ABOUT THE FOUNDER
The Late Dr. Mrs. Jane Irina Adu
Born at Offinson on July 27th, 1954. She was married to the late Mr. Yaw Ampene Adu, who was once a Deputy Commissioner at Ghana Revenue Authority. Prior to her demise, Mama Jane and her husband were both blessed with six children and fourteen grandchildren.
She was a devout Christian who sought to bring everyone in her circle of influence closer to God by showing them genuine love. Although a staunch Methodist, she helped in building other churches and served the body of Christ as a lay preacher and marriage counselor throughout her life. Through her family life education and marriage counseling services, she was able to restore many homes which were once torn apart.
Teaching Profession
Mama Jane was an educationist with more than thirty years of professional experience. She had her teacher training education at Mount Mary Training College, Somanya in the Eastern Region of Ghana. After serving as an intern at the University of Ouagadougou, she had opportunity to travel to France to continue her education at the University of Sient Etienne, where she obtained a degree in French.
In Ghana, she worked as a teacher at New Juaben Secondary Commercial School in Koforidua, St. Monica’s Secondary School in Asante Mampong, Apam Secondary School, Koforidua Secondary Technical School, and West Africa Secondary School, Adenta. Her teaching career later took her to Nigeria where she taught in Ikosi Methodist High School, Agbowa (Lagos State).
She authored the first students’ textbook on Life Skills, which was officially endorsed by Ghana Education Service for Senior High Schools and training colleges in Ghana. Later, she produced another textbook on Social Studies, which came to replace the Life Skills textbook following a review of the teaching curriculum by the then Ministry of Education.
As a women’s activist, she authored a book titled Woman In Human Development, which she dedicated to women for the key role they play in holding families and societies together. For more than eight years, Mama Jane served as a columnist for the Daily Guide newspaper, focusing primarily on family life education.
ENTREPRENEURIAL ENDEAVOUR
In addition to her work as an educator, Mama Jane was an assiduous businessperson who ran a number of enterprises from which she raised money for charitable endeavours. She founded and served as the Managing Director of Horizon Publications Limited, a book publishing firm. She also ran a bakery, a restaurant, a grocery store, and a shop selling car spare parts. Up until the year 2000, all of these businesses were doing well. Then, she made the decision to give up everything in order to focus solely on her philanthropic and social enterprise, leading to the establishment of Women’s Refuge and Child Survival Africa (WORCSA), which was to serve as a shelter for abused women and children.
The Launch of The Potter's Village
Mama Jane’s determination to establish WORCSA, which later evolved into the Potter’s Village, was influenced by the growing incidence of domestic violence against women in those days. Her intention was to provide a shelter, the first of its kind in Ghana, which will serve as a safe haven for battered women together with their children. She was supported by her husband Mr. Yaw Ampene Adu, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Ghana Revenue Authority.
Mama Jane had the honour of speaking on several stages both locally and overseas. She conducted a number of educational seminars in Ghana with the goal of fostering peace and harmony in households and the nation at large. Her speeches addressed themes such as gender interdependence, domestic violence, and its effect on the health of women and children, and the importance of empowering women for nation building. Moreover, she was frequently called to give her enlightened opinions on marriage, family life, and parenting techniques by several media outlets in Ghana, including GBC, Joy FM, Adom FM, Unique FM, Peace FM, and others.
On the global stage, she was invited to present at a conference held by La Guardia Community College in New York (USA), where she spoke on Cultural Problems Relating to Women’s Health in Ghana. Also, she delivered a keynote address on Violence Against Women: A Global Epidemic In Africa at an international conference organized by Zeta Phi Sorority (New York Chapter) at the American Museum of Nassau County, USA.
Recognition and Awards
Her selfless service to God and humanity earned her several opportunities, awards, and recognition from the state and other institutions. In the year 2002, she was nominated by the Government of Ghana as an official delegate to attend the UN Conference on the Commission on the Status of Women in New York City, USA. She attended the UN General Assembly Briefings on Women Empowerment also in New York.
In 2011, she received an honorary doctorate degree in Divinity from International Christian University, an affiliate of European American University. She received an award from the International Education and Exchange Services in recognition of her unique contribution to philanthropy, education, and development. The last award she received before her departure was in September 2022; the Rain Foundation honored her with the prestigious Predecessors Award for her achievements and impact on the lives of individuals and the nation as a whole.
Although Mama Jane is no more with us today, we are still celebrating her for being a selfless woman, who gave everything she had just to see others lead richer and brighter lives.
