Volunteer James is helping the little children of Ghana
By Mary Dennehy
JOBSTOWN lad James Lumumba is currently doing a childcare programme in an orphanage in Senya Beraku in Ghana.
Well-known around Tallaght for his volunteering and fundraising drives, James is on a childcare programme with charity Becky’s Foundation, which, locally based in Senya Beraku, carries out work across the areas of healthcare, childcare, sports, disability and community development.
James Lumumba finds the people are happier, though they have far less
Half-way through his trip at this point, James told The Echo: “There is a big cultural difference here, but I came here with an open mind.
“Living in this community is very different to what we have at home.
“People have far less, but are happier.
“I’m staying in a volunteer home, which has no running water, but you get used to these things.
“Same situation [of no running water] at the orphanage, but we are hoping to get that fixed.”
He added: “I came here for the duration of four weeks, and one of the things I wanted to do is help people who have malaria.
“We did two day sessions in which we tested 250 people on each day.
“That [work] is now complete and around half of the people we tested were positive, most of whom are children.
“For the locals here the cost of going to the clinic for a test and tablets is too much for parents – most just can’t afford it.
“It was worth doing something like this, and my plan now is to see what else I can help with in the orphanage and the community.”
Selfie time for the girls and boys of Senya Beraku
According to James, he is still learning how things work in Senya Beraku, but he has noticed that the area needs more teachers and nurses, with education in the local town “very basic”.
Visit beckysfoundation.org for more information.
