Out of AfriKids September 2011

September 2011 AfriKids is a Child Rights Organisation working to improve life for Ghana’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in a holistic, inclusive and sustainable manner

School of Night Rabbits Delight over ‘significant improvements’ AfriKids Ghana staff have specifically expressed their delight over the significant improvements shown in the School of Night Rabbits this quarter.

Earlier this year, we suffered the sudden and unexpected loss of a dedicated teacher, Dennis, who on top of teaching full time in Bolgatanga, gave up his evenings to run the School of Night Rabbits for the street children of his home town.

We know he would be pleased to learn that the other teachers, two of whom he recruited before his death, are showing as much dedication as he did, and it is paying off.

The promising improvements of the last quarter have been attributed to the dedication of the teachers.

For example, Sarahtu, a sister to one of our fieldworkers and Dennis’ previous assistant, has been working extremely hard. With her at the helm, the school is attracting more female students than ever before.

An example of her dynamism was getting a link set up with a drumming group to buy some drums to make the lessons more exciting for the children.

There has been a big push towards enthusiasm, health and sustainability. Liveliness in literacy lessons and the use of drums have increased interest as well as teaching the children about their culture. All children enrolled at the school have also gained National

Health Insurance and training from Officials of the Ghana Road Safety Commission they often sleep in lorry parks. Children with high attendance have been rewarded with goats as a means to a sustainable future for their education. Parents have experessed their gratitude and children have claimed that this has motivated them to try even harder at school.

“The target for this year was to serve 30 children, but so far, the school has reached out to 40 children, and they are showing great dedication to learning in their spare time.”

Cletus Anaaya Bolgatanga Area Manager

PROJECT FOCUS

Why do children migrate to the streets?

What is shocking about the street children in Bolgatanga, is that many of them go there of their own accord. This month, we explain how AfriKids are able to encourage children to lead safer lives, with the prospect of brighter futures.

Bolgatanga is the regional capital and a major transit point on trade routes throughout West Africa. This means there is often work available carrying loads for lorry drivers or working in the ‘chop bars’ they eat at. There is also easy access to transport onto bigger cities.

Many children migrate to the streets for these jobs during the school holidays or if food is short at home, but others stay for longer or get tempted to move down to bigger cities from which they find it hard to return.

Project background In 2003, Mama Laadi (from Operation Mango Tree) set up the ‘School of Hard Knocks’ with a fieldworker. It was such a successful initiative that when AfriKids Ghana became a registered NGO, they took on the lessons, using a classroom in a local school and recruiting volunteer local teachers. The syllabus is a mix of Ghana Education Service lessons and a wider set of social and health lessons and recreation. At the classes the children are also given the opportunity to wash and eat healthy snacks.

Wherever possible the project finds a long term solution for the children, whether resettling them with their families or linking them up with the Next Generation Home.

Of course, the streets are not safe for children to live and work, but even after necessities have been taken care of and children could return home, they often become trapped within life on the streets.

The School of Night Rabbits teachers spend considerable amounts of time on the street, monitoring the situation of the children and getting to know their background. The teachers form a relationship with the children, enabling them to help.

The School, which is run in a local classroom block, provides evening classes for the children. In addition to an education, it provides all round support, including medical attention and nutritious snacks.

In order to encourage children to come to class, they give incentives to return, and often persuade children to stay at the Next Generation Home, where they will be safe. The School of Night Rabbits gives street children the chance of a better future, and with time, the children tend to realise this for themselves.

AfriKids Academy AfriKids Eco Village AfriKids Ethical Trade AfriKids Medical Centre Bolga Area Programme Educational fund Kassena Nankana Area Programme Medical fund Operation Bolga Operation Mango Tree Operation SINGh Operation Smiles Operation Zuarungu Street Mothers Association Talensi Nabdam Area Programme Young Entrepreneurs

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01: A teacher at the School of Night Rabbits teaching a literacy lesson 02: The School of Night Rabbits children sitting outside the AfriKids Academy 03: Two students showing the class their work on the blackboard 04: An excercise book from the School of Night Rabbits 05: The school is also a great place to make friends!

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06: A student keen to give the right answer

FOOTBALL MAD!

