Airtel Ghana has partnered Osei-Kusi Foundation (OKF) to Make a Change in the life of Grace Annabi a level 200 visually impaired student studying education at the University of Cape Coast.
Make your Change is an initiative from Airtel which encourages everyone including employees to get involved in their local communities by identifying sustainable projects which they are passionate about including areas such as health, education, philanthropy and sustainable environmental initiatives.
The Make Your Change initiative has seen Airtel staff collaborate with orphanages, Metropolitan Assemblies and philanthropic organisations to carry out sustainable projects such as tree planting, recycling projects and donations that have brought ease to many in various communities.
This very donation has been birthed out of another partnership with a not for profit organization, the Osei Kusi Foundation, to assist a visually impaired yet passionate young lady to realise her dream.
Donald Gwira, Head of Corporate Communication and External Affairs at Airtel Ghana added that “our Make your Change initiative offers a platform for staff to engage in sustainable CSR in the communities where they live while inspiring hope and enhancing people’s quality of life.
At Airtel we also believe in the capability and not disability of an individual. Grace’s story is compelling and emotional and tells us all what determination and self-will can do regardless of one’s circumstances.
In 2002, I met Grace at Volta Home an orphanage in a small village called Ve Deme near Hohoe in the Volta Region. Her visual impairment started at the tender age of four and degenerated into total blindness by the time she turned 12.
An orphan and one of eight siblings, she was being raised by her grandparents whose meagre income from the sale of local medicine put the family income at a subsistent level. At the time I met her, Grace was 13 and trying to adjust to her new life of visual impairment a year after becoming visually impaired.
She was also in class four which meant that she was probably one of the oldest children in her class. Due to the stigma associated with disability and the lack of disability-friendly facilities, many visually impaired children go to school very late.
Unperturbed by her circumstances, Grace had a positive outlook to life. She had big dreams, wanted to pursue an education, wanted to become a journalist. I lost track of Grace after that visit until a couple of weeks ago when I was reading an e-mail from OKF about their work. One of their most senior recipients mentioned in the email is Grace who is aspiring to become a journalist. Out of curiosity I asked what her last name was and was told Annabi. Immediately it all came back. Flash back after flash back”.
Speaking at the short ceremony, Director of Legal and Corporate Affairs, Hannah Agbozo said “We are proud to support Donald to make his change by this donation to Osei-Kusi Foundation on behalf of Ms. Annabi.
This goes to emphasize the impact of our “Make your Change” campaign and the need for each of us to brighten the corner wherever we find ourselves with our widow’s mite”.
Receiving the award on behalf of OKF, Kakra Benefo Asante, Project Manager said the Foundation was inspired by Grace’s eagerness to pursue a higher education despite her disability.
She said that Grace is a very intelligent student who learns very quickly. She further added investing in Grace is a move in the right direction as it resonates very well with the values of the OKF Foundation which is passionate about investing in young people.
Grace expressed her gratitude to Airtel Ghana for their Make your Change initiative.
African Eye News.com
