"OUT OF AFRICA" GHANA GLENS APPEAL
Related Links ... Ghans Glens, the project - Ghana Academy Team Captain on Oval Trial
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OUT OF AFRICA GHANA GLENS APPEAL - 2008/09
Just over a year ago we launched an appeal to try and secure the future of the Glentoran Football Academy in Sunyani Ghana. The academy is home to 100 children and staff whose primary objective is to improve the quality of life for youngsters from very deprived backgrounds through football and through what is now a very strong relationship with the supporters of Glentoran Football Club in Belfast.
Three years ago the kids from the Academy were playing football in badly fitting trainers and bibs. Now thanks to the kindness and generosity of Glentoran fans, the Glentoran Academy Ghana play and train with the best equipment and facilities available. They play with a strong sense of identity and personal pride.
Last season, co-ordinated by the Glentoran Community Trust, the rental of the Academy premises was secured for a year when we provided over £3,500 in cash, along with kit and equipment to the value of approximately £5,000, generously donated by the parent club and the coaches of our own Academy. Many other individuals have made tremendous personal gifts and provided boots, toys and other essential items for our African children.
In a short period of time the Academy has flourished to a point where they recently drew 2-2 with the Black Starlets, the Ghanaian national under 17 side at Coronation Park Sunyani, watched by 2,000 people! The Black Starlets now includes one of the Glentoran Academy players Acquah Afriyie who played a half for each side.
The Glentoran Football Academy Ghana has generated interest all over the world. The youngsters have been the subject of a documentary by ‘France 24’, and several features by UTV. The work of the project has been covered by articles in the Sunday Mirror, Metro Eireann (Ireland’s largest multi-cultural newspaper), The Sunday Life, The Belfast Telegraph, and the Belfast Community Telegraph.
Despite all this fantastic work and the huge development of the Academy over a short period of time, the stark reality is that WE are the primary sponsors of the project, and the survival of the Academy hangs by a slender thread year on year. With this in mind we are proud to announce the launch of Africa Calling 09 in an attempt to keep the dream alive.
For just £20 you can sponsor a child or member of staff from the Glentoran Football Academy Ghana for a whole year. The editor of the Glentoran Gazette has again agreed to publish the names of all the sponsors in the match day programme, and they will also feature on the GCT website. Chris Forsythe the director of the Academy is painfully aware that times are also more financially challenging here at home than they were last year, however both he and the children have already experienced the huge swell of generosity generated by this campaign just over a year ago.
This time round though we won’t stop when we have everyone sponsored, there’s nothing to prevent our friends having two or more supporters back here in Northern Ireland.
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS
You can see how much your kindness has meant to the children by viewing a short film created in association with the GCT and ForzaTV - HERE
HOW CAN I SPONSOR A CHILD IN THE GLENTORAN ACADEMY GHANA?
PLEDGE
Easy, you can pledge your support for the project by e-mailing us at with your name, contact details (e-mail or mobile phone number) and by stating how you wish to pay.
THEN PAYMENT
- You can donate in person to members of the board of the Glentoran Community Trust who will be present at a dedicated location at any of the forthcoming 08/09 home fixtures at the Oval.
- You can pay through the GCT PayPal facility below (please note by donating at least an extra £1 (£21) using this method the PayPal service charge will be covered allowing the Academy to receive the full £20 gift).
- Or you can pay by cheque, made payable to "Glentoran Community Trust" to be sent to Glentoran Community Trust (Ghana), 4 Hanwood Heights, Dundonald, Co Down, BT16 1XU (please enclose a name and contact number or address with the cheque.
Support a child at the Ghana Academy safely and securely online at our Paypal facility by clicking the "Donate" link below. Once on the next page please enter the amount you wish to sponsor (minimum £21). You will also be able to leave us a message at a link before you complete payment.
Once again thank you on behalf of all the staff and children of the Academy half a world away. We are in regular contact with them and continue to work with Sport against Racism Ireland to enhance the project. Hopefully there will be a significant development to announce before Christmas over and above this current appeal.
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If you feel you can help this project in any way please do not hesitate to contact us at
You can see the work of Christopher and learn more of the story of the Glentoran Football Academy Ghana HERE, or by by visiting www.glentoran.org
Well Done and Thank You All.
Le Jeu Avant Tout
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