Training & Enterprise School Links Community Links Donate
The village is dependant on farming as the main source of food and income. In this context, the farming is peasant farming, that is, without machinery and using only a small amount of weedkiller � weeding, ploughing and harvesting are done by hand. Its hard work, and children as well as adults spend much time on their farms, particularly in the rainy season, when most of the work needs to be done. For 70% of the population, farming is the only source of income, and they are therefore reliant on the rains and experience difficulties should the harvests fail.
Etordome is a very poor community, mainly due to the dependence on farming: 79% of the population experience problems providing adequate food, clothing and healthcare for their families during the dry season when the yields from the farms are low, and only a fifth of families are able to afford to send their children to the second stage of secondary school. As a result, levels of education and literacy in the village are low.
Attendance at the primary and junior secondary schools has improved greatly since 2005, when the Capitation Grant was introduced by the government, covering all school fees for children attending these schools, but resourcing of the schools continues to be poor, and students suffer from a lack of books, and there are currently no computers available for them to learn computer skills. Pass rates for the basic level exams at the junior secondary school are relatively low.
On a more positive note, however, the community is peaceful and the community members are highly motivated to work together for the development of the village. Communal labour sessions to keep the village in good order are well attended, and the community members have worked successfully on a number of projects such as building new school blocks for the primary and junior secondary schools and connecting the village to the electrical supply. The community has also started initiatives such as an Adult Literacy Class, which is taught on a voluntary basis by DH Mensah, one of the committee members of Etordome Development Organization.
etordomedevelopment(at)yahoo.com
Etordome Development Organization are supported by BRIDGE: www.bridgingdevelopment.org