{"id":59182,"date":"2024-04-22T16:04:23","date_gmt":"2024-04-22T20:04:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/earlham.edu\/?p=59182"},"modified":"2024-04-23T10:47:57","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T14:47:57","slug":"earlham-junior-selected-for-global-grant-to-launch-waste-management-project-in-ghanas-cholera-hotspot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/earlham.edu\/news-events\/earlham-junior-selected-for-global-grant-to-launch-waste-management-project-in-ghanas-cholera-hotspot\/","title":{"rendered":"Earlham College junior Eric Ford selected for global grant from Projects for Peace"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As a high school student in the Ayiyga Zongo neighborhood of Ashanti Region, Ghana, Eric Ford remembers holding his nose to shield himself from the stench emanating from the trash-lined streets and riverbanks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI witnessed the impact that the overpowering smell had on the health and well-being of our neighbors,\u201d Ford said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now a junior at Earlham College, the math and business double major has the resources to make a difference in the lives of the community\u2019s 10,200 residents living in what a recent study<\/a><\/strong> describes as one of the worst \u201ccholera hotspots\u201d on the African continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ford was selected this spring for a highly competitive $10,000 grant from Projects for Peace<\/strong><\/a> to launch the Kama Campaign Project. The grassroots effort \u2014 kama means clean in Akan, a predominant language spoken in Ghana \u2014 will elevate waste management practices and promote harmony in a community reeling from poverty and disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is something I\u2019ve wanted to do since high school,\u201d said Ford, who is a native of Ghana and South Africa and grew up in the Ashanti region before attending high school in Ayigya Zongo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDespite governmental efforts to improve sanitation, many residents dispose of their garbage in open spaces,\u201d he said. \u201cThis not only violates regulations but also hinders the peaceful coexistence of residents and local authorities, risking potential conflicts within the community. There is also tension, fear and uncertainty surrounding these diseases which causes victims to be blamed and stigmatized.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“This is something I’ve wanted to do since high school. We believe this will serve as a medium to continue to campaign against waste pollution and create a welcoming atmosphere where residents can socialize and share important information with one another.”<\/p>\nEric Ford<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Ford is partnering with Terraplus Ghana <\/strong>and the <\/strong>Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant (KCARP) to launch the project, beginning in May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith this collaboration, we are not only fostering environmental stewardship but also fostering community resilience and well-being,\u201d said Stephen Boafo Junior, CEO of Terraplus Ghana. \u201cTogether, we embark on a journey towards a greener, healthier future, one where innovation and partnership paves the way for sustainable change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Projects for Peace grant will be used to purchase 100 industrial size waste bins and two motorized tricycles for hauling waste to KCARP. The bins will be strategically located in public areas where solid waste is commonly found and heaped. Solid waste will be disposed of in landfills or converted into recyclable byproducts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local residents will be hired to drive the tricycles on rotating shifts five days a week. Workshops will be scheduled to promote safety on the job. Additional workshops, and the development of a \u201cKama Club,\u201d will promote community collaboration and cooperation to ensure the success of the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe idea behind the Kama Campaign project is very interesting but at the same time very daunting,\u201d Ford said. \u201cNevertheless, I am highly encouraged by the enthusiasm shown by the many people joining the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe believe this will serve as a medium to continue to campaign against waste pollution and create a welcoming atmosphere where residents can socialize and share important information with one another,\u201d he said. \u201cThis, to us, is the definition of peace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nate Eastman, Earlham professor of English and director of the honors program, has nominated the Kama Project for the National Collegiate Honors Council\u2019s Community Engagement Award. The award is given to one service project annually. Awardees are given a scholarship to attend the NCHC\u2019s annual conference in October and make a presentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“This project has done the hard work of getting the details right,\u201d Eastman said. \u201cBecause of that it’s a great example of how a focused initiative, run only by a few people, can deliver quality-of-life improvements to an entire city.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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About Earlham College <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlham College and Earlham School of Religion foster a collaborative learning community that inspires and motivates students with transformative opportunities and experiences so they can become catalysts for good in a changing world. Located in Richmond, Indiana, Earlham is one of U.S. News & World Report\u2019s Top 100 national liberal arts colleges and offers one of the top 20 classroom experiences in the nation, according to the Princeton Review.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Media contact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brian Zimmerman<\/strong>
Interim co-vice president of marketing and communications
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Email: zimmebr@earlham.edu
Phone: 765.983.1256<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n