Beyond NGO Lines: A Window into Jukuku, Northern Ghana

This past summer, I worked with the NGO Saha Global to bring clean water solutions to a thousand people in the rural village of Jukuku, Northern Ghana. My experience in Jukuku was entirely hands-on with my small team of four... [ view full abstract ]

This past summer, I worked with the NGO Saha Global to bring clean water solutions to a thousand people in the rural village of Jukuku, Northern Ghana. My experience in Jukuku was entirely hands-on with my small team of four pitching our idea in the chief’s palace to training women and implementing a sustainable, community-driven water treatment business. I spent days individually interviewing every household to understand their concerns and open my eyes to their everyday lives. After returning, my research allowed me to begin to understand the complex relations between the different ideologies, lifestyles, and identities of the Dagomba, Gonja, and nomadic Fulani of Jukuku. By examining projects in both personal and academic settings, we can draw more meaning from development work and increase its overall cross-cultural impact. Many organizations do not consider the real needs and underlying power dynamics in the communities they work in and well-intentioned efforts are often rendered ineffective. Jukuku proved to be a more complex village than initially expected and Saha Global’s flexible interventions allowed for the continued success of our business and support of the strong women who are now providing clean water to their village. Understanding the culture, needs, and priorities of communities like Jukuku allows development projects to adapt and empower the people to take control and pride in the opportunities that they can sustain for years to come.