User:Lleah43/Self Help Initiative Support Services

The Self-Help Initiative Support Services (SISS) is a non-for-profit grassroots organization founded in 1993 in Firestone-Madina,(Greater Accra) Ghana which aims to promote and campaign for support for self-help development initiatives, transfer the skills for personal development, organizational capacity building and civil consciousness through training and exchange, and support self help projects initiated by individuals and community based groups and help link them to other such groups and the global development community.

SISS seeks to do this by helping to build personal and organizational capacities within Ghana needed to initiate and sustain processes which lead to sustainable personal and community development. Rooted in the belief that self reliance is the ultimate answer to development problems in Ghana and elsewhere, SISS's approach involves helping marginalized people in the Ghanaian society to help themselves by empowering them through awareness, education, and equipping them with requisite development engagement skills.

Development Activities
Mobilization

-promoting self-help through media outlets -providing a forum for discussion and education -mobilizing resources through volunteer programs and fund raising

Empowerment-giving voice and access

-providing communication services -advocating on behalf of the powerless and phasing out such advocacy through empowerment

Empowerment-education and training

-the use of the public media for personal development and civic education -personal development and training and organizational skills transfer through exchange and formal study programs

Projects

-fundraising to support self-help projects initiated by groups -mobilizing resources to kick start projects identified or initiated by partner groups -working with locals to initiate projects where a clear need has been identified but the capacity does not exist locally to meet the need

Outreach

-networking like-minded individuals and groups into a national development force -organizing annual development conferences -bridging the information gap

Current Projects and Programs
Urban Lifeline Project (ULP)

The ULP project seeks to improve living conditions of poor, marginalized urban migrants living in poor conditions without basic amenities such as clean water, shelter, and basic employable skills, in Agbogbloshie slums in Ghana's capital, Accra, and to influence policy makers to prioritize slum regeneration and the needs of the urban poor.

2008 ULP GIS/GPS Mapping

Partners
Comic Relief

Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

African Outreach

ComputerAid International

Hope for the African Child

I.E.E.S

Abiriw Planned Parenthood Association

Ark Foundation

Ghana Society for the Disabled

Madina Muslim Women's Association

Sankofa Program

Frafraha Orphanage

APED of World Vision International