Who We AreWho We Are

The Branches of the Vine (BOV) is a 501 (c) (3) The Branches of the Vine (BOV) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit independent organization that provides non-profit independent organization that provides social infrastructure to rural villages i.e. social infrastructure to rural villages i.e. education, medical outreach, clean water . . . education, medical outreach, clean water . . .

BOV team members come from different groups, BOV team members come from different groups, organization and denominations . . . organization and denominations . . .

BOV provides assistances, and training . . . BOV provides assistances, and training . . . Leadership, Basic Business Practices, Traditional Leadership, Basic Business Practices, Traditional Birth Attendants, HIV/AIDS and other health Birth Attendants, HIV/AIDS and other health related issues . . . related issues . . .

BOV is a volunteer organization with active BOV is a volunteer organization with active participants in Ghana, UK, USA participants in Ghana, UK, USA

What We OfferWhat We Offer

Established Relationship: Established Relationship: BOV has BOV has established relationships to assure proper established relationships to assure proper priorities, effective project management priorities, effective project management (definition, approval and approach) and (definition, approval and approach) and faithful accountabilityfaithful accountability

Accountability: Accountability: All funds, whether raised All funds, whether raised through private, church or corporate through private, church or corporate donations are accounted for and reported to donations are accounted for and reported to the Board of Directors, all required the Board of Directors, all required government agencies, donors, partners and government agencies, donors, partners and organizations and to the general publicorganizations and to the general public

2009 Accra Ghana West 2009 Accra Ghana West AfricaAfrica

Beyond the amazing journey’s we’ve taken . . . Beyond the amazing journey’s we’ve taken . . . we’ve had the good fortune to work with we’ve had the good fortune to work with

amazing people of great faith.amazing people of great faith.

October 2009 Ghana TeamOctober 2009 Ghana Team

BOV has produced BOV has produced results!results!

The most obvious results are in The most obvious results are in capital improvement such as capital improvement such as wells and buildings for schools wells and buildings for schools and churchesand churches

School & Church School & Church ConstructionConstruction

There is still a need . . .There is still a need . . .

Twerebo School Twerebo School Eight classrooms . . . Some travel up to 10 miles to go Eight classrooms . . . Some travel up to 10 miles to go

to schoolto school

Twerebo Update Where it all began Two bore holes have results in a much

healthier community School enrollment: 122 in 2006, 156 in 2008

& 189 in 2009 Illiteracy rates have decreased significantly

and there is a positive attitude among the parents & adults

The teachers requested equipment for home science, sports materials i.e. jerseys, volleyballs – Instruments for worship and materials for teaching

Twerebo Christ the King Twerebo Christ the King Church Church

Roof for St. Joseph’s Roof for St. Joseph’s Anglican Church, Pram Anglican Church, Pram

PramPram

Renovation St. Paul’s High Renovation St. Paul’s High School, LaSchool, La

St. Paul’s High School Update

General studies are fully implemented as well as business and graphic design

Visual Arts will be added next year Don Dixon Memorial Fund will be

used to complete the visual arts workshop on the 2nd floor

St. Paul’s High School . . .Estimate Cost

Breakdown For Completion Six classrooms

Painting $ 2,238 Electrical 2,918 Masonry 2,463 Timberwork 15,857 Roofing Sheets (Inside) 12,286

Classrooms Total Cost $ 35,762 Per Classroom $ 5,960

Roof (Estimate Approximately) $ 30,000

Total Cost – Classroom & Roof (Estimate) $ 65,762

Oduman SchoolOduman School . . . . . . School waiting for wash School waiting for wash room to be built . . . room to be built . . . Registration has started . . . School to open January 2010 . . . Registration has started . . . School to open January 2010 . . . Area Population Data . . . 6,024 Children . . . 85 % School Age Area Population Data . . . 6,024 Children . . . 85 % School Age . . . 417 Houses. . . 417 Houses

Obeyeyie School . . . Obeyeyie School . . . School opened with 108 School opened with 108 KidsKids

Area Population Data . . . 1,842 Children . . . 65% School Age . . . Area Population Data . . . 1,842 Children . . . 65% School Age . . . 200 Houses200 Houses

St. Justin’s Vocational St. Justin’s Vocational TechTech School, School,

AkramamanAkramaman Area Population Data . . . 1,003 Children . . . 75% School Age . . . Area Population Data . . . 1,003 Children . . . 75% School Age . . .

