IIn the weeks before working with the Integrated Rural Education for Change organisation the Global Youth Video Project (GYVP) was working with Black Star Development Projects in Busua, Ghana. In particular GYVP had been (and is still) working with the Busua Youth Club project to help them improve their sustainability and access to funds. The Busua Youth Club is a self-organised group of local young people who wish to improve their town and have been doing this successfully for a number of months. GYVP worked with the Busua Youth Club to help them put together two proposals for funding and organise a bucket collection at the Asabaako music festival where the whole group organised clean up activities. From the proposals and the bucket collection we have managed to raise over ¢350 and are now working to put in place a sustainable action plan to ensure that the club continues. Here’s more about the Busua Youth Club:
Busua Youth Club Mission
To improve the lives of people living in, and visiting, Busua through improving the environment, community, economic situation and health of local residents.
Objectives
- To improve the cleanliness of the town by removing rubbish and educating local residents on managing their waste.
- To train local residents to bring skills back to the community to develop tourism in Busua and promote economic growth.
- To support vulnerable people in the community including people who are sick, orphaned or unable to find work.
- To provide a voice for young people in the community.
Current Activities of BYC
- Organizing regular clean ups of the town
- Running keep fit session in the community for young people
- Helping to build the Busua Tourism Center
- Planning environmental activities for the yearly Busua festival – Asabaako
- Regular meetings of young people to forward the aims of the BYC
If you are looking for a conscientious volunteer placement that has a focus on sustainability and eco-tourism, as well as good opportunities to socialise, this is most definitely the place for you. There are not many people in Busua that don’t extend their stay!