DUNK! was established in 2011 in Nima, the third poorest community of Accra (Ghana) reaching out to 80 children between ages of 8-19yrs. It is very difficult to estimate the percentage of unemployment in Nima but according (AMA 2010 Census) 70% of the population works in the informal sector mostly as traders.
Quite often, children have to work as street hawkers or porters to help support the family (selling oranges, sachet water or carrying customers’ loads "Kayayo"). Illiteracy is a major setback for the development of the community. Among the population of Nima, 34% have never attended school and it is estimated that for 60% of the population primary school is their highest level of school completed.
JamesTown was the first location the British settled in as they colonized Ghana, then called the Gold Coast. It even earned the title of British Accra but still remains the most deprived communities of the capital. With an estimated population of 125,000 people. 40% of girls and 20% of boys have ever engaged in an unhealthy sexual activities.
The successes of DUNK's Nima project lead to the replication and adoption of Jamestown community. DUNK in collaboration with GAMADA constructed a new Community Youth Development Center in Jamestown earlier in 2016. The facility includes a multipurpose court, an innovative Library, an equipment & office space and a vocational center.
All this has been possible also thanks to the support of Bajfreight & Logistics, Friends of DUNK in Italy, Switzerland and our crowd funding efforts on the Global Giving.
