By Cathy Miller

There are some people who go about their days seeing only what they choose. Some will look deeper and recognize a need within their community. Beyond that, there are those who seek to address a statewide, or even nationwide matter. But how many people are presented with a humanitarian concern nearly 5,000 miles from home and step up to help out? One such person owns a small, multifaceted business right here in Washington Borough, and around six years ago, came face to face with her biggest endeavor yet.

Kathy La Corte, owner of Kathy’s Kove & Kafé, relocated her shop from Hackettstown to Washington Borough in 2010. Over time, she became interested in promoting an art culture in the area, posting notices on the internet. Around 2013, a total stranger, a young man living in Omanjor, a poor suburb of Accra, the capital and most-populous city in Ghana, found her online. His name was Francis Anyidoho, a citizen of Ghana. He contacted her via email and asked if she’d be interested in exhibiting his photos.

As she was in the early stages of establishing a gallery, she’d already assembled a jury committee to determine the viability of various submissions. She sent Francis’ digital files to the committee for review, but they were far from exhibit quality. Taken with a very old cell phone, they depicted people sitting on boxes in front of an old run-down building.

What resulted from this chance electronic “meeting” was a series of conversations pointing to Francis’ motive to earn money to help his village. Not surprisingly, Kathy’s thoughts turned “scams,” but fortunately everything checked out.

Francis and Kathy brainstormed how best to help since Ghana has neither food stamps nor government assistance programs. She said he spoke about how hungry the people are in Omanjor and wondered what they might do to become self-sufficient. Kathy was determined to help.

The pair hatched some ideas that didn’t quite get off the ground, but around that time, a talented artist and Senegal native named Sheik (rest in peace), participated in an African Art Exhibition hosted by Kathy at the site of the former Unique Boutique on Washington Avenue. Sheik told Kathy he’d helped his family’s very poor village by sending them electronics and computers, and so she presented a new idea to Francis.

That was it! Francis recognized the necessity of training and technology in Omanjor due to low computer literacy numbers. They decided to focus on an initiative that would teach computer skills to students, along with computer maintenance and service, and finally sell some of the repaired equipment not needed for training.

Kathy and Francis began to flesh out a business plan, from which emerged Ghana 4E Inc. sometime in 2013. The four E’s stand for Education, Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Empact (a colloquialism of Impact) and are the cornerstones of the Computer Learning Center being built in Omanjor. Ghana 4E is the “umbrella” for the basic computer skills classes, computer repair classes, and a sales & service shop, all facilitated by the organization.

In 2016, Kathy established Ghana 4E Inc. as a non-profit here in the U.S. and then began the arduous process of acquiring NGO (non-governmental organization, similar to our non-profit) status in Accra.

A little later, Kathy hosted a Ghanaian dinner at her shop, prepared by local Ghanaian immigrants. It was that evening that Kathy first met Nii Allotey Brew Hammond. Nii travels frequently between the U.S. and Ghana, but he lives in Omanjor. He is active in Ghanaian politics and he has “a heart of gold.” That dinner proved to be a turning point as Kathy introduced Nii to the mission of Ghana 4E.

Kathy emailed him after they spoke and asked if he’d join Ghana 4E Inc. as a liaison in Ghana. He replied, “How could I not?” About Nii, Kathy shared, “He’s been phenomenal with helping us. We were able to get the NGO in Ghana very quickly, within a few months.”

As far as the headquarters in Omanjor goes, Francis had previously been given the property that houses Ghana 4E by his uncle. According to Kathy, property does not necessarily equal wealth there and is often handed down through the family. And, while it may look beautiful in photos, it is actually in dire need of repair. Ghana 4E Board Secretary Scott McDonald, of Washington, said, “One big challenge they need to overcome is getting the work done in the shop.” The temperature is consistently into the 90s, so the workers “take their time, due to the heat. It’s their way of life.” He also noted the area has poor power infrastructure and subsequent outages, so they’ll need a generator. Kathy had hoped to install solar panels on the roof, but the building will not support the weight. In addition, there is no water to the building, so they have to go get it and carry it back.

Presently, Francis and his wife live upstairs. He has allotted three of the five downstairs apartments to Ghana 4E. The front apartment has been renovated and turned into the Sales & Service Shop with a street-facing storefront. After removing a wall, the crew painted the front orange, built a doorway, and hung the Ghana 4E sign that had been displayed at the Washington art exhibit a few years ago. Two of the apartments in the alleyway will be used for the Computer Learning Center to hold basic computer skills and computer repair classes. One classroom is complete and ready for students. After they settle on a curriculum and hire a teacher, they’ll begin holding classes for 20 students per day. Once the second classroom is renovated, they’ll be able to double that number. Ghana 4E Inc. plans to work with teaching consultants from both the U.S. and Ghana in writing the curriculum. Their goal is to initially raise $3,000 for an instructor’s salary (one year) to teach basic computer skills.

