Students Bridging the Information Gap (SBIG), an International NGO headquartered in New Jersey, USA is very pleased to announce the completion of a computer lab and library for The Good Shepherd Orphanage in Kasoa, Ghana. This will be the second computer lab and library that SBIG has completed in Ghana following last year’s dedication of a computer lab and library at BASCO (the Baptist School Complex and Orphanage) located in Trotor, near Koforidua which serves approximately 300 students and orphans.

This June, Good Shepherd will receive a computer laboratory and library including 18 desktop computers, a laptop computer, a laser printer, an LCD projector, a battery pack and invertor, furniture and basic computer ICT training from SBIG. In addition, SBIG will stock the Orphanage’s school library with books cutting across a number of subjects to help the orphans and other children build on their knowledge through reading. As part of its efforts, SBIG has supported the finishing and preparation of the computer learning lab room (wiring, flooring, painting, windows and doors, security bars), electrical upgrading and internet installation for Good Shepherd.

The Good Shepherd Orphanage, located at Odupong Ofaakor Bohye Asaaseso on the Kasoa Bawjiase road in the Central Region, was founded by Bishop Kweku Addei in 2002 and later registered as an entity by guarantee in 2004. The Orphanage has been recognized and approved by the Department of Social Welfare following a satisfactory fulfillment of the requirements set forth in the Children’s Act. The Orphanage which started with only 10 children now serves over 450 students and orphans between the ages of three and sixteen years. Good Shepherd has attracted the benevolence of SBIG through a formal needs assessment process in which Good Shepherd demonstrated their track record of teaching and caring for their students and orphans along with the basic requirements to house the computer lab and library. In addition to providing the buildings and equipment and books for the computer lab and library, SBIG also requires that each recipient organization have a plan for instruction so that the technology and books are appropriately used.

SBIG believes the world is in an ICT age and, in order to prosper in the increasingly technology driven economy, every child should be given the opportunity to learn and develop his skills in the new field. For the Good Shepherd project, SBIG developed a partnership with Inveneo to supply low voltage computers (www.inveneo.com), One Village Foundation to install the computers, electrical and internet systems, and Microsoft to supply software for all the computers in the lab. SBIG has also assembled a team of local volunteers in Ghana to assist with its efforts and to ensure oversight and accountability with local orphanages and schools. SBIG welcomes additional support from individuals, corporate bodies, NGOs and other groups of people to come on board in helping with such a good cause.

“While there are many ways to donate funds or books to help with the critical needs in Africa, we believe that SBIG’s approach is particularly effective for several reasons. “Our humanitarian efforts are narrowly focused on learning through (ICT) information computer and technology training and supplying books for libraries. As the proverb goes…….if you give a man a fish he will eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish he will eat for a lifetime. Appropriate ICT training can truly change the lives of students to qualify them to participate in the modern economy” reiterated, Mr. Tom Killian, President, Board of Trustees of SBIG.

Founded in February 2008, Students Bridging the Information Gap (“SBIG”) is a Summit, NJ based tax-exempt organization that harnesses the humanitarian interests of students, corporate and faith-based partners and other civic groups to support fellow students in less-developed countries. For more information on SBIG, please refer to their website at www.sbigonline.org or call Brooke on 0244 987 121.