Kedesch (19)

These pictures are the property of Tom Neuhaus. You may use each as displayed on this site for free; please attribute the source (Tom Neuhaus, Project Hope and Fairness). For higher resolution, you can purchase the original for $5. To do this, visit www.projecthopeandfairness.org and click the Donate button. Donate $5 per picture and then email me (tom@projecthopeandfairness.org) what pictures you want and I will send them back to you. Thank you in advance for donating cocoa farming tools to West African cocoa farmers by purchasing a picture.

Or, a yummy way to help the West African cocoa farmer is to purchase chocolate from , Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates. Or, visit Splash Cafe. Splash Cafe and its sister business, Splash Cafe Artisan Bakery donate at least $2500 every summer to Project Hope and Fairness and make the trips possible.

*******************************************

Kedesch is an Ivorian NGO established by Dr. Brou, who is the main pastor of an evangelical church in Abidjan. I met him in 2005, on my second trip to Cote d'Ivoire. Kedesch had just received $30,000 donation from the U.N., a gift that was not renewed the following year for whatever reason. The main mission of Kedesch is to promote Christianity while strengthening local economy and combatting child trafficking and slavery. Although I am not a Christian and do not want to promote peace in the name of only one religion, denomination, or religious leader, I believe in supporting people and organizations that actually DO GOOD rather than merely talking about it.



1) KedeschSign3.jpg
Dr. Brou is the guiding light of Kedesch, an NGO that functions as part of his church. Kedesch is a Biblical reference to an old Israelite (sic?) safe house. Kedesch specializes in identifying children in danger of being mistreated and providing them education or training. 2005



2) Tissage.jpg
As you enter Galebre, you see the cloth weaving operation on the right side—right before the sign announcing the NGO. Kedesch was initially funded by a grant from the U.N., but never received additional funding. Galebre, Cote d'Ivoire, 2005.




3) Tissage3.jpg
Cloth made by students at Kedesch. Galebre, Cote d'Ivoire, 2005.







4) GnepohRogerCourtois.jpg
Mr. Gnepoh is one of the officers of the ONG Kedesch. Note the shirt he is wearing, which has been made in their shirt factory. 2005









5) ClothingFactory2.jpg
Girls learn how to sew in the factory. They make shirts, pants, and dresses. Galebre, 2005.







6) DSCN2296_jpg
Dr. Brou’s family land. This is an old French quarry, dug years ago to make crushed rock for road development. He wants to put a hotel on the edge of the lake where young men and women would become budding hoteliers. Galebre, 2005




7) Fowl2_med.jpg
Kedesch also teaches children how to tend fowl. This was shut down during the Avian Flu epidemic. Galebre, 2005






8) PoundingRice2.JPG
Children also learn how to pound rice. Most children have a minimum of 1 hour of daily household chores, and this is one of them. Galebre, 2005.









9) School3.jpg
Kedesch has built several schools and pays several teachers, as the government of Côte d’Ivoire does not have the funds. To learn about where money goes, read the book Bitter Chocolate by Carol Off. Galebre, 2005.




10) ShoeFactory4.jpg
Boys learn how to make shoes using very rudimentary tools and no electricity. Pictured is the shoe-making instructor. Galebre, Cote d'Ivoire, 2005.









11) Kedesch03.jpg
Showing off a "pagne" or cloth used for clothing or as a covering for a bed or as a tablecloth. This pagne was made by boys working the looms outside of Galebre as part of the Kedesch project. Galebre, Cote d'Ivoire, 2006.




12) Kedesch04.jpg
Showing off a "pagne" or cloth used for clothing or as a covering for a bed or as a tablecloth. This pagne was made by boys working the looms outside of Galebre as part of the Kedesch project. Galebre, Cote d'Ivoire, 2006.




13) Kedesch09.jpg
Shirts made in the clothing factory of Kedesch, Galebre, Cote d'Ivoire, 2006.










14) Shoes made in the shoe factory of Kedesch, Galebre, Cote d'Ivoire, 2006.








15) Kedesch14.jpg
A shoe sewing machine in the shoe factory of Kedesch, Galebre, Cote d'Ivoire, 2006. It needs electricity.










16) IMG_1986_Dr.Brou.jpg
Dr. Brou, the founder of Kedesch. Galebre, Cote d'Ivoire, 2007.








17) P8210053_med.jpg
This building is to house the leather working and sewing factories. It was paid for by Splash Cafe and Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates. Galebre, Cote d'Ivoire, 2007. Photo by Stan Thompson.




18) P8210056.jpg
The walls of the building are made with mud brick. Galebre, Cote d'Ivoire, 2007. Photo by Stan Thompson.











19) P8210075.jpg
Dr. Brou and his wife. Galebre, Cote d'Ivoire, 2007. Photo by Stan Thompson.