Our History

BASIC formed in 2005 as a non-profit organization through the work of Steve and Debbie Tonissen in order to explore how to better implement Jesus’ call to love our neighbors, especially those in economically impoverished communities in Africa. Frustrated with the disjointedness and ineffectiveness of work to reach out to those in Africa, Steve formed relationships with those with development experience, both in Africa and the US, in order to seek out best practices and forge networks between effective NGOs around the world. Beginning a partnership with the Kasei village in central Ghana through Dr. John Boateng, BASIC began working to assess the needs and resources of both the Kasei community and their own community in the US.

In 2005, BASIC made a long-term commitment to work with its brothers and sisters in Kasei to explore what is required of each of us to follow Jesus’ call to love our neighbor. Children are precious to their parents across all cultures. Kasei community members asked BASIC to work with them to improve education in the village. BASIC provided money to electrify the school, build out the library, and build teacher housing to attract better teachers. The village chief provided land and timber and the people of Kasei provided the labor.

In 2006, BASIC delivered a shipping container full of textbooks, library books, school supplies, crafts, medical equipment, and computers for the hospital and school. BASIC volunteers lived, worked, prayed, and celebrated with the villagers for two weeks in November 2006. The team trained the teachers to use the new teaching materials and school supplies, used knitting projects to build relationships with young women and mothers, and launched a long-term teacher training and educational development program. We discussed how we might work together to improve the Kasei’s economic opportunities. Relationships began to blossom and phone calls, letters, and emails began to flow from teachers, medical workers, and community members to the BASIC team.

In 2007, BASIC responded to a widespread concern of overcrowded classrooms by working with local government leaders and community members to build additional classrooms and supply additional teachers. BASIC implemented a senior secondary scholarship program in collaboration with the Ejuraman Anglican Senior Secondary School. Graduating Kasei Junior High students who meet senior secondary entrance requirements, attendance expectations, and community service requirements, can now be assured of continued study.  In 2007, one student from Kasei advanced to Senior Secondary School. By 2008, the scholarship program allowed nineteen to continue their education. 

In 2008, BASIC volunteer Dylan Ferreria and local farmers established a series of test plots to judge the efficacy of different agricultural practices, mapping 656 acres of King Farm and preparing to establish a cooperational village farm. The completed project will support the hospital, school, and create thirty to forty jobs for Kasei’s community. Also, volunteer Steven Ocheltree worked with the nineteen new scholarship students to prepare for the rigors of senior secondary school by helping them procure the needed supplies and teaching valuable study skills. BASIC also shipped a container of additional medical and educational supplies, with volunteers continuing to train hospital and school staff in their effective use. The team held a community "durbar" to celebrate the scholarship winners, parents and students accepting certificates from the queen mother.  The visiting team also helped celebrate the beginnings of a new faith community, a small Presbyterian congregation in Kasei, sharing church supplies and encouragement to the fellowship.

During 2009, BASIC sent Danylle, a medical resident doctor to live in the village for a month and work in the hospital, specializing in training mid-wives in obstetrical and gynecological practices.  Josh, a student intern from Wheaton College spent several months in Kasei, working in the schools, learning the language, establishing relationships with teachers, and supporting the senior high school scholarship students. 

In 2010, a team of six volunteers spent two weeks in the village, each with their own initiatives and accomplishments.  Nick, a computer geek, installed software, cleaned computers and added security measures, then moved the computers to the library for better access by teachers and students.  He also taught the junior high ICT classes, with lots of hands-on demonstrations.   Allen, our team pastor, taught in the Kasei Presbyterian Church, preached, met to pray with patients and their families at the hospital, built wonderful relationships with children, vendors, and hospital staff.  Melissa used her teaching skills to lead teacher training sessions on how to teach English through active, engaging classroom activities.  Peggy taught needlepoint to young girls to engage them in English conversations, and led a parent session on Bible-based parenting skills.  The team met with the students at the Ejuraman Senior High School to assess their needs, and Lois and Steve followed through with their requests with the administrators.  Lois and Melissa taught in the primary classes daily, modeling active reading instruction.  Worshipping with the students and their parents at Ejuraman, and then fellow Presbyterians in Ejura, Kasei, and Kwanta, were highlights of Sunday.  Through their time there, the team visited with the village chief and queen mother, played with kids, "hung out" at the hospital center, and practiced the regional Twi language.