Short Profile Chance for Children
It is the goal of Chance for Children to provide an opportunity to
the street children in Accra so they can take control of their
lives through experiencing love and safety, and receiving an education and professional training.
The street children project «Chance for Children» was founded in 1999 as an
international non-governmental-organisation (NGO) with its headquarter in
Switzerland and its field work in Accra, Ghana. The founders Daniela Ruedisueli
Sodjah from Gommiswald (Switzerland) and Amon Kotey from Accra are leading the
project alongside 20 native Ghanaians.
A managing board with four members is responsible for Chance for Children.
Chance for Children is being financed by 1500 private donors, church
congregations, associations, schools and companies. The CFC staff and children can contribute
to co-financing with their handicrafts, which are sold for the benefit of the project.
In order to guarantee long-term financial planning, the group «CFC Friends» organizes
several voluntary activities that benefit the organization.
Our work
Chance for Children serves approximately 80 children and youths at one time.
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Drop-In Center in Jamestown
Opened in November 2008, Drop-In Center provides up to 30 street
children with relief from the struggle of surviving in the streets.
The children receive a hot meal, medical and psychological care, and
the opportunity to participate in lessons as well as various handcraft
workshops. In this way, CFC is able support street children in their
current situations and work with them to develop short- and long-term
perspectives.
Girls’ Group Home in Jamestown
Since November 2009, CFC has been able to offer housing for up to ten formerly
homeless girls in a supportive cooperative living situation. The girls attend
public school or complete a job training program.
Hebron-Home for boys
First opened in 2002, the CFC dormitory in the outskirts of Accra is home to up
to 30 boys and teens. As members of a community, they learn to take
responsibility for their behavior. The boys attend school in the neighboring
town of Nsawam.
Youth in professional training
Youths who have finished their required primary schooling are enrolled
in job training programs or further academic study. They receive
regular visits, both in their cooperative living quarters and at the
boarding school, from CFC’s youth workers, who accompany and guide
them on their journey to independence.
Workshops
The children and teens take part in a variety of regular tasks and educational workshops.
Through the process of manufacturing batik fabric, greeting cards, wood carvings, baskets and jewelry,
they discover and further develop their talents for handwork.
Completed training
Over the years, 26 CFC youths have completed their education and now
live independent and self-sufficient lives.
CFC-Team
25 Ghanaian women and men and two European women currently work as part of
CFC’s team. The team is assisted by trainees. CFC places great importance
on fair wages, appropriate social security benefits, and good working conditions.
For years our team has been benefiting from volunteers, each staying for 6 months.
Networking
CFC sets great value upon a good collaboration with the local social welfare and other NGOs.
Some of the CFC-supported children were allocated to us by "Shelter for abused children" or the social welfare and some of the children came to us through "SAP" (Special Attention Project).
Current news
We have started a new girl’s project in Hebron. By constructing a main house
and 4 additional simple living houses, we aim to give 40 former street girls a new home in the future.
This year, the first phase of the project will be completed in which the main house and one of the additional
houses will be built for 8 to 10 girls. As we have extended out street work in 2010, we are nowadays able to maintain face-to-face
contacts to 100 street children per month. -
We are at the moment also supporting 13 children in their families of origin
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