From OTC’s founding in 1961 until his death in 2013, Brother Tarcisius trained countless Ghanaians in making prosthetics. Brother lived just long enough to see the construction of a new college on the OTC campus now named in his honor; The Brother Tarcisius Prosthetic and Orthotic Training College (BTPOTC). Since its inception the College has grown and is working with a Nuremberg University in Germany to begin offering an accredited baccalaureate degree and when it receives accreditation it will become the first such program in western Sub Saharan Africa. The College maintains an enrollment of approximately 50 students who attend up to three years and as the baccalaureate program begins, up to 5 years. AWB President Dr. Romel Mackelprang consulted with the college since its inception and AWB has provided educational resources such as books, technology assistance, and computers.

NUTRITION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

The majority of the College’s students are the first in their families to go to college. The parents of many do not have high school educations and in a country where the minimum wage is $2.47/ day and the average income is less than $2000/ year, the majority of students come from impoverished backgrounds. In the aftermath of COVID-19 shutdowns, dwindling meager government support, and low family incomes, the College’s students are at significant risk of going hungry.

When Sister Elizabeth informed AWB of this crisis, we established the Nutrition Scholarship program to help meet the nutritional needs of the College’s students. With the Catholic Diocese in the Nsawam area now feeding students at cost, each student needs $175 per semester/ $350 a year for food; about the cost of a good meal at a nice restaurant for a family of four in the US. AWB has provided funding for two 2022 semesters and we are in dire need of contributions for 2023 to meet the year’s anticipated costs of $12,000 to feed the college’s students.

In return for scholarships, each student agrees to meet requirements: First, they must maintain good grades and maintain good standing at OTC. Second, under the direction of Sister Elizabeth, they are required to engage in community service throughout the academic term. Third, students communicate with sponsors via e-mail through Access Without Borders. Sponsors are welcome to communicate (through AWB) back to students as well.

If you are interested in supporting these students, please reach out to Romel.