Focus Girls

The situation for girls on the streets of Accra

Girls account for about half of the estimated 30,000 - 50,000 street-children in Accra. These girls on the streets are extremely vulnerable and exposed to all kinds of dangers. Many were sexually abused in their homes already and carry their deep and painful injuries onto the streets with them. There they live day in and day out without any protection against further abuses. Oftentimes they sell their bodies in order to make a little money for survival. Thus the girls are exposed to even more dangers: unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases and dubious dependencies from men are only some of them. The "shame" that is brought upon them often prevents the girls from returning to their families.

It is the goal of CFC to take care of these girls and to develop new short- and long-term future perspectives with them. In doing so we accompany these former street-children on their path to becoming responsible women.

We are convinced that this not changes the girls’ lives for the better, but also has a positive influence on their environment. Our hope and reliance is that these girls grow up to become young women and mothers, who pass on their newly acquired values to their own children and thus meet their environment in a positive way despite all the negative experiences from the past.

Girls’ Group Home in Jamestown

The supervised girls’ group home was opened in November 2009 and can accommodate up to ten girls. At the moment there are nine girls living there alongside a matron. Some of the girls attend a public school while others are engaged in various activities at the Drop-In Center. All of them are accompanied by social workers, receive psychological support and are able to participate in the CFC weekend workshops. Every other week we comprise new short- as well as long term goals together with the staff in order to improve the development process of each girl.

In addition the girls can attend introductions to practical trainings in various fields of work. CFC contacts their relatives on a regular basis so that the child can reconnect to her family and work on improving their relationship.

Girls project in Hebron

A new big girls’ project has started 2011 in Hebron. 40 former streetgirls will be living in one main house and 4 additional simple small chalets.

Meanwhile 20 girls live in the two girls-homes, which are situated right behind the boys-home. In February 2013, new construction works began, so that presumably in June 2013, 10 more girls will be able to move into the third chalet, so in total there will be 30 girls.