The Volunteers for International Organisation (VIMA), in collaboration with USA partners, have constructed and handed over a fully equipped modern library to the residents of Saviefe Gbedome in the Ho West District of the Volta Region.

The facility, named Hazel Community Library and Laboratory, is equipped with books and computers, a network printer and is connected to the Internet to be used by all community children and orphans and needy children under VIMA scholarship at the VIMA children home located in Gbedome.

The project's total cost, including computers and a one-year internet supply, is $32,000, an equivalent of Gh₵204,800.

Speaking at the commissioning of the project, Founder and Executive Director of VIMA, Francis K. Agbemafle, said the library is one of the organisation's greatest achievements to empower children through education. 

He indicated that the willingness of the community to donate land for the construction of the library project inspired them and other donors to raise the needed resources to build the library.

“The world is now in your palms to research new ways of doing things, be innovative and creative in your adventures,  acquire new vocabularies and find simple but sustainable ways of solving challenges faced to better your lives and that of others within and beyond this community," Mr Francis Agbemafle said.

He urged parents and teachers to keep motivating the children to use the facility to imbibe the culture of reading and learning to improve their knowledge.

Founders of USA partners and major donors to the library project, Steve and Susie Portz, disclosed that the Hazel Community Library was to honour Susie’s mother. She loved to make an impact on the lives of children through reading.

They assured VIMA of their continuous support to the organisation to undertake more developmental projects in communities in Ghana.

The District Chief Executive for Ho West, Ernest Victor Apau, urged the community to take advantage of the facility and help their children improve on reading and their knowledge in ICT.

District Director of Education, Celestine S.A Korsi-Agordo, commended VIMA and their partners, Steve and Susie Portze for their contribution towards quality education in the District.

She reiterated the importance of the library and advised the chief and people not to make the facility a white elephant but to put it to the utmost use and maintain it. 

"I hope this edifice will help improve on the outcome of the BECE examinations," she said.

Established in 2009, the VIMA organisation is solving the educational needs of children, especially the orphaned and the needy in the less deprived communities. 

VIMA believes education is the only way to solve the issues facing the continent of Africa.