For more than 20 years Chance for Children has been strengthening street-connected children and their families in Ghana by providing a chance to build a better future.
IN 2020 CHANCE FOR CHILDREN STRENGTHENED
OVER 1,550 STREET-CONNECTED CHILDREN THROUGH DIFFERENT PROGRAMS, 69 STREET-CONNECTED YOUTH AND OVER 250 FAMILIES
More than 50 children have been reintegrated into their families and 7 young adults have completed an apprenticeship or middle school.
44 children were prevented from joining the streets and their families supported by providing supervision of our social workers and stakeholders in the various communities.
In Kumasi and Tamale members of communities benefited from 32 workshops on different topics focusing on hygiene, health education, child development, sanitation and child rights, among others.
Over 50,000 meals were shared with street-connected children, and 12 hygiene workshops were held in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale between mid-March and November 2020.
Together
against COVID-19
Helpline for Street-Connected Children
Throughout the lockdown, street-connected children had the possibility to contact local key figures who live or work in their area. These individuals made their phones available allowing children to reach our street team at any time, to stay in touch with our social workers and contact us for any support needed.
Follow-up calls for children and families
Unable to visit the children who are being supported within their family-at-large during the lockdown, we have initiated a «phone call system» to ensure their well-being by regularly calling the children, parents and local key people within their communities.
Following the easing of the lockdown restrictions, we were able to efficiently assess the situation of all the children and families. We have introduced 3 different risk levels and only the families identified as high-risk are regularly visited in person, while the rest are predominantly monitored through phone calls.
Support program for our kids in our homes
During the lockdown, 19 CFC employees were engaged in providing care and support for the 70 children currently living in our homes in Hebron. To ensure their continued education and holistic development, we designed and implemented an adequate and varied program including workshops, activities, lessons, etc.
Food Sharing Program
for Street-Connected Children
The Rebecca Foundation, Ghana’s First Lady’s foundation, made several generous food donations, which contributed to our Food Sharing Program in Accra during the lockdown in March 2020. Between April and November 2020 we have provided, in collaboration with other local NGOs, over 50,000 warm meals as well as hygiene education to more than 5,500 street-connected children in Accra, Tamale and Kumasi.
Masks production
In 2020 we provided 1,300 fabric masks, produced in our sewing studio or purchased from a tailor's shop run by a CFC’s alumnus. Masks produced in the studio were made by our employees, voluntarily supported by some of our youth (15 to 20 years old). The very popular sewing studio is open to volunteers for maximum of 2 hours/ 2 days per week. Wishing to support the project, the participants were determined to make this very important contribution in their free time, to other children and families.
Our work since September 2020
Since mid-September, our drop-in centre in Accra has opened again and as of October our street workers are back supporting children on the streets in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale.
Currently, our primary focus is to reintegrate street-connected children back into their families and school.
Current Situation
in Ghana
STREET-CONNECTED CHILDREN IN THE GREATER ACCRA REGION
The 2011 “Census on Street-connected Children in the Greater Accra Region”* conducted and published by Departmentof of Social Welfare manifested a great concern about the raising numbers of street-connected children in Ghana.
At the time, more than 60,000 street-connected children lived in the Greater Accra Region. They left their families in search of money and work. Over half of them were girls. The census estimated that 5% of the street children were born on the street. 40% dropped out of school, and 60% have never visited one.
In 2014 local NGOs estimated that there are over 90,000 street-connected children in the Greater Accra Region.
The population of the street-connected children is growing and the main reasons “identified for this high rate of homelessness include poverty, disintegrated families and divorce, and the quest for freedom from parental control”**.
* “Census on Street-connected Children in the Greater Accra Region”, Department of Social Welfare, 2011
** “Factors that Promote Resilience in Homeless Children and Adolescents in Ghana: A Qualitative Study”, Kwaku Oppong Asante, Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana