medical equipment still has to follow. An ophthalmologist from a governmental hospital will operate there for two days a week. Two eye-nurses are being trained. The financial interest from the foundation WEITER SEHEN paved the way for the training and further training of five Montessori teachers and educators in Ghana, the additional training of an eye-nurse and a special consultant for HIV / Aids, both in Uganda.
2007	The clinic for the poor in Calavi / Benin is finished and dedicated. The eye-clinic, built in Ouagadougou / Burkina Faso, is operating independently and autonomously with 300 - 400 patients per day. The eye-station in Diébougou / Burkina Faso is continued to be supported, e.g. with an additional vehicle to support the mobile services. In Maradi / Niger the construction of a Dispensaire (ambulance), including an eye-station commences. Further activities from action-groups are supported, for example the building of a training center for carpenters in Gbi-Atabu / Ghana. The focus on the training and strengthening of domestic staff is supposed to be intensified. Another important task of the association is also the creation of more public awareness and interest in Africa. The aa/D becomes member of the "NRW Länderforum Ghana" and takes part in the signing ceremony of the country-partnership Ghana-NRW in Bonn. Additionally the association joins the action "GEMEINSAM FÜR AFRIKA" and promotes an improved networking of the 41 action-groups and cooperative members. Especially the events in connection with the 25th anniversary of aa/D in 2008 shall be used for this. Through financial interest from the foundation WEITER SEHEN it is possible to pave the way for training and further training of eight Africans within their country. The "Wiesbadener Freundeskreis" also shows creativity and engagement with public relations. Reinhard Rosenbusch, head of "Wiesbadener Freundeskreises", hands over the reins to Henning Arendt.
2006	In Ghana at the St. Agatha's Commercial College for girls in Hohoe a wash and toilet house is finished. The St. Anthony's Hosptial in Dzodze enters into a partnership with GenoGyn Rheinland. The Clinique St. Matthieu in Nkongsamba / Kamerun purchases a house for modification to use it as another ward. In Tabora / Tansania the construction of a facility for the training of blind potters commences. In Calavi / Benin the construction of a hospital begins. In addition to the direct projects the activities of the action groups are now integrated into the association. Projects like the construction of a Montessori school in Gumyoko and the building of class rooms for mentally disabled children in Tamale and Sekondi are consulted and supported. For the work in Ghana the domestic specialist Dinah D. Kwadade could be won. In Germany the number of members increases to 230 and Mr. Michael Haberkorn becomes 2. chairman. The head of the Wiesbaden part of aa/D (Freundeskreises Wiesbaden) and member of the board Werner Bardenhewer hands over the reins to Reinhard Rosenbusch.
2005	aa/D has now contact to project partners in 10 African countries. The Mother Ecclesiae School & Community Clinic in Sokode / Ghana enters into a partnership with Ghana Kindernothilfe e.V. in Dortmund and with a secondary school in Kerpen. For the advisory center for parents of disabled children Sokode / Ghana a new project agreement is determined for another period of two years. In Burkina Faso the ophthalmic clinic in Ouagadougou is still supported and further development in Diébougou is pushed on. For prophylaxis a school examination program is started. Within this program the eyes of all second-graders in the region are examined and vitamin-A-capsules are handed out. A 3-year co-operation contract is concluded. Several optician and oculist missions take place in Burkina Faso and Cameroon. The extensive collections of eyeglasses are cut out for the benefit of the domestic production. The new focus on training of personnel and supply of real assets on-site as far as possible forms a milestone. The trust WEITER SEHEN donates benefits for apprenticeship. aa/D and "Eine Welt Laden” move to Südweststrasse in the middle of Bergheim. Christine Knoop is appointed vice-president and makes a decisive contribution to the reformation of the homepage with a new newsletter.
2004	In Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) the Père Goarnisson ophthalmic clinic is inaugurated and furnished with a pharmaceutical storage. A mobile ophthalmic clinic is established and employed in Burkina Faso. In Sokode (Ghana) a school- and village-clinic, in Viepe-Aflao (Ghana) a garage for the training of teenagers is built and furnished. The Optical Technician Training Institute (OTTI) in Oyoko (Ghana) is handed over to the Ghanaian Ministry of Health. Klaus Jahn is appointed president, Ferdinand Reinke is named vice-president.
2003	Ghana Action is renamed as africa action / Deutschland e.V. (aa/D) and the statutes are changed. In Akwatia (Ghana) and Nkongsamba (Cameroon) the construction of ophthalmic clinics and optical workshops is supported. In Sokode (Ghana) a school- and village-clinic is built, in Diébougou (Burkina Faso) the eye center is inaugurated and a mobile ophthalmic clinic is put into service. In Oyoko (Ghana) the first training course for optical technicians is finished successfully. The campaign has been persisting for 20 years. Martin J. Wilde is appointed president, Walter J. Zielniok is named honorary president.
2002	In Fodome-Helu und Nyagbo (Ghana) village-clinics and in Hohoe (Ghana) a school-clinic is built. In Calavi (Benin) a health center is supported. In co-operation with the "Care & Concern Action Group" an information center for parents of disabled children is established in Sokode (Ghana). In Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) the Père Goarnisson ophthalmic clinic (the eldest ophthalmic clinic in Sahelzone) is renovated and completely new furnished with a laboratory and an optical workshop. In Kpando (Ghana) a mobile team for combating blindness is arranged. The trust WEITER SEHEN ("seeing more") is founded for training domestic specialists; Dr. Jürgen Rüttgers MdL (minister of the German parliament) is appointed curatorship president.