At a computer class offered in the public school of Omanjor, there are five students to one computer. Once fully operating and staffed, Ghana 4E hopes to teach 40 students per day in their classrooms with each student having their own computer. The younger students (tentatively 3rd grade and older) will learn Basic Computer Skills. The Computer Repair class for older students will teach maintenance and repair, along with entrepreneurship and cooperative effort.

What will success look like for Ghana 4E Inc.? Students will spend part of their school day at Ghana 4E, with the remainder at their regular school. There will be no charge to families. Each student of Computer Repair will pay it forward by teaching another student computer repair. They’ll work together to create businesses for their own sustenance and teach others to do the same. Computer skills classes will teach students the know-how they require to be marketable and employable. The overarching mission is to put all students on a path to prosperity, enabling them to thrive in a global economy.

In January 2019, Kathy and Scott visited Ghana for 10 days. Kathy remarked that Accra is very “metropolitan” and in many ways resembles New Jersey: They use Uber, have pizza parlors, sell a wide variety of beer, and enjoy a vibrant cultural scene. They even have a grocery store called Shoprite! The people were gracious and friendly, she said. English is generally spoken in school and in public, but when at home, native languages, of which Akan is most widely spoken, are used. However, not everywhere they visited was so well-off.

Kathy said, “[Ghana 4E] came to me. I didn’t go looking for it. Our country is full of people who are so generous, who will help people here. The government over there won’t help their people. We need a really, really good fundraiser to help people in this very poor area.” Traveling from where she and Scott were staying in Accra to Omanjor, where Ghana 4E is located, she cried. She couldn’t stop herself. “The pictures don’t show you what it’s really like.” 

Ghana 4E Inc. celebrated the grand opening of the Computer Sales & Service Shop on July 8, 2019, after Kathy and Scott, along with former Board member Matt Polsky, pooled resources to send Francis to computer repair school and pay for his certification. This will enable him to not only run the Sales & Service Shop, but to instruct future Ghana 4E students in computer repair. They will then be eligible to take the certification test.

Kathy said they’d also like to create a scholarship. Though the classes will be free, scholarships could cover the cost of certification tests for students, which cost around 150 USD each.

All the computers and other items that people have donated since 2013 are being stored in the shop and used in the classrooms of Ghana 4E. While visiting Accra, Kathy and Scott purchased chairs and tables for the classrooms. Kathy said, “We donated one computer to the public school in Omanjor, run by ‘Happy,’ to build some credibility early on. Now, we will repair other schools’ computers, as few as there are, at a very discounted price.” Some of the donated computers were also given to the Sales & Service Shop for learning repair and for creating revenue.

Recently, Kathy hosted a Seaside Supper as part of the Cultural Dinner Fundraiser series at her shop. Enjoying a delicious fish and chip dinner was Matt Polsky, who said of Ghana 4E, “It’s unique. It has its share of accomplishments, but like any non-profit, there’s always challenges.” Essentially, according to Matt, “Ghana 4E, Inc. is attempting to create a new economic sector.”

There is a genuine need for Board members and general membership stateside to help attain Ghana 4E’s goals. The 2019 Board of Directors is Kathy La Corte, president; and Scott McDonald, secretary; with Francis Anyidoho, director of operations; and Nii Allotey Brew Hammond, treasurer and liaison, both in Accra. Please contact Kathy at kathy.lacorte@gmail.com with any questions.

Kathy has sold antiques for 27 years. Her first shop was in Portland, Pa., then she spent 14 years in Hackettstown. Nine years ago, she opened Kathy’s Kove & Kafé in Washington. Recently she began stocking and selling yarn and expanded what she serves in her tearoom. She hosts rotating exhibits in her art gallery and sells assorted teas, as well as fresh made chocolates from The Chocolate Shoppe (formerly of Washington). She even offers clock repair! And, of course, she still sells antiques.

INFORMATION ON FUNDRAISING AND DONATIONS:

Ghana 4E, Inc. holds a Cultural Dinner Fundraiser on fourth Fridays at Kathy’s Kove & Kafé with profits going to Ghana 4E, Inc. Another means of support is to enjoy a nosh at Kathy’s – all tips are allocated
to Ghana 4E. Of course, monetary contributions are always welcome.

Donations of old, extra, or unwanted computers is an ongoing need. Drives are wiped clean and a new operating system installed before shipping. Software, manuals, flat screen monitors, and other computer accessories are also collected, along with clothing, shoes, sandals, and non-perishable food. Everything is sent directly to Ghana.

Please bring donations to Kathy’s Kove & Kafé, 5 East Washington Avenue, Washington, N.J., or call 908-689-6878 for pick up.

Facebook: Ghana 4E
YouTube: search for “Ghana 4E”

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