AMENYO HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY
Marcia and Jim Christensen dressed to go to the Grand Dubar in Ho, Ghana
In 1999, Jim and Marcia Christensen began their work in Kpenoe, Ghana, West Africa. At that time that they began their mission, malnutrition, water borne diseases and worms were rampant in the village. The water pump was broken and the village could not afford to get it fixed. Villagers were taking water from an unclean stream and becoming ill. Many in the village were without shoes and subject to disease that entered through the feet. Education was severely limited and the devoutly religious community was worshiping in a tiny chapel.
Jim and Marcia's philosophy for their mission was, and is, that people are basically good and that the best way to help people is to make it easier for that good to be put into practice. The key to the success of the mission has been to find out what the people of Kpenoe feel they need and then work to help them to achieve it.
Amenyo, which means in the local Ewe language "Man is good", was chosen as the name of the foundation that Jim and Marcia set up to carry on their work. So, although the Amenyo Foundation was established in 2015, it has existed in spirit since the Christensens began their work in 1999
Since the beginning, the Christensens have been raising funds for the work in Kpenoe and, as time progressed, in Ho, Ghana. Many groups have been taken to Ghana by the Christensens to help in the work of the Amenyo Foundation and to be inspired to do more upon return to the USA.
A Small Sampling of Amenyo’s Activities
Funds each year about 50 scholarships for secondary & tertiary education
Financial assistance for building of a church/community center
Construction of a pump and storage system for fresh water
Construction of side walls, windows, and doors for the junior high school
Delivery of educational materials and supplies
Bringing in electricity to the junior high
Initial funding assistance for a teak plantation
Significant assistance to build, maintain, and staff health clinic
Facilitated purchase of playground equipment with funds from Horton Center
Enabled a wall to be built around playground
Provided reusable sanitary pads
Provided funds for community medical screenings
