The EXCEED Trust was set up in 2008 with the goal of making a meaningful and lasting difference to the lives of children who have been marginalised by socio-economic circumstances.
Projects are funded by a combination of direct company contributions and a variety of staff fundraising activities. Causes we have supported over the years include Becky’s Foundation (an orphanage in Ghana hosting 60 children), Save the Children, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Canyon Acres, Reaching Youth through Music, Juvenile Diabetes Research, UNICEF, Wildhearts, Botshelbo Orphanage, Maggies, Macmillan Cancer Support and many others.
Located in a small coastal fishing village in Ghana, Becky's Foundation was established in 2012 when teacher Seth Asiedu and his wife Vivian set out to protect and improve the quality of life of Ghana's most vulnerable children.
The Foundation now manages its own orphanage, school, and soccer academy and relies on the support of volunteers and organisations who share its vision. Our involvement with Becky's Foundation started towards the end of 2014 when its 54 children faced the prospect of being left homeless after the orphanage lost its premises. EXCEED undertook to fund the build of a brand new orphanage which was officially opened in September 2015 by EXCEED’s Fiona van der Vossen. We have been operating in Ghana for a number of years and this project is close to the hearts of all staff, with many of our international team visiting whilst deployed in-country, and the EXCEED Ghana Country Manager is also a regular caller to the orphanage.
When Becky's Foundation lost their premises at the end of 2014, the children ended up in temporary shelter sleeping on the concrete floors of a cramped 1-room local day care centre.
EXCEED became aware of the project and decided to make Becky's Foundation its primary project. Over the course of 2015 and 2016, EXCEED pledged over $125,000 to this project, funding the design and build of a new orphanage. With separate dorm rooms and study accommodation for the boys and girls, a large kitchen and a courtyard for laundry facilities, the building was completed in September 2015. Since then, we have also been able to support the drilling of a new water well, install a filtration system, and enable the purchase of a minivan to drive the younger children to and from school and hospital appointments – a 2-mile journey they would have previously walked.
We are extremely proud of Becky’s Foundation and continue to support it in a variety of ways.
Fundamental to that support is the commitment shown by the EXCEED team. All those who spend time working in Ghana make the effort to visit the orphanage, taking with them school and leisure time supplies as well as interacting first-hand with the children and staff. EXCEED Ghana’s Country Manager, Kwaku Darko-Mensah, is a regular visitor to the orphanage. His proximity and local contacts have allowed EXCEED to quickly and effectively solve a number of issues that the orphanage has faced; from a recent outbreak of bedbugs which required new mattresses and bedding for each child, to ensuring all children now have their own secure suitcase to store clothing and possessions. These are just two examples of the benefits our in-country managers can bring to local causes.
If you would like to more information about the work the EXCEED Trust undertakes, or you would like to get involved please contact Fiona van der Vossen (email vandervossen.f@xcd.com) or call +44 (0)1224 577940.
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