A new well will mean fewer trips down the mountain to fetch water from a stream in the Asiafo Amanfro community in the Eastern Region of Ghana . (Photo courtesy of The Akaa Project)
Waltham, Mass. December 21, 2012—Work on a drinking water well for the remote community of Asiafo Amanfro in the Eastern Region of Ghana will begin in December, thanks to the efforts of a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization assisted pro bono by members of the staff of The Cadmus Group.
The Akaa Project is dedicated to creating opportunities in the region through educational, financial, and healthcare initiatives. One of its latest efforts involves drilling a well to provide clean drinking water for the village and help the Project meet its commitment to the United Nations’ Every Woman Every Child Global Initiative to improve the health of families in the area.
One small stream currently provides water for drinking, bathing, cooking, and farming. Village women and children walk to the stream at the bottom of their mountain each day to retrieve water in large bins and bowls that they carry on top of their heads.
The Akaa Project had a difficult time finding trusted experts with the requisite engineering, analytical, and technical skills, so they looked to Cadmus to move the well project forward –knowing its reputation as a leader in addressing drinking water issues around the world.
Mark Stoughton, Ph.D., a principal in Cadmus’ International Practice, stepped up to the plate to help make this project happen. Dr. Stoughton is an expert in environmental issues and international development, and leads Cadmus’ prime contract with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). He put the Akaa Project team in touch with a USAID representative in Ghana who was able to help by directing them to the Water Resource Institute, which will drill the well.
“We were able to tap our network and make an appropriate connection to help bring about a satisfactory conclusion,” said Dr. Stoughton.
“Connecting people to organizations to do good in the world is what Cadmus is all about. This exchange of information and assistance characterizes the devotion of our staff to helping improve the lives of others around the world,” said Ms. Obbagy, Cadmus vice president.
Akaa Project President and cofounder Lauren Grimanis plans to be on hand when the bore hole is drilled. The well will be deep enough to provide water year-round, and Akaa Project leaders hope to be able to drill a second well to provide even greater access to clean water.
About The Cadmus Group, Inc.
Cadmus is an employee-owned social good consultancy that offers special expertise in environmental science and policy, energy services, sustainability and the built environment, and strategic communications and market transformation. We have a staff of more than 300 professionals and eight major offices around the country in addition to our headquarters in the Boston suburb of Waltham, Mass. For more information, visit our website at https://cadmusgroup.com.
