FOOD. SHELTER. MEDICAL.

Our Programs

Give Basic Needs (the trade name for the Colussi Family Foundation) creates “happy” through a philosophy that happy people solve problems more quickly. We deliver support through an Impactful Surprise Giving model—meeting urgent needs while strengthening local resilience.

Community support in action
What we deliver Surprise support that meets urgent needs and builds systems communities can rely on.
Medical services Food security Shelter & infrastructure Impactful Surprise Giving Local resilience

Three core program areas

These programs work together to strengthen resilience—so communities can thrive even when external support shifts.

Medical Services

Building health sovereignty through prevention + local delivery capacity.

Medical
Medical Services

What this looks like:

  • Northern Health Shield: a “Smart Grid” approach shifting from testing & treating to predicting & preventing—prioritizing Typhoid Conjugate Vaccines (TCV) and other immunizations.
  • RN Entrepreneur Model: supporting unemployed nurses to become independent operators of decentralized Health Hubs.
  • WASH & Anchor Assets: mechanized boreholes at every hub to enable clinical hygiene and provide free potable water.
  • Dignity & hygiene: hygiene bags and sanitary pads to help girls stay in school with dignity.
Food Security

Fueling resilience by reducing the stress of hunger—fast, direct, human.

Food
Food Security

What this looks like:

  • Global nutrition: surprise deliveries for students (e.g., fresh fruit & burritos) and staple distribution to vulnerable households.
  • Extreme condition relief: hot meal support in harsh climates where comfort matters most.
  • Direct acts of kindness: “Small Acts” that spark a pay-it-forward ripple effect.
Shelter & Infrastructure

Enhancing safety, connectivity, and stability through practical community assets.

Shelter
Shelter and Infrastructure

What this looks like:

  • Solar innovation: solar streetlights in off-grid villages to improve safety after dark and support learning.
  • Community infrastructure: solar-powered pavilions as central gathering spaces.
  • Homelessness prevention: direct rent assistance to reduce immediate strain and support stability.
FOCUS FOR 2026

Northern Health Shield (Northern Ghana)

In Northern Ghana—specifically within the Tamale Metropolis and Gushegu Municipality— Give Basic Needs is implementing a multi-pillar strategy focused on medical care, water access, and community infrastructure. These activities are integrated through the Northern Health Shield: a locally anchored “Smart Grid” model that utilizes RN Entrepreneurs to manage decentralized Health Hubs—supporting long-term health sovereignty for the region.

A simple way to understand the model

Think of these program areas as the infrastructure of a smart grid: the Medical hub is the power plant providing a steady flow of health, the Food programs are the batteries that keep the system charged during peaks of scarcity, and the Shelter initiatives are the transmission lines that keep the lights on for safety and community. Together, they help communities maintain an independent source of “happy” and resilience when the “main grid” of global aid fails.

Ready to support the Northern Health Shield?

Choose a support pathway that fits your giving—then we’ll follow up with clear next steps and accountability.