The Nuerkie Foundation is a humanitarian organization that uses agriculture and tourism to help equip and empower the less fortunate in society, particularly women from Ghana’s northern region who work as “head porters,” also known as “kayayei.”
Every year, the Nuerkie Foundation organizes a humanitarian initiative.
This year, the foundation placed a greater emphasis on reproductive health. The Kayayei girl child/woman is less privileged and hence has no understanding or knowledge of the necessity of reproductive health.
The Foundation distributed sanitary pads to the kayayei girls as part of the Christmas celebration. This happened at Newtown Old Filling Station-Mallam Atta- Accra. The project which was named “KNOW YOUR BODY” was to create awareness and also equip the “kayayei” to make the right and healthy sexual decisions for themselves, their community, and the nation as a whole.
The project was to assist the ‘kayayei girl child/woman in becoming acquainted with and comprehending the changes in her body for her to make informed decisions.
On the 29th of March 2020, a day before lockdown, the Foundation had its first major project dubbed “Fighting COVID with Love”.
The virus was new to us all and had to be battled with particular elements one of which was hand sanitizers, a recommendation from WHO and Ghana Medical services. However, hand sanitizer was scarce and expensive. The foundation helped raise funds to provide 150 units of hand sanitizers to 150 kayayei’ women at Mallam Atta market. This was funded by family, close friends, and acquaintances.
On the 27th of December, 2020 being a festive season, the Nuerkie Foundation in
collaboration with Yenhyia executed a project dubbed “A Hot Bowl of Meal Can go a
Long Way”. This took place at Darkuman Circle station where they fed 300 “kayayei”
and their children. It was a lovely day seeing the smiles and happiness on their faces.
This project was also funded by friends, families, and close acquaintances.
