Touch A Life Self-Sustaining Projects
Touch A Life continues to empower the staff and children in our program with the tools they need to become a self-sustaining entity. We want to prioritize projects that allow the 100+ children in our care to learn to live off the land, take care of the plants and animals that dwell among them, and work on projects that can help improve and beautify their local community.
Papa Ken’s Bakery
Bread and pastries are baked for consumption at the Care Center and are also sold to the community. Students are allowed and encouraged to be trained in the bakery, as well.
Cassava Farming
The Care Center has 1.5 acres of cassava trees, in which the roots are used for consumption. Cassava root is cooked and pounded into a smooth paste, also known as fufu, a Ghanaian staple, eaten with soup. The cassava root is also processed into dough, mixed with corn flour and fermented corn dough for more delicious Ghanaian cuisine such as banku & kenkey.
Catfish / Tilapia Farm
3 operating ponds – 1 houses 4,000 tilapia; 1 houses 5,000 catfish fingerlings, and 1 houses the adult catfish. Our catfish are used for feeding the students and staff at the Caren Center, and excess is sold to the community.
Corn
The Care Center has 4 acres dedicated to growing corn. The corn is mainly for consumption, processed into staple Ghanaian meals like banku, kenkey, and grits. Excess corn is ground up and used to feed our chickens.
Piggery
The Care Center is home to 28 pigs with several healthy females used for breeding. Our stock is a great source of protein for the TAL students, staff, and volunteers.
Pineapple
The Care Center has one acre of pineapple with one major harvest a year. Students, staff, and guests enjoy the fresh grown pineapple and the excess is sold to the community.
Poultry
The TAL coop houses 250 chickens on average. Both eggs and meat serve as a great protein source for TAL students and staff, with excess eggs being sold to the community.
Sewing Center / Batiking
The TAL sewing center is located at the Care Center, where TAL students’ uniforms are made and repaired. Students are also trained in sewing and batiking to create crafts and handmade goods (dresses, shirts, placemats, laptop covers, purses, etc) for sale.
Water Purification
Water is purified through a mechanism that retains 30% of what is pumped into it, thus, ensuring quality, clean drinking water for our students and staff at the Care Center. Purified drinking water is also sold to businesses nearby.