Both AfriKids UK and AfriKids Ghana have enjoyed football tournaments this summer, and have much to celebrate.

AfriKids Ghana Football Tournament

In the Kassena Nankana district of Northern Ghana, a three day Child Rights Festival took place earlier this year. The festival strengthened collaborations with its major stakeholders, including the Ghana Health Service, World Vision, traditional leaders and more. Over two days of the festival, a football tournament involving twelve teams gave children a boost both physically and mentally. Many of the children have aspirations that lie in football and the tournament was a great way to motivate children to stay on the right path.

CONGRATULATIONS to the pioneers of the Kassena

Nankana tournament, Sirigu Super Stars, for reaching the Second Division in the Ghanaian Football League!

AfriKids UK Football Tournament

In the UK, AfriKids followed suit by partnering with a London based charity, Greenhouse, who engage disadvantaged youths in sport and performing arts. Together, we held a fundraising football tournament for sixteen teams on the 24th August. The tournament was a big success, raising £3,414.30!

Our teams enjoyed a 5-a-side tournament followed by a barbecue and plenty of beer. It was great to see so many familiar faces back for our second tournament. A big thank you to all of the players for coming out to support AfriKids and Greenhouse and to have some fun in the process!

CONGRATULATIONS to the teams ‘Ronin’s Revenge’ and Team Premier for their respective wins of the Cup and Shield in our UK tournament.

AFRIKIDS ONLINE We’ve been blogged about!

We bought our AfriKids staff polo shirts from Aspect Corporate Clothing, next thing we know, they have written a lovely blog about us!

We were delighted to supply clothing to be worn in the field by the workers and volunteers of the charity AfriKids. AfriKids is a Child Rights Organisation, which works alongside indigenous communities in Ghana to improve the quality of life for rejected and vulnerable children.AfriKids specifically targets the root causes of the children’s problems, by improving community support services and by providing access to basic education and primary health care. www.corporateclothingwear.com

AfriKids AfriKids has been shortlisted for the Charity Times Corporate National Partnership of the Year award! What a GREAT Tuesday!

12 people like this AfriKids There’s even more reason to celebrate at AfriKids Ghana... Ray Ayinne (External Affairs Mgr) and his lovely wife have had a baby boy - congratulations! xxx 7 people like this AfriKids Congratulations to Paul and Able from Mama Laadi’s who both scored 11 (a distinction) in their BEC exams (GCSE equivalent); they will be off to Senior School in September! :)

Goatygav #FF Big shout this week for @AfriKids & @wwwalmtorg . Great work making a tangible difference for kids where it’s really needed.

26 Aug

lawse @AfriKids @wwwalmtorg an excellent night as always Afrikids!

Sign us up for next year please. Any team piccys?

25 Aug

IG_Advisors A big shout out to some great organizations working in #Africa: @CoachingforHope @AfriKids @SolarAid @LifelineEnergy #charitytuesday 16 Aug

7 people like this

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The Experience Challenge

AfriKids UK assistant to the International Director, Katie Arnold, is taking part in this year’s Experience Challenge. The challenge involves living and working alongside an indigenous family in rural northern Ghana, experiencing what life is truly like for those living a hand-to-mouth existence. Katie’s fundraising target is an ambitious £1,000, and she would appreciate any help she can get in reaching it!

You can sponsor Katie on her justgiving web page by clicking here.

Thank you in advance for your support!

FUNDRAISE FOR AFRIKIDS Corporate Cards Last year we had a fantastic range of quality, recycled cards that proved to be very popular. Would you or your company like to make an order for this Christmas? We will have an exciting new range this year, but here is a taster/reminder of last year’s collection... (right) Please get in touch: joannastewart@afrikids.org

The Gas Partnership Halloween Ball

The partnership between the Ghana Health Service, AfriKids, and Southampton University Hospital Trust has another exciting fundraising event.

The Halloween Ball will be held on the 28th October at the spectacular DeVere Grand hotel in Southampton.

Tickets are selling fast, so get yours quick! There are a certain number of rooms reserved for guests, so please get your tickets online as soon as possible: Halloween Masquerade Ball It is set to be a superb event, not to be missed!

www.afrikids.org