Presentation of Resettlement Packages To Street Children

21-08-2010 Narration: Afrikids-Ghana, a grassroots NGO working in the three Regions of the North has demonstrated their commitment to the welfare of poor and vulnerable children by presenting resettlement packages to 66 young men and women under a project dubbed: “Operation Fresh Start.” at a ceremony in Bolgatanga. The beneficiaries are among 160 street children brought home from Kumasi in 2006. They were placed into vocational skills training of their choice under various master trainers to enable them live independent and meaningful lives. Isaac Asare witnessed the presentation ceremony and has the rest of the story for Radio Ghana.

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Operation Fresh start (OFS) was initiated by Afrikids Ghana in November 2005 to relocate poor and vulnerable children who had migrated to southern Ghana for menial jobs. The overall objective of the project among others is to relocate and resettle these children from urban centres, particularly Kumasi, to their individual communities in the region and also support and equip them with employable skills until they are able to lead independent and sustainable lifestyles. The beneficiaries under the project underwent two years apprenticeship training and vocational skills in hairdressing and dressmaking. They were also educated on topics such as personal hygiene, adolescent reproductive health, family ties and social bonding among other issues. The Country’s Director of Afrikids Ghana, Nicholas Kumah, in a speech said Afrikids as part of its core mandate is committed to improving the socio-economic lives of deprived children by empowering them to ensure their total development, hence the establishment of the project. He said 87 street children have so far benefited from the resettlement package, adding that another batch will be receiving theirs by the end of the year. Mr. Kumah, however, called on other NGOs to complement government’s effort in assisting the poor and the needy in society through trade and vocations. This, according to Mr. Kumah, would contribute in reducing poverty among residents of the three Northern Regions. The Area Programme Manager of Afrikids Ghana, Mr. Cletus Anaaya also in a presentation appealed to the government to pass laws against child trafficking and put more investment into resettling street children and child labourers into sustainable lifestyle. He made a passionate appeal to the various district assemblies to allocate some of their market stalls to some of the beneficiaries. Parents, individuals as well as benevolent societies were also called upon to support in that direction. One of the beneficiaries, a trained electrician, Master Samuel Atibii was grateful to Afrikids for their effort in changing the lives of hopeless children in the society and urged other children to rescind their intention of migrating down south since other job opportunities and secure futures can be found in the north. Items presented to the beneficiaries include sewing machines, plastic chairs, and water containers among other hairdressing tools.
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