InterAction

 FYSSO AT A GLANCE

FYSSO Ghana is a registered local youth development and woman empowerment Organization situated at Sogakofe. The Organization Comprise of management experts of development oriented professionals who are committed to managing local resources to accelerate the rural community development and is done by strengthening the partnership between disadvantaged children and their families, government units and Communities and other development partners.
As Child – Centered organization, we understand children and women development and Community management in rural poor Ghana as in other part of the world. In this contest, we investigate the underlying factors affecting the development parameters and finding solution to the causes.
FYSSO is working in collaboration with International Organization for Migration (IOM) to help reintegrate rescued children with their families.
FYSSO organize meetings with parents, monitor and counsel parents and assess them for micro credit. FYSSO also work with Geneva Global on human liberty project to bring hope to the less privileged in our society especially the trafficked children.
The organization is also working with Plan Ghana on Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) and has formed a number of VSLAs and the Right of the child clubs in some communities.
Our Mission
Restoration of Socio-Economic life of the women and youth by promoting appropriate and sustainable Economic activities and to encourage and support relevant research and provide advisory service on youth (Gender) issues, health poverty alleviation, child protection and the conservation of rural resources
Our Vision
Empowerment of the pro-poor and minorities by improving their socio-economic welfare and Cultural identity in rural communities of Ghana

Program Objectives
1. To increase the income base of marginalized youth and women by engaging them in rural activates that will be economically viable and sustainable in the long run.
2. To actively support communities in need through a portfolio of development activities which are planned and implemented cooperatively
3. To provide assistance in situations of crisis or chronic distress, and work towards the development of long-term solutions with those affected.
4. To work through equitable partnerships with those in need to achieve positive and sustainable change in communities.
5. To build networks which develop indigenous capacity, appropriate technology, and skills at all levels.
6. To develop and maintain relationships with our partners which provide effective channels for mutual growth and action.
7. To promote and expand the equitable and participatory involvement of women in the development process.
8. To advocate for and assist in the increased use of communities’ capacities to care for and responsibly manage the natural resources of their environment.
9. To facilitate the right and ability of all children to attain their full potential, and to assist in assuring the child’s survival to achieve that potential.

Major Programmes for the organization are:-
• Agricultural development and food security.
• Water resources management and sanitation.
• Rural health and community nutrition including HIV/AIDS control.
• Micro – enterprise development (women empowerment), Village Savings and Loan associations (VSLAs)
• Support for persons with disability.
• Girl Child and needy students’ education.
• Anti child trafficking.

Agricultural development and food security
Ghana is largely an agrarian country in which about 70% of the people are involved in agriculture. The majority of farming is done in the rural areas of Ghana. FYSSO aims at helping rural farmers to adopt modern methods of farming which makes use of modern technology. FYSSO is organizing farmers especially women into groups to help them access any information and assistance easily.
FYSSO also train farmers in organic farming, processing and preservation of farm produce. The organization is setting up a demonstration farm on vegetable, plantain and fish farming.
Food security policy of the organization is to ensure that farmers produce enough to support their family and economy of the country at large.
The farms should generate enough income to support the farmer and his family during the dry season. This could be achieved by rearing animals and growing plantation crops. The organization is providing training for farmers in the area of proper storage of farm produce to secure continuous supply.
FYSSO in collaboration with the ministry of agriculture is promoting afforestation. This aims at protecting the environment from erosion. The trees will also serve as fuel for those that are dependent on firewood as a form of fuel for their domestic and commercial usage. By this a contribution is being made to the reduction of green house effect and global warming which arises from the usage of Fossil fuel. Thus trees will also serve as eco-habitat: - a home for wild life
Water Resources Management and Sanitation.
Contaminated drinking water is one of the major causes of health problems for people in developing countries and the leading cause of death in children. Two million children die each year from infections spread by dirty water or the lack of toilets. Some of the water related diseases are Cholera, typhoid, bilharzias, guinea worm, and dysentery among others.
FYSSO also seeks to use specialized technology and also involving diverse community stakeholders to increase access to safe drinking water for domestic uses through water harvest.
Universally, the problem of solid waste is known to be associated with bigger cities. Over the years, we have also identified this to be a rather contested truth. Poor sanitation has increasingly become a major problem facing district administration and some village leaders in our operational areas. In many villages in our catchment areas, people drink from the same water source where they bath or take their animals to drink. A clean water project like hand dug well or a water harvest is major step forward for communities that are struggling against poverty.

Rural health and community nutrition including HIV/AIDS control
There is little hope for those who do get sick because most people can't afford to visit the doctor, or there is no medical facility nearby.
Health problems affect children the most. The under-five year child mortality rate and maternal mortality is very high in the rural communities than in other parts of Ghana.
In all, FYSSO is working hard to get support in medical supplies such as mobile health clinics for rural areas and community health education centres from the International NGOs and other benevolent organizations or individuals. The organization is helping to educate women in rural areas on quality nutrition which involves the use of locally available materials.

