We are surrounded by great need in our village. From the 17 year old boy who has been abandoned by his parents since the age of 7 to the girl who feels her only option is to have a boyfriend to provide for her daily needs to the elderly woman who has no one to support her financially to the family of 7 whose mother and main bread winner suddenly died to the lack of adequate toilet facilities in the village, there is indeed, need all around us.  However, we recognise that the people of our village do not want hand outs.  They do not desire to be a charity case for those wealthier than them. Our villagers want the opportunity to make a good living for themselves. We feel we have been placed in the village of Ankwanda to open up our village to the world and in doing so, make a difference to the lives of the people of Ankwanda and beyond.

How are we doing that?

• We make great efforts to employ local people. 

• We buy local when we can.  Our fresh pineapples come from farmers from our village.  Our fresh fish mainly come from our local fishermen. 

• Our Local Experiences provide an avenue for entrepreneurial local people to put their skills to work and generate income.  When you take part in a Local Activity, you are directly providing employment for someone in our village and most likely supporting an entire household.  Additionally, all profits from Our Local Experiences are placed in our Village Fund and used for community projects.

• We provide washable reusable sanitary pads at below cost price to women of our village. Our washable reusable sanitary pads are made in Ghana and can be used for up to a year. Any profits from selling washable reusable pads are used in projects which benefit the village (see more below).  

• Profits from selling washable reusable sanitary pads and the Local Experiences go towards our Village Fund.  Our Village Fund is a fund set up to undertake projects within our village.  We are currently saving money for the improvement of the public toilet system to provide clean, well lit and safe public toilets which all villagers, including children and women can feel safe using.  This is a very important project for us as most homes within our village do not have toilet facilities and rely on the public toilets. Safe, clean public toilet system will ensure better sanitation and a decrease in open defecation leading to better public health for the village.

How are guests enabling us to walk our purpose?

1. Guests, such as James, who visited Afiki from the US, sponsor an Ankwanda child at school. James, diligently pays for Emmanuel's school fees, uniform and school supplies. Janai, who is a Full Board guest at Afiki, has hired a tutor to provide much needed extra tuition for some of the children. We, at Afiki, are able to support 2 children through their education as a result of our guests visiting us.

2. We ask willing customers to purchase reusable sanitary pads.  We then sell the pads on to ladies in the village for the same price as a disposable sanitary pad. Income from selling the washable pads is put into our Village Fund (as explained above).

3. Visit us at Afiki. Engage in a Local Experience.  Recommend us to people you know.  We are making a difference because of our guests who visit us.  So your visit and enjoyment of our facility and village is, in of itself, making the difference.