Gertrude Atongi, now based in Brooklyn, New York, has managed to stay connected to her roots in Pusiga, a community in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Her professional career in healthcare and human services has flourished alongside her community work, supporting people in both Ghana and the United States. Atongi works as a Programme Manager at a hospital, overseeing programmes focused on maternal and child health and family well-being.
Atongi's connection to Pusiga is reflected in the activities of the Atongi Family and Friends Basic Needs Foundation, which she established in 2003 with her late father, Anthony Atongi. Despite his passing in December 2021, the organisation continues to operate in Ghana and the US, focusing on education, healthcare, and assistance to vulnerable people. The foundation has donated essential items, including beds, mattresses, and medical equipment, to health facilities and communities in Ghana.
The foundation's work in Ghana extends to adopting and reconstructing an Islamic school in Pusiga, providing pupils with uniforms, footwear, and educational materials. Additionally, about 150 vulnerable people have been enrolled in Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme, and health screening exercises have been organised. The foundation has also supported 50 students in pursuing their secondary education.
In July 2023, the organisation launched a community feeding programme in Pusiga, serving over 150 vulnerable people with meals and providing financial assistance to some families. Atongi stated that the foundation's goal is to assist underserved special groups, such as women, youth, and people with special needs, as they have a right to a better life.
Atongi's professional career has involved working with families and people in need, starting in 1993. She has worked with organisations, including the Brooklyn AIDS Task Force, the Jewish Child Care Association, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. In 2016, she joined a Brooklyn hospital as a Family Support Worker Supervisor and became a Programme Manager in 2019.
Atongi's academic background combines nursing and social work, with two master's degrees. She has also received professional training in infant and family mental health. On 10 September 2021, she was endorsed by the New York State Association for Infant Mental Health as an Infant Mental Health Specialist. In 2024, she received a second endorsement as an Infant Family Reflective Supervisor.
The Atongi Family and Friends Basic Needs Foundation has expanded its activities beyond Ghana and the US, including a 2021 visit to Jamaica and partnerships with organisations in Ghana. The foundation has received recognition for its community activities, including a Humanitarian Award and Lifetime Achievement Awards attributed to former US Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
Key points
- Gertrude Atongi balances her professional career with community work supporting people in Ghana and the US through the Atongi Family and Friends Basic Needs Foundation.
- The foundation provides essential items, healthcare support, and education to vulnerable communities in Ghana and the US.
- Atongi's work has received recognition, including awards from the African Immigrants' Commission of New York and Connecticut.