2001	In a center for disabled persons in Diébougou (Burkina Faso) an ophthalmic clinic and an optical workshop are built and furnished with the assistance of the Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ). Two optician trainees start their apprenticeship in Oyoko (Ghana). The campaign "Augenlicht” ("eyesight") to prevent blindness is continued.
2000	In co-operation with the Swiss Red Cross and the Westphalia children's village Oyoko GA/D organises a state-approved apprenticeship for optical technicians in Ghana and establishes a trainee workshop. The master optician Gabriele Plasa takes up her work as a training manager. The first group of 20 students is trained. The campaign "Augenlicht” ("eyesight”) is continued. In Likpe-Bakua (Ghana) the third youth-workshop is established with the assistance of the Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ).
1999	Specialists from different areas place themselves voluntarily at GA/D's disposal as consultants. The service point for optical and ophthalmic demands (SOOB) takes up its function. Oculists and opticians are invited for short-term missions. Special education teachers and social education workers are placed in semester-internships in Ghana.
1998	True to the motto "Schenk einem Blinden das Augenlicht” ("give eyesight to a blind man") GA/D engages in the global campaign for combating eye cataract. In Bolgatanga (Ghana) a new optical workshop and in a school for the deaf in Jamasi (Ghana) a school-clinic is established.
1997	Walter J. Zielniok receives the 1. Class Federal Cross of Merit awarded by the Federal President and handed over by the District Administrator for the Erft-county. With the assistance of BMZ youth-workshops in Fodome-Helu and Gbi-Atabu (Ghana) are supported to combat migration into cities.
1997	Change of names and statutes / expansion of the board: GHANA ACTION / Deutschland e.V. (GA/D) / purpose of the association: help for blind and other disabled persons in Africa.
1994	For the first time the German Central Institute for Social Issues in Berlin (DZI) recommends GA as eligible and awards the Seal-of-Approval to deserving charities to GA.
1993	GA establishes the first ophthalmic clinic in the government-controlled hospital in Keta (Ghana). Ophthalmic clinics in Battor, Dodi-Papase and Effiduase-Oyoko (all in Ghana) follow. Further ophthalmic clinics in Ethiopia and Tanzania are supported.
1992	The optician-education workshop in Tororo (Uganda) is extended with an ophthalmologic ambulance and two handicapped accessible employee hostels. In the Jinja-Hospital eye operations are performed every two months. We support P. Georg Göpfert OP in the integrated training and subsequent help of 26 blind students and in the mission school Nyangao (Tanzania). We provide financial and material assistance for the SIGNUM VITAE eye-projects in Addis Abeba (Ethiopia) which have been completely destroyed in the civil war.
1991	Commencement of project-partnerships with the school for the blind of the Sisters of Charity of Mother Theresa in Shashemane (Ethiopia) and the Mary Theresa Hospital in Dodi-Papase (Ghana). For a mosquito-net campaign within the Valta region in Ghana sewing machines and material are delivered.
1990	Support of the SIGNUM VITAE-projects ophthalmic clinic and optical workshop in Ethiopia. Delivery of medication and medical equipment to eleven basic health services and hospitals. Our action groups maintain 30 partnership-programs in five African countries.
1989	Amendment to the Articles and extension of the scope of activities by basic health-services for precaution, promotion of education of domestic employees, support of educational work and health education especially of women in the country. The first two development aid workers are sent to the education project Nandom (Ghana) with the help of the working group for development aid (AGEH) and support of the optical education project of our member Wolfgang Gindorfer in Tororo (Uganda). Seven hospitals in Ghana are provided with medication.
1988	Amendment to the Articles and extension of the board with up to seven members. The three optical workshops in Ghana and one in Tanzania and the hospitals St. Anthony's Hospital in Dzodze, Governmental Hospital in Keta and St. Joseph's Clinic in Nkwanta (all Ghana) are further equipped with material and the Keta Business School in Keta is equipped with typewriters.
1987	With his sister Maria Matschke Chairman Walter Zielniok undertakes the first project-journey to Ghana since his serious illness. In Nandom, diocese Wa, and in Yendi, diocese Tamale (both Ghana), further NEW LOOK optical workshops are established and supplied with machines and material with the help of two employees from Dzelukope. At the St. Benedict's Hospital in Ndanda (Tanzania) another optical workshop is established.
1986	Ghana Action e.V. (GA) is registered at the Local Court in Bergheim (VR 413) and is approved as charitable and beneficent by the fiscal authorities. President: Walter J. Zielniok, vice-president: Willi Biergans †, treasurer: Gerhard Zimmer † In the following a number of community-, school- and youth-partnerships in Münster, Dortmund, Lippstadt, Frechen, Bergheim, Schwerte and Essen are established. Individuals merge into activity- or partner-groups for project-partnerships and sponsor charitable projects. In the following years not only projects in the focus country Ghana are supported but also smaller projects in Ethiopia, Angola, Tanzania, Sambia, Uganda and Niger.
1983	Walter J. Zielniok visits Ghana and in co-operation with Father Cramers and after a trans-Sahara-trip he transfers two charity-cars to the optical workshop and to a convent of African nuns. The first activities of the association commence.
1980	In Bergheim, Elsdorf, Wuppertal and other cities a circle of friends start to collect optical material and used eyeglasses to support NEW LOOK Optical Works.
1979	In Keta-Dzelukope (Ghana) the Dutch Africa-missionary P. Joseph Cramers SMA founds the first charitable optical workshop on Ghana (NEW LOOK Optical Works) which solely employs African people.

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