Beds to Ghana

In January 2010 former Past President of JCI Aberdeen, Sam Murray, presented to the current JCI members a story of children suffering in Accra Ghana who he had seen under his role within UNICEF. These children were suffering in hospital with little comfort, many lying on the concrete floor suffering. At this same time we were made aware of a number of beds at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary that were due to be decommissioned as they no longer met the required standard within the UK. The penny dropped and JCI Aberdeen geared into action to try and get these beds to the children in Ghana.

A team was established and a plan of attack was formulated. It was decided to launch this event at the annual Grampian Industrialist of the Year Dinner. Prior to this event we were overjoyed to receive the backing of Aker Qserv as our Platinum Sponsors. Further funds were raised at the dinner and we were well on our way to raising the £6000 target. Successful negotiations took place with Crane Shipping and Shore Porters Storage and hugely beneficial terms were agreed.

Two fund raising events were held over the summer months in 2010. Firstly a race night was a huge success, closely followed by an Children's Fun event at the 50th Aberdeen Highland Games. These two events got us to our target funds and we were now ready to ship the beds. After several months of communicating with JCI Ghana and the customs officials in Accra to try and ensure a smooth passage for the beds, we were able to bid farewell to the beds at Aberdeen Harbour in November 2010. Only a few weeks before Christmas 2010 we were all delighted to receive the news form the JCI Ghana President that the beds were now in situ within the Princess Marie Louise Hospital and at long last the children could have a comfort at Christmas that they could only have previously have dreamed of.

This shows the work that JCI can do, collaborating across nations to make the difference, make it happen and improve communities locally and in this case internationally.