Listen to Decide Program

Greetings, I'm D'or Nelson, founder and CEO of Soul Sojourner Wisdom Teachings, a non-profit organization. Our mission is to provide cultural education programs and complementary and alternative solutions to facilitate the healing of African Americans and the African Diaspora of the unconscious mind.

I was fortunate enough to visit Ghana this year. The trip meant the world to me because I learned that my ancestral lineage is the Ghana Ga tribe. Knowledge of the Ghanian tribe was known from the results of a DNA test by African Ancestry some years back. The trip was terrific, trauma-clearing, and overwhelming. During the trip, part of my divine purpose became clear.

Before the trip, it was suggested that I start a non-profit, but I couldn't see how doing so would further my divine purpose. It was the last hours of the trip when I spoke with one of our tour guides, who said he was interested in my company's cultural and Rites of Passage programs. Once we had additional conversations with his organization, Act for Change and Developing Unity Nurturing Knowledge, it became clear that my life experiences had prepared me for this moment. The icing on the cake was to find out that the 20 women to take the training were Ga. What a journey!!!

The gentleman's name that had a vision for the Ga women is Nii Martei Bothchway. Below is the Why for the Listen to Decide Program:

WHAT SPARKED MY DESIRE TO WANT THE WOMEN'S TRAINING IN OUR COMMUNITY

In 2004, Nii started fighting for women regarding sexual reproductive health rights and gender-based violence rights and trained girls on teenage pregnancy to enhance empowerment in the community. Our community is full of men empowerment programs forgetting that women also have to be empowered. Still, our leaders in the community thought that woman might end up in the kitchen of her husband’s house. Women have to become more empowered in education and leadership management. What even increased my passion for fighting more for women and girls is their great potential. In the past decade since 2006, I have noticed women wanting to acquire a position in the District Assembly elections, and in doing so, can be intimidated because she is a woman. Leaders in a community claim that women shouldn’t be in a man's role. Moreover, women are the pillar of every Christian church spotted in African and Ghanaian communities. Now they are deciding on faith but not necessarily Christian faith.

THE CHALLENGES FACING THE WOMEN AND GIRLS IN GA COMMUNITY (JAMES TOWN)

The TREATMENT of females in the Ga community (James Town) is about 80% negative. When a woman earns more, gains a higher education and self-esteem, or acquires an increased leadership role in society, it becomes a problem. It is at this point the male community leaders tag them as arrogant.

The EDUCATIONAL GAP, the challenge facing the women in the Ga community (James Town), is that whenever a woman drops out from school, it’s not a significant problem compared to the men. However, it's a serious issue because they think men always have to lead, not women. Even in sharing properties, women are not considered until the men get their portion because they think men will get married and their husbands will take care of them. And she will inherit her husband's property. Only about 30% of the population in a Ga community (James Town) have graduated from Senior High School and college level studies that will tell you our women's educational gap in the community (James Town).

The SOCIETAL ISSUES, there is still a rise in HIV and AIDS, unsafe abortion, teenage pregnancy, criminal and anti-social behavior and human rights abuse among women, young people and children.

The Listen to Decide Program is an international women's cultural, transpersonal, and empowerment curriculum that will span over one year. To ensure we can secure the course workforce, supplies and textbooks, we need to raise the initial $20,000. We are most grateful and appreciative of whatever you can donate to help positively impact the Ga women of Jamestown, Ghana.

All funds will go to Soul Sojourner Wisdom Teachings, established as a non-profit corporation with 501(c)3 status.