Carolyn A. Miller Elementary School (CAMES) was founded in 2003 with the mission to provide a tuition-free education for the neediest children living on the Buduburam Refugee Camp in Ghana. Many of these students are orphans or unaccompanied minors who were separated from their parents while fleeing the war. However, even families still left intact find it very difficult to feed their children on a regular basis, let alone pay for school tuition, supplies, and uniforms

Because of the war, disease and poverty, many children on the Buduburam camp have been left to fend for themselves. With little money or basic care, many orphans are out of school and trying to find a way to physically survive. VAAFD’s mission is to help these vulnerable children by providing basic necessities (food, water, clothing, etc.) as well as an opportunity to receive an education. 

Health concerns plague refugees on the Buduburam camp. With the assistance of Saint Gregory’s clinic, VAAFD’s initiatives are two-fold: 

Provide counseling and support for those infected with debilitating and life-threatening illnesses. Orphans Against AIDS, a supporter of VAAFD, works to help children who have lost parents or family due to HIV.

Educate the community about STD’s and other diseases inherent in camp-life through adult education workshops and school awareness programs. NUCH, an initiative started by a previous volunteer, works with VAAFD to provide free basic hospital care to all teachers and students of CAMES.

Although it is available for purchase throughout the Buduburam camp, fresh water is still a luxury for many. VAAFD aims to provide portable water for those in need. Poor sanitation is a problem that has escalated throughout the years on the camp. Pollution is prevalent, resulting in a deterioration of the land and water supply. VAAFD’s mission is to educated the population on the importance of proper sanitation practices such as the creation of more garbage bins on the camp. 

Microfinance is known as ‘lending for the poor’. It is meant to empower those in extreme poverty and give them the opportunity to ear a sustainable income through small-scale businesses and ventures. VAAFD provides a small number of basic loans to selected refugees on the camp. We continue to work with these refugees on the development of the businesses and provide guidance and training where necessary. This initiative is in its beginning stages and still in development 

Before the civil war, agriculture was the main source of livelihood for the great majority of Liberians. When the time comes to migrate back to Liberia, VAAFD hopes to ensure that the most efficient and sustainable agricultural practices and techniques are known and understood by all. This initiative is still in development