428 Houses428 Houses

St. Justin’s Update School will be two floors . . . First floor almost

completed Four sectors will be taught . . . Masonry, Carpentry,

Catering and Tailoring . . . Plus reading and math 20 – 35 students per class & 2 teachers . . .

workshops 3 teachers Certification goes to level 7 . . . Level 1 those who

have never been to school . . . Level 7 is equivalent of 1st year of university

Goal . . . Certification & Accreditation for Students Met with the Minister of Vocational Tech Training . . .

Tax-exempt status was approved for deliveries of teaching materials and supplies

Estimate cost not including roof: $65,046 / Competed $24,000 / Remaining Cost $41,046 plus roof and fence

Nsakina SchoolNsakina School . . . . . . Waiting on lumber for the roof Waiting on lumber for the roof

Schedule to open January 2010 could be September 2010 Schedule to open January 2010 could be September 2010 Area Population Area Population Data . . . 3,968 Children . . . 90% School Age . . . 475 HousesData . . . 3,968 Children . . . 90% School Age . . . 475 Houses

New School at Buako . . . Liverpool New School at Buako . . . Liverpool UK InitiativeUK Initiative

Ground Breaking / Sod Cutting October Ground Breaking / Sod Cutting October 20092009

Clean Water a High Clean Water a High PriorityPriority

WaterWater

Lack of clean water is linked to Lack of clean water is linked to medical health issues medical health issues

Villagers and animals use the same Villagers and animals use the same pond for drinking, cooking and pond for drinking, cooking and bathingbathing

Short term fix a Poly Tank for the Short term fix a Poly Tank for the state to store clean waterstate to store clean water

Long term fix a wellLong term fix a well

Buako Water SourceBuako Water Source

Buako Poly TankBuako Poly TankPoly Tank Short Term Fix . . . Connecting to Main Water Poly Tank Short Term Fix . . . Connecting to Main Water

Pipe This YearPipe This Year

Twerebo Original Water Twerebo Original Water SupplySupply

Kevin’s Well at Twerebo Kevin’s Well at Twerebo

BOV has produced BOV has produced results!results!

Not quite as obvious, but still very Not quite as obvious, but still very important are services provided or important are services provided or put in place. These would include put in place. These would include Medical and Dental ExaminationsMedical and Dental Examinations Educational Facilities Educational Facilities Food and Clothes DistributionFood and Clothes Distribution TrainingTraining Prison MinistryPrison Ministry

Medical OutreachMedical Outreach“God does not call the qualified but He qualified the called” “God does not call the qualified but He qualified the called”

Venerable Daniel TortoVenerable Daniel Torto

BOV is taking medical and dental BOV is taking medical and dental aid, HIV/AIDS counseling and aid, HIV/AIDS counseling and Traditional Birth Attendants training Traditional Birth Attendants training to rural villages where the needs is to rural villages where the needs is greatgreat

BOV is supporting the Safe BOV is supporting the Safe Motherhood Initiative Motherhood Initiative

Buako Buako

Team Travels to Buako Team Travels to Buako

2006 – 973 Cases 2007 – 2006 – 973 Cases 2007 – 4,096 Cases 4,096 Cases

2008 – 3,096 Cases 2009 – 2008 – 3,096 Cases 2009 – 1,230 Cases1,230 Cases

Dental OutreachDental Outreach

October 2009 Medical Outreach By the Numbers . . . July 2009 Outreach Numbers are

not included Illnesses’ . . . Predominantly Malaria, Ringworm, and water

borne illnesses from unclean water Akwaaba . . . 137 adults . . . 120 children . . . 257 Total Buako . . . 170 adults . . . 120 children . . . 290 Total New Ningo

Medical Fair . . . 181 adults . . . 98 children . . .279 Total Eye Screening . . . 112 adults . . . 44 children . . . 156

Total Dental . . . 151 adults . . . 97 children . . . 248 Total

Total . . . 751 adults . . . 479 children . . . 1,230 Total

Cost $15,000 / $12.20 Per Case Plus $7,000 to Safe Motherhood Program Medical Outreach $22,000 Total

$20.00 Provides Medical $20.00 Provides Medical Treatment for a Child or Treatment for a Child or

AdultAdult

““The greatest need is education, The greatest need is education, education, education.” education, education.” The Most Rev’d Dr. The Most Rev’d Dr.

