Business trip to Bolgatanga 2025

At the turn of November and December 2025, we went on a business trip to Bolgatanga. The
end of November also marked the annual local crafts festival (BICAF – Bolgatanga
International Crafts and Arts Fair). From our visit to the festival, we brought back ideas for
new designs for products made from Ghanaian elephant grass. We spent a long time visiting
knitters and their families and were given a very warm welcome. We discussed what had been
achieved over the last two years and what needed to be improved. An integral part of the visit
was once again a discussion about other projects that we would like to fund from the proceeds
of Bolga bags sales in the Czech Republic and across Europe. We also spoke with the local
chief, who had previously donated land for the construction of sanitary facilities for the
knitters' community. All of us were pleased to know that we can count on his support in the
future. At the end of the meeting with the knitters, we had a dancing event, and then everyone
enjoyed a good dinner. It was a very warm meeting.
At the end of our business trip, we were warmly welcomed at the Czech Embassy in Accra by
the Deputy Ambassador, Mr. Nick Ojo Omorodion. All of us highly appreciate the
opportunity to continue the connection with the embassy from previous years. We are
discussing possibilities for mutual cooperation and firmly hope that we will participate in
some projects in the future.
You can see highlights from the first part of the business trip in the video below:

Purchase of school supplies for children of Bolgatanga community

As we regularly do at the beginning of each school year, we are sending funds from the sale of bolga bags to help young students in Bolgatanga. Thank you for supporting Bolga community.

Empower Bolga Foundation Annual Report 2024

Health screening for the wider community of weavers, June 23-26

On the last weekend of June, we used the proceeds from the sale of Bolga bags to organize basic health screening in Bolgatanga for our weavers, their families, and the wider community. Our mobile health team consisted of a doctor and three nurses. A total of 125 people were
examined. Thirty-two percent of them were found to have high blood pressure, and 16% had elevated blood sugar levels, indicating a suspicion of diabetes. In addition, some people were diagnosed with malaria. Further screening results are summarized in the medical report
below. We provided medication to all those in need, and some of them will be further examined and monitored at the health centre in Bolgatanga.
Based on blood tests, our head weaver, Cecilie, was suspected of having hepatitis B. Further tests were carried out at the hospital in Tamale, where the suspicion of hepatitis B was unfortunately confirmed. We paid for her antiviral treatment, which she would not have been
able to afford without the help of our foundation.

Thank you for supporting the Empower Bolga Foundation.
As you can see, the proceeds from the sale have once again enabled us to help the entire community and individuals. Bolga bags really do help!

Launch of the e-shop www.bolgabags.cz and www.bolgabags.com

Dear friends and supporters of the foundation,

On April 15, 2025, a container full of beautiful African bags arrived from Ghana. It took two weeks of hard work by our entire team and other volunteers to prepare Bolga baskets so that they could be delivered to you. Last but not least, we would like to thank the Meebio.cz team, who are responsible for the foundation’s website and the newly created e-shop. Despite all the obstacles, we finally made it.
On April 30, 2025, we are proud to announce the launch of our charity e-shop www.bolgabags.cz for our supporters in the Czech Republic and Slovakia and www.bolgabags.com for supporters throughout the European Union, where you can order bags from the comfort of your own home. Given the size of our warehouse, we have photographed about a third of the bags, and as they sell, we will gradually add new items to the charity e-shop. We thank everyone who contributed to this project in any way. Thanks to your support, we were able to send our regular monthly payments to our weavers, who are truly grateful for your help and can now live a better life.

Container from Ghana arrived in Chrudim

On 15th April our second shipping container from Ghana arrived in Chrudim, after a difficult time in the German port. Last year the stock of Bolga bags was practically sold out, so we couldn’t wait to see them. As last year, we shared the cost of transport with S.E.D.A. Consulting, a Czech company that imports shea butter to the Czech Republic (more at www.zdravizafriky.cz). In the next few days we will try to unpack the bags as quickly as possible, sort them and prepare them for the charity sale. If all goes well, we would like to launch our official e-shop on the evening of April 28th. We are also striving to create a sales points network by the end of April, where you will be able to see and buy Bolga bags in person. Thank you for supporting our project.

19 sight-saving cataract surgeries for the Bolga community

In October 2024, through our Ghanaian staff, we organised an eye screening in Bolgatanga for eye defects in our weavers and their extended families, especially parents and grandparents. During eye examinations, 19 advanced cataracts were diagnosed in 15 people (some had cataracts in both eyes). Many of them could barely see. (In addition, some people were found to have other eye diagnoses for which we plan further treatment in the coming months).
The nearest cataract surgery option was at the Northern Community Eye Hospital (NCEH) in Tamale, 200km away, with Dr Judith Simon. We therefore arranged transport and overnight accommodation for the patients. All were successfully operated on the first weekend in November, for which we thank Dr Judith and her entire team.

The following video documents the event. All surgeries, transport costs, overnight stays etc. were covered by the proceeds from the sale of Bolga bags. In addition to supporting the individual weavers, the proceeds from the sales go towards these projects. Thank you for
helping out with us.

Inspiration for autumn days

For inspiration, here are some photos of Bolga bags that arrived in August. Christmas is coming soon. For those of you who would like to donate the baskets, for example, to your company’s employees, we remind you that we are a foundation. Therefore, for financial donations (purchase of bags) for legal entities, we can issue a document that can be used to reduce the income tax base by up to 30%.

Successful completion of construction of toilets for weavers and the wider community in Bolgatanga 

On July 1, 2024, our first building (2+2 toilets) was opened in the presence of our weavers and members of the local government to serve both the weavers and the wider community in Bolgatanga. Unfortunately, in the poor area of Bolgatanga, basic sanitation is not at all commonplace. In discussing this with the local people, we agreed that this is very much needed for the area. The funds for the construction of the sanitation facility were used entirely with the collection from the sale of hand-weaved Bolga bags. Thanks to all our supporters.

As the next school year starts in September, further financial help will be directed to purchase school supplies for the children of our weavers. In the longer term, we would like to have a borehole dug, northern Ghana is suffering from the ever-worsening heat and water is becoming increasingly scarce.

The first shipping container with handmade Bolga bags from Ghana has arrived in the Czech Republic

In the second half of August, we managed to successfully implement a long-planned change in the transport of bags to the Czech Republic. Until now, we have delivered the bags by air via national carriers (Ghana Post, German DHL and Czech Post). We are very grateful that our foundation is gradually getting the word out (so far without any advertising costs). As a result, we can order even larger quantities of handmade products at a time. In addition, we have found a company in the Czech Republic called “Health from Africa”, which has shared the container with us. We are very happy that the cooperation is working and hope that shipping by container will become a standard in the future. The shea butter products that Health from Africa imports can now also be purchased in our regular stores. Buying shea butter products at fair prices from local Ghanaian suppliers also puts local people to work, helping to raise the standard of living of the local population. At the same time, transport by container has two additional effects. Apart from reducing the carbon footprint of air freight, the total cost of transporting each bag is much lower. It therefore means more money for the local community in Bolgatanga.

Concerning the main occupation of the founder (ophthalmologist), we are planning to conduct an eye disease screening of all weavers and their families in October. For those who need further medical care, whether it be medication or surgery, our foundation will fully cover the care. We will keep you informed of the progress of this project. Thanks to all those who support our foundation.