Mmofra Trom Past and Ongoing Projects
Aerial view of The Mmofra Trom Center, taken January 2008.
March 2008
INT 298: Geographic Perspectives in Ghana
Project:
- Raising the funds to cover the cost of leveling the regulation-sized football field
- Installing the goal posts for the newly leveled football field
Instructor: Joel Deichmann, Global Studies
Assistant: Charles Malgwi, Accountancy
Students: Cassandra Abbey, Melissa Shevlin, Sohum Mehta, Mohit Barot, Richard Adjei, Apoorva Goel, Raymer Maguire, Aaron McFadden, Nitita Pongsan, Azim Virani, Jacqueline Le
January 2008
Projects:
- Supervising construction of the bead kiln and the bead-making facility
- Develop contacts with micro-lending organizations in Accra and Somanya
- Coaching one woman in the village to write a business plan and apply for a micro-loan
Interns:
- Heidi Bauer
- Jonathan Tetrault
December 2007
Second Annual “Go Red for Africa” Campaign
Several student organizations collaborated to raise awareness about AIDS. An African dance troupe and Ghanaian food were highlights of the evening event. $2,300 was raised for Mmofra Trom and $2,300 for the World AIDS Fund through the sale of red shirts and Bentley lanyards.
Student Coordinator: Vinay Gokaldas, Bentley student from Ghana.
August 2007
MG 340: Leadership and Management in the Developing World
Projects: Students' Leadership Projects during and after the course included:
- Establishing a vision and business plan for making and marketing beads
- Implementing a soccer clinic and life-skills training project onsite
- Planning a fundraising event at Bentley in November 2007
- Researching micro-finance potential for the surrounding villages
- Creating a website for the Mmofra Trom Project
- Researching leadership training programs for children and youth
- Educational Field Trips: Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary, Bame Qatars Kente-Weaving Village
Instructor: Diane Kellogg, Management
Assistant: Charles Malgwi, Accountancy
Staff:
- Steven Salina, Videographer
- Katrina Agard, Protestant Chaplin
Students: Samuel Awuni, Sanam Bakshi, Heidi Bauer, Jeanel Capitilon, Reena James-Duncan, Elizabeth Fobare, Victor Mahillon, Nicole Unis, Matthew Wagner, Brianna Allard.
May 2007
Accounting Consultation
Charles Malgwi delivered a desktop computer and QuickBooks to Mmofra Trom and continued to develop our partnership plans for future student projects and internships.
- Individualized training of the accounting staff for the school
- Plans for getting all hand-written financial records on the system by August 2007
- Guest speaker to the parents organization for the school
- Review of the Five-Year Strategic Plan
March 2007
Olan Adjetey visits Bentley
Bentley brought Olan Adjetey to the campus for a week of planning and partnership building.
Projects:
- Five-Year Strategic Plan for Mmofra Trom, guided by Scott Latham
- Introduction to QuickBooks, as an accounting tool, by Charles Malgwi
- Official Launching of the Bentley-Mmofra Trom Economic Development partnership
- Unveiling of the Bentley-Mmofra Trom Banner, Anthony Buono
- Speech to the Bentley Community, Olan Adjetey
- Drumming demonstration, Olan Adjetey
- Presentation of $2,000 gift from “Go Red for Africa” campaign, Vinay Gokaldas
- Developed plans for Directed Study projects and NGO Internships
January 2007
Faculty Trip
Faculty members traveled to Ghana to plan future courses and projects in Ghana. Vinay Gokaldas, Bentley student from Ghana, joined us for a day at Mmofra Trom and described Bentley’s “Go Red for Africa” campaign to the director.
Projects:
- Taught Science and Art modules for the children
- Asked to join panel to interview applicants for teaching and staff positions
- Participated in new-teacher orientation meeting
- Educational Field Trips with the Children: Shai Hills Reserve and Cedi Bead Factory
Travelers:
- Diane Kellogg (Edwin Kellogg)
- Duncan Spelman (Elizabeth Grady)
- Charles Malgwi
- Susan Newell
- Shawn Hauserman (Susi Prescot)
- Joel Deichmann
- Kojo Asare (PhD student)
January 2007
Installing and training the teachers to use five Bentley-donated laptop computers.
Intern: Christina Gregoire
December 2006
Inaugural “Go Red for Africa” Campaign
Several student organizations collaborated to raise awareness about AIDS. By selling specially designed long-sleeve red shirts that students wore on World AIDS Day, students raised $2,000 for Mmofra Trom and $2,000 for the World AIDS Fund
Student Coordinator: Vinay Gokaldas, Bentley student from Ghana.
August to November 2006
International NGO Internships and Directed Study Projects
Projects:
- Assisting with the official opening of the school — The Carol Gray International School
- Managing the applications process and communicating with parents,
- Preparing financial projections based on enrollment
- Preparing a budget, and anticipating operating costs
- Supervising workers on site, and planning projects
Interns:
- David J. Adams
- Lauren McLaughlin
August 2006
INT 298: NGOs and Economic Development in Ghana
Twelve students registered for the course and traveled to Mmofra Trom. They learned about economic progress in a developing country through observation and experience as well as by attending several lectures at the University of Ghana. Each Bentley student built a 1-1 relationship with their assigned child, an orphan living at the Mmofra Trom Center, and spent time with them during the 13-day stay supervising reading and math study.
Projects:
- Fenced and enclosed a large area for chickens and goats.
- Thatched the roof of the chicken coop, and hauled cinder blocks for the walls
- Interviewed children who were applying to go to the school, opening in September
- Educational Field Trips with the Children: Volta River Cruise, Botanical Gardens and Aburi
Instructor: Dale Kuntz, Economics and Global Studies
Assistants:
- Diane Kellogg, Management
- Stella Uzogara, Natural Sciences
Students: Shekib Ahmed, Lekisha Benjamin, Rossemary Calderon, Christina Gregoire, Mackenzie Haynes-Carthon, Claudia Hernandez, Lauren McLaughlin, Cassandre Petit-Frere, John Spratt, Jonathan Tetrault, Michael Veracka, Lisa Nau.
January 2006
Two faculty members and one Bentley senior taking an directed studies course traveled to Ghana to lay a foundation for the project.
Participants:
- Diane Kellogg, Management
- Dale Kuntz, Economics
- David J. Adams, Class of 2006
