Tuma Kavi Development Association, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working in deprived communities in northern region in collaboration with Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC), has constructed four Rain Water Harvesting Tanks (RWHTs) at a cost of about ?14000 for four deprived basic schools in Demong area of the Saboba District of the Northern Region. The beneficiary schools include; the Demong Primary, Namungbani Primary, Wanbung Primary and Tanjenali Nursery schools.

Speaking at the debar of chiefs and people of Demong to commission the tanks, the Programme Manager of Tuma Kavi, Mr. John Abu Mahama explained that the rain water harvesting tanks were designed and constructed as part of efforts by stakeholders to solve perennial water shortage during dry season at the area to enable school children stay long for their academic works in schools.

He said the effort was also part of his organisation's plans to improve rural education, health and sanitation among other things in their operational areas to enhance the living conditions of the people. It is also to help improve students' hygiene, health and serve as drinking water for both the teachers and pupils.

The programme manager disclosed that through the support of CCFC, Tuma Kavi had also de-wormed about 17000 school children and donated some school uniforms to about 120 needy school children in four basic schools in the area.

Tuma Kavi, through support from CCFC also used the occasion to donate assorted drugs amounting to thousands of cedis to various clinics in the district including the Saboba Health Centre and Demong Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compound as part its health and sanitation plans.

The Communications Manager of CCFC, Mr Justin Bayor pledged his organisations commitment to support projects that would help improve the quality of life of underprivileged children. He said in 2008 alone, CCFC through its development partners constructed about 27 rain water harvesting tankers in nine districts in the region to the tune of over 126,000 Ghana cedis.

The Communications Manager explained that construction of rain water harvesting tanks in schools was necessary because of the difficulties in hitting underground waters in the northern Region and advised beneficiary communities to take care of the tanks to enable them serve the purpose for which they were built. He urged community members not to disregard the human rights of physically challenged persons but ensure that they enjoy their rights to the fullest as others in community.

The Saboba District Co-ordinating Director, Mr Abdulai Issifu thanked CCFC and Tuma Kavi for the initiative saying the intervention would go a long way to solve the perennial water problem facing the schools. He appealed to other organizations to support them improve rural lives.

In a related development, six physically challenged and vulnerable women at Demong area in the Saboba District of the Northern Region have been given skill training in catering services to improve their livelihoods.

The programme, under the auspices of Tuma Kavi Development Association (TKDA) with funding from Christian Children's Fund of Canada (CCFC) was part of the organization's plans to improve the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable rural women in northern region.

Physically challenged women in northern region are living in abject poverty placing them top on the list of vulnerable group of human race worldwide. This however attracted non-governmental organizations like TKDA and CCFC to support this vulnerable group in the area to make their living meaningful.