This year August 15th marked the 9th annual All Africa Helping Hands Project when members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Africa volunteered service to their communities.



The Helping Hands program reflects the desire of members of the Church to follow the example of Jesus Christ by serving others. It brings members of the church together with their neighbors to provide service. Partnerships are sought with nonprofit organizations, other groups, and other churches to help improve the communities where they live.



In preparation for this day of service, local leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints met with community leaders to identify major areas of concern. Many projects focused on improving environmental conditions in and around public buildings, hospitals, clinics and marketplaces.



This year In Ghana projects included one where 626 Church members of the Tema Stake, (A Stake is a geographic area with several congregations.) joined by 31 friends, painted and cleaned around the Tema General Hospital in Tema, Ghana. Mr. Daniel of U Television commended the LDS Church for a good service project and expressed hope that projects like this would continue in the future. The Tema General Hospital Administrator said that she “could only imagine the excitement the doctors will experience when they resume consulting in an immaculate consulting room.”



In another project,7 kilometers of South Labadi Estate Beach was cleaned of plastic bottles and all sorts of discarded refuse by more than 700 members of the Christiansborg Stake. They were joined by 41 other churches with facilities along the beach, the Association of South La Landlords, community members, and politicians.



The La Municipal Assembly provided 5 transport vehicles, a large tipper truck and tools to assist in the cleanup. The Municipal Chief Executive of La DMA, the Honorable Rita Odorley Sowah, gave a motivational speech to participants at the beginning of the project. She said: “We want to acknowledge the fact that you are here because you put a lot of premium on your wellbeing, the health of the community and the nation at large. Also to complement and support the effort of the Latter-day Saints at ridding our town of filth for our own safety.”



In Sunyani 283 participants repainted pedestrian crossings on the roads of the city. In a commendation given by the National Road Safety Commission in the Brong Ahafo Region it states: “We recognize the value and significance of your decision to re-paint some faded pedestrian crossings in the Municipality. You are actually living by your desire to save lives both physically and spiritually.”



This year projects in Ghana were organized by Accra Adenta Stake, Ashaiman Stake, Christiansborg Stake, Kasoa Stake, Kanesie Stake Tesano Stake, Assis Foso Stake, Cape Coast Stake, Kumasi Bantama Stake, Kumasi Dichemso Stake, Takoradi Stake, Tema Stake, Winneba Stake, Abomosu District, Ho District, Asamankese District, Koforidua District, Kpong District, Nkawkaw District, Obuasi District, Sunyani District, Tamale Stake, and Twifu Praso District.