"Boa me na me mmoa wo" is the symbol of cooperation and interdependence.
North American Women's Association (NAWA) Humanitarian Projects
NAWA’s Humanitarian Projects have been at the heart of NAWA since it began and is the focus and mission of all who join. Each year, twice per year, we accept applications for funding and the Projects committee reviews those applications. After the applicant assessment, NAWA board members conduct pre- and post site visits, and work with the grantee to accomplish their goal. All the initiatives are focused on improving the lives of women and children in Ghana. Recent projects have included a women’s maternity clinic, bee keeping in a village, school support, collaborating with a water bore project, and a school environmental stewardship initiative.
NAWA Grant Application Process
1. There are two annual windows to apply for funding from NAWA: before January 31st or before September 30th.
2. Prospective Grantees/applicants send in proposals for funding via email or regular mail.
3. As a rule, all applicants must be registered and certified in Ghana by the Registrar General's Department (RGD) as well as the Department of Social Development (DSD).
NAWA Grant Selection Process
1. NAWA members volunteer to participate on the humanitarian projects committee (HPC).
2. At the HPC's first meeting, members review all compliant proposals and decide which ones to follow up on for physical site review.
3. Sub-committees/groups are formed and each group visits an applicant’s physical location.
4. Each group reports back to the committee.
5. Based on the reports, at a second meeting, members vote to sponsor or eliminate a grant request based on finding from the physical visit.
6. Successful applications are presented to the NAWA Board of Directors for final approval.
7. All successful applicants/grantees are not eligible for funding again from NAWA for 2 years after the initial date of funding is approved.
Current NAWA Grantees
1. MIMI Clinic
2. Solidarity for African Development (bee keeping training)
3. Environment 360
*In the 2016/2017 season, NAWA humanitarian projects approved grants for the following causes:
-AACT - Aided in funding supplies needed for their art therapy program.
-Autism Awareness Care and Training Program - Provided supplies for the program.
-Development Action Association - Helped fund the drilling of a borehole at the training center for hygienic fish processing.
-Solidarity for African Development - Beekeeping in the Volta Region.
-Cross Cause Charity - We provided wooden benches and privacy curtains for Mimi Clinic in the Volta Region.
-Environment 360 - We aided in the publication of activity books “Jaku and the Earth Defenders” to enhance environment awareness among school kids in Ghana.
* Project Committee Selects Six Projects to Assess in Phase 2
-Eighteen NAWA members attended the initial Projects Committee meeting for the year. Elizabeth Victoria, Head of Projects, presented 8 compliant grant applications. Grant proposals were submitted from a wide geographical area and covered diverse needs ranging from literacy to bio fill digester toilets to sewing machines to senior citizen health screening. After discussion, six proposals were selected for "Phase Two - Site Review". This is when Project Committee members visit the sites and learn more about each application and project.
-Small groups will be heading out to sites between now and mid-November. Check the NAWA Facebook Page and the newsletter for more details about these information gathering trips. Once groups have set up visits, they will be posting on Facebook for those who are interested, but weren't able to attend the initial meeting.
NAWA Grant Application:
*If you would like to head or be part of a committee to help the board members with this please contact them (contact is below). We are always looking for more members to get involved and being on a committee is a great way to help!
For any questions relating to projects please direct them to the Head of Humanitarian Projects at firstname.lastname@example.org or the Director of Empowerment at email@example.com.