Submitted photo Doctor Ayeliya's brother Benjamin, right, with the help of local church leaders, purchased and transported bags of corn to the village of Tampola, Ghana. Money generated from a fund drive launched by Ayeliya provided for enough food to feed all of the residents of Tampola for two months.
Laura Hancock | University Advancement | (541) 962-3585 | lhancock@eou.edu
7 November 2007
LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) - In Tampola, Ghana, homes were lost and crops destroyed by the severe and widespread flooding that hit the northern part of the country in August. Since then, Doctor Ayeliya, a student at Eastern Oregon University, has been working to send aid to the residents of the village where he grew up.
Cash donations received from a fund drive launched by Ayeliya and the Office of Multicultural Affairs at EOU in September totaled $2,018 - enough money to purchase bags of corn that will feed everyone in Tampola for two months.
"I want to thank everyone who gave money or other donations," Ayeliya said. "It has really been a positive thing for the people in my village."
Residents of Tampola have received no assistance from the Ghanaian government to date, so the money generated by the drive has helped them greatly, Ayeliya said.
Clothing donated for the drive is being stored until Ayeliya can find the means to ship the items to Ghana. After consulting with several different companies, the lowest estimate to ship the 1,500-pounds of clothing came in at $6,000.
Ayeliya asks that if anyone knows of an organization willing to help ship the items to please contact him.
'Help is still needed. Northern Ghana is the largest section of the country and produces the most food for the people of Northern Ghana," Ayeliya said. "Three regions lost all of their crops. The prices of everything, especially food, are doubling, even tripling." For his senior project at Eastern, Ayeliya is researching how to form a non-profit organization. He wants to name it Nyeniga Lim, (Poverty Reduction), and is working with community members and other non-profit organizations, seeking advice on how to fulfill his vision.
"Doctor's plan is to return to Africa and operate his non-profit organization," said Kim Sorensen, Ayeliya's adviser at EOU and assistant professor of accounting. "I have nothing but admiration for him. He is the kind of student we enjoy and want in our business program."
Anyone wishing to help with the cost of shipping the donated clothing can call the Office of Multicultural Affairs at (514) 962-3741.
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