The world's HIV/AIDS problem has reach an endemic level because the rate at which it is spreading across many regions is getting out of control. Many people died from AIDS globally, including children. It is estimated that millions of people are living with HIV. The problem is worst in sub-Saharan Africa.

The HIV/AIDS endemic needs to be addressed right away in order to stop the spread of the disease. The disease is preventable and manageable, so a solution to the problem is within reach. FYSSO Ghana is working to educate people in catchment areas to know more about the HIV/AIDS problem and how to taking measures to avoid it. The youth and children who are the window of hope are our major target. Women due to their anatomy and physiology are at higher risk and measures are taken to help prevent infections through education and use of preventive methods.
Micro – Enterprise Development (Women Empowerment), Village Savings And Loan Associations (VSLAs)
Creating more meaningful jobs to reduce massive youth unemployment is a critical program being undertaken by FYSSO Ghana. The aim is to decrease the rate of youth migration to urban area. FYSSO trains the youth in vocational activities and also help the women in the villages to form a Village Saving and Loan Association (VSLAs).

Poverty is widespread across the world. It's a major problem in our own communities, right here in rural Ghana. Most people don't have the basic things they need to survive, like nutritious food, clean water and health care. Almost half the world's population—that's 2.7 billion people!-live on less than $2 a day.

Most people who are living in poverty are not empowered with the skills they need to break the cycle of poverty.

FYSSO Ghana Micro– Enterprise Development work is to break the cycle of poverty for women and their families. Children are our major concern so when their parents especially their mothers are well resource, it will promote their children’s education and general development. Without these opportunities, the children are most likely to face the same challenges.
FYSSO Ghana is undertaking a Village Savings and Loan (VSL) program in which over 1000 women are benefiting in 17 communities. The women raised over GH$80,000 within 10 months. Women are provided with a steady source of income through Alternative Income projects. Their children get the chance to go to school.

Persons with Disability Project:
People living with pronounced disabilities are the most neglected individuals in Ghanaian society today. In our rural areas FYSSO is helping to address this by integrating the physically challenged and promoting their rights in our society. The organization is working with other stakeholders to help the disabled to benefit from their rights and privileges as in the case of their share of district assembly common fund. The talented ones are provided equal opportunities in the areas of vocational training and education.
Girl Child and needy Students’ education
Education is the key to lifting millions of children around the world out of extreme poverty and hunger. For every year of quality education a child receives, their adult earning potential increases by a worldwide average of 20 per cent.
Gender marginalization in schools and workplace is an important subject we are strategically pursuing in line with the UN Millennium Development Goal (MDG). The dropout rate for girl child from primary; Junior High School is in the increase and it is not encouraging. When children get even a basic, primary education, they learn important skills that will help them grow. Children who are educated are less likely to get sick because they know how to protect themselves from diseases. They are better prepared to earn a living because they have learned to read. Most importantly, they learn their rights and are empowered to protect themselves from exploitation.
Girls face greater barriers to education than boys. More than half of the children who do not attend school are girls. This lack of education affects the ability of adult women to succeed. Two-thirds of the world's illiterate adults are women. FYSSO is very keen on collaborating with all relevant actors to tackle this issue of gender inequality.
The organization assists students, both boys and girls, who are academically brilliant to realize 6their master life plan. FYSSO Ghana works with the individual needs of local communities to address barriers that keep girls out of school in all FYSSO project areas. The organization is currently supporting 10 needy but brilliant children with a sponsorship programme in second cycle and tertiary institutions. The organization is looking for support to work on construction and rehabilitation of school building to help in teaching and learning in rural areas of Ghana.

Child Liberty and Anti-Child Trafficking
FYSSO Ghana is working to free children who are been trafficked into child labour especially those in the cattle herding and fishing. The organization helped in rescuing and reintegration of 35 children in 2006 and the number has increased to 485 children in the first quarter of 2009. Their families after which support is given to the parent for the child’s upkeep. The children are reintegrated with their families after which FYSSO support the parents to cater for the children. The organization provides school needs, National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), counseling, monitoring among others to ensure that the children are not re-trafficked.
Address: P.O.BOX SK 192, Sogakofe, Volta Region- Ghana-West Africa
Telephone: +233 244 855 734/289538462
Email: fyssoghana@yahoo.com OR juliuska2002@yahoo.com
Website: www.fyssoghana.org
Name of Leader: JULIUS KWADZO AMEKU
Position: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Qualification: B.Sc. (Agric. Technology) option Economics and Extension
Experience: 8 years as Executive Director