FIRST PROJECT: ESTABLISHING A "SOY COW" - GOLDEN SUNBEAM SCHOOL

Emmanuel Opare Sr. with Bob Pothier at the Golden Sunbeam High School

The initial project for the E-Center focused on the Golden Sunbeam High School. Emanuel Opare, an early leader of the church in Ghana, and his wife, Monica Ohene Opare, started a primary school 25 years ago. Their fascinating background story, how it came to be and now supports a charity school is available at your request. The teaching of a few children kept expanding until eventually this facility was constructed for over 500 children from pre-school to junior high. The profits were then used to establish and fully support a "charity" school in a village where the Opares were raised. With the additional help of other contributors, it is currently serving 170 additional children.

Emmanuel Opare Jr, Steve McGary & Natasha Opare

Emmanuel was in our BYU Idaho ward when Bob served in the Bishopric and I advised the Relief Society.  He was also an intern for the E-Center before he graduated, married Natasha, worked with INL, became an American citizen then eventually returned to Ghana to work with his parents.  Emmanuel and Natasha are the parents of 3 children and are building a home near the school.

Our work is with the  Golden Sunbeam International College of Science and Technology which was built first as a high school to further the education of the primary school graduates. 

Bob Pothier, Cory Smith and Stephen McGary traveled to Ghana last fall to determine the needs and the best approach to how they could help. They discovered that, though agriculture is a major industry in Ghana, the students in most colleges are taught in theory but have no programs to provide practical experience.

The school is already set up to be as self-sufficient as possible. Vegetable gardens, small animals, chickens and fish are being raised on the land.

Bob Pothier and Steve McGary "checking out" the plants

After much study by the College of Agriculture students plans were made to donate and deliver a "soy cow"to the school. A "soy cow" is a machine that makes milk products out of soy beans. Training was provided and the product is currently being produced and is excellent.  One 3 ml bottle contains 24 grams of protein. It replaces sugar drinks and soda at the three Golden Sunbeam schools and there are plans  to supply other local private schools once the processes are well established

This machine provides the power for the operation

The beans are sorted and soaked then crushed into a paste 

The mixture is steam cooked then filtered to extract the milk

Initially  each bottle was filled from a pitcher but now is dispensed from a stainless steel container with a spout.
Each bottle is capped at the appropriate temperature, cooled and refrigerated.

Okara is a by-product that is 50% protein. It can be used to feed animals or added to baked goods
Options are still being explored
.

Samuel Bonstra oversees the operation

We asked these students which drink was best and they politely answered  that the soy milk was best. We asked the one with the coke why then was he drinking the coke and he said, "Because I like coke!" They'll need to be won over but the soy milk is rich and tastes good.  It is not watered down like most soy milk products. The operators have been experimenting with different flavored extracts.  So far, vanilla, banana, and strawberry are the most popular. The Opares plan to use the soy milk as the beverage provided for meals which would be great nutritional boost.

Howard, our driver, Bob Pothier, Daniel, a BYU Idaho Intern, Samuel Bonstra, Stephen McGary
Daniel has since been replaced by Brandon Webster, another BYU Idaho Intern who was temporarily away for a presentation but will finish out the summer.

The first project for the Ghana E-center is to work with the BYU Idaho Agricultural College to develop a one year "certificate" program in Agriculture Business. It is to be a combination of practical experience and classroom learning. The "soy cow" operation is being implemented right now and studies taking place to prepare for the growing of soybeans on available school-owned land.

The program will cover every aspect of business, supply chain, production, marketing, management, and finance as students experience planting, growing, running the soy cow operation and marketing it to other schools. 

This is to be an ongoing program. The College of Agriculture at BYU Idaho has committed interns to teach and assist every semester under the leadership of a faculty member. This is vital to the overall success of the program. It is so common for people to come for a short time and give service but the plan to stay and mentor is significant.

Toasting the new Soy Cow Operation with water sachets

 This is just the beginning. It is our hope that this project can open the door to "certificates" in other areas which will give former pathway students and other young people further educational opportunities that can lead to better preparation and qualifications for employment.

A survey of agricultural businesses was taken to determine just what the employers would like in potential employees. The goal is to prepare students to fill those needs and give them an edge in the job market.