The Akundoo Youth Union is a collection of young people from Bongo District in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The principal goal is to bring about individual personal development; create 'a savings culture (spirit)' by encouraging group savings; invest towards community development; explore rural investment and job creation opportunities in the district and thus prevent the mass migration of youth; as well as promote healthy-lifestyle practices among young people.
Determined ACTION by individuals and the public is needed to reduce and eventually eliminate poverty in our communities.
Determined ACTION by individuals and the public is needed to reduce and eventually eliminate poverty in our communities.
REASONS FOR FORMING THE UNION
Love is our duty. Love conquers all things. As a community, we need togetherness, love and care for one another but we do not often see or hear of each other for years, even though we may not be staying too far from one another. The sense of belonging to a particular group makes each of us feel safe and happy, and encourages us in whatever we do. We could discuss our problems, advise each other, and make plans to succeed together.
Attitude is altitude. Almost all of us have traveled to search for wealth, but have not gotten any better economic change (wealth) in our lives. Some live through life unemployed; others do menial jobs for little income which cannot support their families. Even though we toil and work hard, our earnings are too small and cannot take us out of poverty. The few who stay back at the home community are not better either. This bad trend will continue if we do not stop it. By coming together, we would discuss and know what to do to change the situation; after all, ‘two heads is better than one’.
Unity is strength. We have failed to better our individual lives and that of the community because everyone of us have been doing what he/she likes; but if we do things together, such as work together, invest together and contribute to help our communities, we shall do great things and get better results.
Education is power. Education is the key that would open our eyes/minds to live through life with safety and victory. Education polishes the mind to do great things and opens many doors that lead to success, health, wealth and peace. Good education may bring to us all the nice pleasures that we wish to enjoy in this life. However, many people in Bongo do not take schooling very serious. Children easily drop out of school because they do not have the interest to attend school; others too drop out because of some difficulties or due to teenage pregnancy or marriage. Those who remain in school find it difficult to pass their examinations; and their end is not much better than those who dropped out or never attended school. Some hardly express themselves in the English language. All these have to change if we have the desire to make our district a rich place: a community where there is knowledge, wisdom and wealth. We are the people that must bring that change!
IN SUMMARY, Bongo is a poor community with serious problems. More people die each year because they are too poor to stay alive. It is very difficult to get food and drinking water; sometimes some people spend whole days without eating any food. Money is almost non-existent to purchase basic necessities of households such as food including common salt and pepper, and clothing. Comfort from shelter seems impossible to get and both the hot and cold seasons badly disturb our health. We, through our youthful energies, must tackle these challenges, solve the problems and make our district a better place to live. We CAN DO THIS when we are TOGETHER as ONE.