Justice O. AkrofiJustice O. Akrofi

St. Paul’s High SchoolSt. Paul’s High School$20.00 Provides a Student $20.00 Provides a Student

DeskDesk

Twerebo School ChildrenTwerebo School Children

Bibles & Blanket Prison Bibles & Blanket Prison MinistryMinistry

There are 13,000 + prisoners in GhanaThere are 13,000 + prisoners in Ghana The prison system in Ghana gets very little The prison system in Ghana gets very little

funding – They must raised money for themselves funding – They must raised money for themselves – Prisoners are given food; no clothing, no beds – Prisoners are given food; no clothing, no beds or mattressesor mattresses

They sleep on the ground, floor or a wooden They sleep on the ground, floor or a wooden bunk . . . Pneumonia is commonbunk . . . Pneumonia is common

Inmates do not have a Bible or Blanket Inmates do not have a Bible or Blanket To date we have provided 5,223 prisoners with a To date we have provided 5,223 prisoners with a

Bible, blanket, drink and cookie in 15 prisonsBible, blanket, drink and cookie in 15 prisons Bibles are distributed in their own dialect Twi, Bibles are distributed in their own dialect Twi,

Ga, Ewe and EnglishGa, Ewe and English

Akuse Prison The prison population is both male and female A framing prison Inmates are in prison for survival crimes such as

stealing food or debt Most have a sentence of less that 12 months – none

were in for more that 3 years The team distrusted 250 Bibles, blankets, drinks

and cookies Puppet show from Liverpool performed - Two

others entertained with a skit Together - We listened, We shared – There was

music, There were expressions of kindness in faces, There were smiles . . .

Bibles & Blankets Program $20.00 Bibles & Blankets Program $20.00 Provides a Prisoner with a Bible, Provides a Prisoner with a Bible,

Blanket, Drink and CookieBlanket, Drink and Cookie

Distribution of BlanketsDistribution of Blankets

ResultsResults

BOV has produced results! And their continued BOV has produced results! And their continued support is sought after. The most obvious are support is sought after. The most obvious are the capital improvement schools, churches the capital improvement schools, churches and clean water in remote villages. Prisoners and clean water in remote villages. Prisoners receive Bibles and blankets. Services go receive Bibles and blankets. Services go beyond construction and physical care to beyond construction and physical care to enrich lives. Educational opportunities give enrich lives. Educational opportunities give hope to families, and the women’s ministry hope to families, and the women’s ministry train women as leaders. One of the most train women as leaders. One of the most important results comes in the form of important results comes in the form of changed lives, both here and there.changed lives, both here and there.

““I soon discovered that I was going to I soon discovered that I was going to leave Ghana with much more than I had leave Ghana with much more than I had arrived to give. For it was through the arrived to give. For it was through the welcoming nature of these great people, welcoming nature of these great people, that my own world expanded. It was in that my own world expanded. It was in their smiling faces, that I saw the face their smiling faces, that I saw the face of God and His incredible love for all of of God and His incredible love for all of humankind. And it was because of their humankind. And it was because of their indelible faith, that my own was indelible faith, that my own was renewed and strengthened. Yes, I came renewed and strengthened. Yes, I came home from Ghana with much more than home from Ghana with much more than I left behind. For this I will be eternally I left behind. For this I will be eternally gratefully and forever changed” gratefully and forever changed” Jolene Witt, Deerfield, MI – 2008 TeamJolene Witt, Deerfield, MI – 2008 Team

““Intense love does not Intense love does not measure, it just gives.” measure, it just gives.”

Mother TeresaMother Teresa

Contact Contact www.thebranchesofthevine.org US – Frank & Gennie Myers . . . US – Frank & Gennie Myers . . .

ofmyers@gmail.com Phone 704.542.1227 Phone 704.542.1227 Mobile Mobile 980.253.0088 980.253.0088 Fax 704.542.0610Fax 704.542.0610

UK – Peter Morris . . . UK – Peter Morris . . . PeterMorris@bramwellmorris.co.ukPhone 0151 424 5208Phone 0151 424 5208

Ghana – Venerable Daniel Torto Ghana – Venerable Daniel Torto DanTorto@yahoo.comPhone 23321 663 595Phone 23321 663 595