IIHFD
Annual Reports
2000
MOVING FORWARD: THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S 2000 REPORT
As many of you will recall, the year 1999 was a great landmark in the history of the International Institute for Human Factor Development (IIHFD). In that year, we were successful in winning and gathering some grants for our first ever development project that was carried out in the summer in Techiman, Brong Ahafo Region—Ghana. The project was about health and sanitation in Techiman. The total cost for the project was $20,000.00. While the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE) contributed $10,000.00 toward the project, the IIHFD covered the rest of the cost in kind and financial contributions—$10,000.00. This project was carried out under the leadership of Dr. Joseph Mensah and Dr. Senyo Adjibolosoo. The reports we continue to receive from the field reveal that the project continues to yield great results. At the moment, the Tourism and Environmental Protection (T&E) Club continues to give leadership to the project.
The Tutorial Service Program (TSP)
This year, we continue to engage ourselves in both research and practical community development programs. For example, in the spring of 2000, we designed and implemented a Tutorial Service Program (TSP) for inner city children in the Vancouver Metropolitan Area. This program caters for the academic needs of inner city children. Using volunteers, the leaders of this program get academic help for any children whose parents bring them to participate in the program. The TSP activities happen on Saturdays between 2:00pm and 4:00pm. When children come each Saturday, the tutors lead and work with them in Mathematics, English, French, Social Studies, and Personal Development. Sooner or later, computers will be added.
The comments of both parents and children continue to reveal that the TSP continues to meet the children’s needs and expectations. We now have on record that about eighty children have registered for the program. Many more will flock to the program. Two of the major challenges we currently face relate to lack of sufficient financial resources and a permanent facility. We need to acquire a building (i.e., either a store front or a large house) to be used as the home for TSP. When such a facility becomes available, the TSP will be opened to children throughout the whole week. This, we believe, will create the opportunity for children who need additional help with their schoolwork during the week to go to the Human Factor Learning Center (HFLC) and receive it.
To do so, it is also critical to have a source of sufficient financial resources. This will enable us to employ a few individuals to give excellent oversight to the TSP. Currently, the TSP is being run on volunteer basis by our colleagues in Vancouver. The members of the TSP Leadership Team include Mr. Salomon Agbenya—the Team Leader, Dr. Joseph Mensah, Ms. Maika Tshibalanga, Ms. Rejoice Anthony, Ms. Shine Anthony, Mr. Fabian Dododza, and Ms. Line Guilbert-Wolf. We will continue to do our best to make sure that the TSP grows into the great inner city educational program we believe it will turn into in the near future. This dream will become a great reality when wee continue to press on.
Anti-Racism Education Conference in Vancouver—March 23-24
I am highly delighted to report to you that this year, we also received a grant of five thousand dollars ($5000.00) from the British Columbia Ministry of Multiculturalism and Immigration to be channeled into anti-racism education. The funds will be applied to a series of Community Development Conferences on racism. The focus of these seminars is on the primary causes of racism, the major problems of racism, and how to deal effectively with racism in Canadian society. These seminars are also part of our plan to get involved in practical community development education programs and projects. Indeed, through these programs, we are able to not only test the HF concepts and ideas, but also show others how they too can enhance the effectiveness of their programs by integrating the HF concept into their community development and nation building programs. It may also interest you to know that we also secured additional grants to be used for another antiracism education program based solely on storytelling and drama. This program will happen I February 2001.
I also wish to bring to your attention that under the leadership of Dr. Joseph Mensah, we shipped a few books to one of the secondary technical schools in Techiman. The books arrived safely and we have already received a very encouraging letter of receipt from the Headmaster.
THE HUMAN FACTOR LEARNING CENTER (HFLC) IN TECHIMAN
The Techiman Project, though was carried out on a small scale in 1999, is a great encouragement to every one of us at the IIHFD. We are convinced that it is a great eye-opener to every one in that it has already set the direction we must be heading as we enter into the new Millenium. It is imperative, therefore, that we gather our financial and intellectual resources together to accomplish our intended tasks. We must not only work assiduously to keep the Techiman project alive, but also go on to the second phase of the project. This level of the project involves the building and running of the Human Factor Learning Center in Techiman. The object of this Center is to create and provide the requisite environment and opportunities for Ghanaians to engage in a carefully designed human factor-based curriculum that has the potential for developing the quality of people Ghana needs to go forward in its social, economic, and political programs. This Center will not only serve as an academic learning Center alone, but also as an education and training environment where the participants will gain hands-on experience in different skills, trades, and vocations. The Center, when it is built and commissioned, will create numerous job opportunities for local people and others from elsewhere in the country. Special programs will be designed for the youth. The center will also house a library, a state of the art computer laboratory, gymnasium, clinic, classrooms, a conference hall, accommodation facilities for visiting scholars, educators, and trainers, and a wing of the Human Factor Press.
To carry out successfully this project, we need to engage in a massive fund raising program. We will present program details and the associated budget to you all in due course. The whole project is to be carried out in phases. We believe that we are better positioned to carry out this viable project in a piecemeal fashion because there is no virtue in waiting until all funds come to undertake the whole project at one go! Instead, as soon as sufficient funds come in for specific segments of the project, the appropriate facility, equipment, and resources will be made available through which to carry out project.
In conclusion, it is with great delight I report to you that Mr. M. Y. Mensah has donated to the IIHFD a fifteen (15) acre plot of land to be used for the HFLC in Techiman. Truly, my dear colleagues, all I can tell you today is that we are on the right path and we appreciate your input. We are looking for financial contributions, donations, and gifts in kind. If you know any individuals who may share this vision and also be willing to assist us in any way, please forward their names and contacts to us at the US or Canadian Office.
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