annualreport2007

IIHFD

Annual Reports

international institute for human factor development

2007

December 30, 2007

International Institute for Human Factor

Development (USA) Incorporated

The President’s Annual Report—2007

The year 2007 has been a pivotal one for us at the International Institute for Human Factor Development—IIHFD (USA) Incorporated. Heavy lifting took place in 2007. Our attention was focused on the preparation of the Human Factor Leadership Academy’s (HFLA) Education Program for the fall of 2008. From start to finish, this year our energy was channeled into the first official annual fund raising event. The preliminary plans for the fund raising event took place in Ghana in January 2007.

In the spring of 2007, I went to Ghana to work with the youngsters who came to read at the HFLA’s library. My job was to assist the children who frequented the HFLA’s Library at Akatsi to learn to use the facilities. Since we shipped approximately fifteen thousand books and twenty-four computers in November 2006, I went to Ghana to see to the freeing of the items from the Tema Harbor. Mr. Jason Jenkins arrived in Ghana to visit. He was with us for ten days. Prior to Jason’s arrival, Mr. Seth Aglagoh and I initiated negotiations with two families to purchase a landed property for the HFLA. Our negotiations led to the release and survey of a one-hundred acre plot of land. The total purchase cost is one hundred thousand dollars. Through Jason’s financial contributions, we made a down payment of $15,000.00 to one family right away. To date, we have paid $20,000.00. Our long-term plan is to follow a planned payment program until the whole property is paid for in full. Realizing that it will take a large measure of financial resources to build our initial facilities on the property, we began to look for a viable facility to rent to commence the program in the fall of 2008. We agreed to rent a facility that was used to house the American Tobacco Factory at Akatsi. We sent an application letter in the summer of 2006 requesting that the place be released to us so we could bring the HFLA’s education program to the people of Akatsi.

MR. DANIEL HOLCOMB AND MISS MARCELLA FLORES ARRIVE

In the first week of January 2007 I had two students from the International Development Studies program from the Fermanian School of Business, Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego, California, USA, join me in Ghana. Using Akatsi as our primary base, we traveled to several other places. Mr. Daniel Holcomb and Ms. Marcella Flores were excellent tutors at the HFLA’s library. They worked with the children teaching them computer skills, reading, knowledge acquisition, and skills development. They modeled positive human factor qualities. Their input into the establishment of the library was incredible. Our stay in Akatsi brought tremendous blessings to the children and youth who frequented the library and used the resources. Daniel and Marcella played soccer and other games with the children. They poured themselves into the lives of these children. The children never fail to ask of them and their welfare any time I travel back to Ghana to visit the HFLA. To you, Marcella and Daniel, the children and youth of Akatsi into whom you poured your lives in the spring of 2007 say “THANK YOU. PLEASE COME AGAIN TO HELP US!” They can’t wait to see you again, SOON! At the time I began to prepare this report, the October 27th, 2007, the fundraising program had yielded a gross income of $23,701.82 in donations and pledges. Since the October 27th Fundraising Event, additional funds continue to trickle in as we advance into the 2008 fiscal year. We plan to commence the building renovation program in February, 2008.

INFORMATION SESSION: CHIEFS AND OPINION LEADERS

I was in Ghana between December 29th 2007 and January 8th 2008. The primary objective of this trip was to conduct an information session for the Chiefs, notable citizens, and renowned opinion leaders regarding the opening of the HFLA’s Education program in the fall of 2008. This information session took place on January 5th, 2008. The meeting was held at the Akatsi District Assembly Hall from 10:00am to 3:00pm. During the session I shared the whole HFLA’s vision with the attendees in detail for the first time. We reviewed the realities of the failure of official development programming and other poverty alleviation activities in the area. We helped the community leaders understand the real reasons why development programming failed in their area. The human factor concept and its model of development were highlighted. When the presentation was over, we had an opportunity for a question and answer session. During this time few questions were asked. Most attendees who rose up on their feet and spoke affirmed their acceptance and support for the HFLA’s Education program. Surprisingly, this portion of the program was turned into a fundraising program by the participants! Though we did not go there to ask the people for any assistance, the attendees themselves began to make pledges in cash and kind. Two individuals contributed $500.00 each. Two other attendees made donations in kind: they each donated a four bedroom flat to be used by faculty and staff once the program commences in the fall of 2008. The generosity of the participants confirmed to us that the people now own the HFLA’s education project and will do whatever they can to make it succeed. This information session led to the realization of one thousand dollars in cash and two residential buildings to accommodate faculty and staff. Undeniably, the people of Akatsi are ready and committed to seeing advancement come to their community. Our promise to them is that we will do everything possible to ensure that their children get the educational opportunities they deserve. We pledged to work hand-in-hand with every community leader and citizen to ensure that the Akatsi district and others elsewhere experience sustainable human-centered development.

THE EDUCATION PROGRAM

The full-fledge HFLA’s Education program will take no less than twenty-five years to become fully established and functional. This is the reason we are not in any rush to change the whole world at Akatsi at once. The plan is to commence the education program with two classes of students in the fall of 2008. These two classes are made-up of Preschool and College freshman. We plan to admit approximately twenty Preschool children and a minimum of thirty freshman college students. Plans are under way for the search for students, faculty, and staff as soon as we begin our renovation efforts in February 2008. The HFLA’s academic program follows the pattern of a liberal arts education agenda. When the doors are opened in the fall of 2008, students at the college level of the HFLA will start with a selection of general education courses. These courses include Mathematics, Statistics, General Science, English, Psychology, Sociology, Political Economy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Computers, and Philosophy. The three main academic degree programs we will start with are Business Administration, Computers, and International Development Studies.

A NURSING PROGRAM

While spending the months of spring of 2007 at the HFLA, I chattered with both boys and girls: seven of every ten girls wanted to become nurses and surprisingly, four of every ten boys also desired to become nurses. Some of these youth have tried several times to get into public nursing programs but failed. Though they are qualified, there are too few places at the public nursing schools in the country to accommodate them all. Most qualified boys and girls are unable fulfill their dreams of becoming nurses. This reality has revealed to us that there is the need to develop a nursing program at the HFLA. Our plan is to get a HFLA School of Nursing started in the fall of 2009. Plans are under way to design the HFLA nursing program. Leading this charge are Dr. Larry Rankin, Professor Rita Callahan others. These two scholars will be at Akatsi this summer to conduct feasibility studies and needs assessment research. Mr. Jason Kroening, a student at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, will also be spending approximately eight weeks at Akatsi this summer to conduct research regarding the direction of the HFLA’s School of Nursing Program.

SHIPPING 2008

Plans are under way to send another container of books and computers to the HFLA this year. In this container will be two hundred computers, toys, furniture, and approximately ten thousand books. A new state-of-the art computer lab is being planned for the students at the HFLA. The existing library will be strengthened with the additional resources. In the plans is the installation of a Hi-Speed Internet Facility. We are aware that this facility will cost approximately $25,000.00 to acquire, install, and made functional. This is the only resource we do not have any financial support to depend upon. If you are aware of people who can help us make this a reality, please talk with them about it and let me know. We will keep you informed as we make progress. We will continue to share with you our progress, achievement, challenges, and hopes as the HFLA’s Education program gets under way in the fall of 2008. Once again, thank you all for your interest and contributions toward giving A Gift of Honest and Compassionate Leadership to the people.