Help 19 disabled and disadvantaged kids in Ghana

One of the main risks and challenges of Ghana ishealth related. The risk of a second pandemic wave is already affecting some African countries with more virulent variants of the COVID-19 virus. According to the World Bank there has been a sharp rebound in cases in Ghana requiring further restrictions. Anyway, the country remains one of the least hit countries of the continent, even if it is hard to include in the statistics all the data related to the poorest parts of the population.

The health situation outside the capital Accra is in general rather lacking. Hospitals are often without basic equipment, especially in rural areas, where hygiene standards are often not met. Currently the World Health Organization reports more than 96 thousand confirmed cases of Covid-19 with 796 deaths. A fast vaccine rollout could help mitigate this risk. For this reason, Ghana is starting vaccinating its citizens and from updates in May 1,5% of the population has received two doses of vaccine, whereas 3,5% has received at least one dose. Local authorities, in order to contrast the spread of infections, have introduced restrictive measures like the closure of air and land borders, which are slowly weaken. The use of masks, social distancing and personal hygiene measures remain into force.

“CASA ITALIA”, which hosts 19 disable and non-disable children, needs to reman more isolated in order to avoid the risk of infection. News since the end of the school is positive for all the children of the centre; the careful choice of the best school for every child according to their stories and problems make them able to always get the best results. Individual development programs that can consider skills, personal traumas, as well as individual propensities of every single child are the key for their growth.

Our local partner has also participated in UNICEF program and is helped by the social services and psychologists that keep on evaluating all the possible solutions for a reintegration of the children in their family context, which always remains one of the main goals of the centre.

In general, life in CASA ITALIA is going on, celebrating birthdays of the special children hosted and improving all the areas in which children with motor problems attend rehab activities. Thanks to your support we are able to help these children and you allow us to do more and more!

Since last October the government has closed national borders and all the schools in the country. According to the World Health Organization currently Ghana is facing this pandemic with approximately 87.000 confirmed cases and 691 deaths. The government has limited the diffusion of information on infection containment strategies: on one hand because of the electoral campaign and on the other hand because Covid-19 tests are really expensive (more than the half of the average salary of an employee) and few people can afford them. Nevertheless, our local partners report that the strong actions of the government in response to this pandemic have allowed to relatively contain the infections.

However, the diffusion of the virus had a relevant impact on the economic sector. According to the International Monetary Fund the growth rate of 2020 will drop in 2021, worsening the conditions of the poorest sections of the population.

Because of the national closure of all the schools since October and all the government restrictions, “CASA ITALIA”- which hosts 19 disable and non-disable children- has been closed to the visitors. Although this though choice makes it harder to receive donations (in particular food), this decision has avoided infections inside the centre and all the children and the staff are fine. Also the isolated position of CASA ITALIA (quite far from towns) has helped to limit the spread of the virus and in Kwamoso Village no case has been registered.

In order to maintain the ”school rhythm” and not to lose this school year, our local partners have hired a teacher that has followed all 19 children delivering classes in the garden of CASA ITALIA. It has been really challenging but all the children have spent a joyful Christmas time. Since January the schools have reopened and 12 of the 19 children hosted have started to attend classes with a lot of enthusiasm. Moreover, a new dedicated room to play, read or watch movies has been open.

All the activities in centre are continuing also thanks to your constant and precious support. Together with our local partners we will keep on working always by the side of the most vulnerable children of Kwamoso!

Dear Donor, thank you so much for being by our side.

We have reassuring news for you. Indeed, despite the current global emergency, our kids hosted at Casa Italia are all safe and healthy. Our local contact "Chicchi di Caffè" is working hard in order to guarantee a safe environment for them and make them feel home as they used to in normal conditions.

To this purpose, recovery and rehabilitation activities are still running. Moreover, educational and recreational activities are being organized in order to bring serenity in the everyday life of the children we support: at the center, they have recently produced colorful masks and put fun make-up on to create a nice moment of entertainment for our little ones.

However, the situation outside is difficult. As of today, Ghana has had 50,376 cases and 323 deaths and, at the moment, there are 1,427 active cases in the country. Even if these numbers don't seem large, we have to remember that Ghanese public and healthcare infrastructures may not sustain the outbreak of the pandemic. Furthermore, the many poor people in the country are also suffering from the socioeconomic consequences caused by the spread of the virus and truly struggling to earn a living.

We cannot stop providing our help as it would mean further isolation for our already disadvantaged kids in Ghana. Your support has been precious but they now need you more than ever!

Dear donor,

It's a pleasure to announce that our children are growing up well. Two of them were able to return to their family with the help of social services. They can already walk and don't wear diapers anymore. 

Even though we had a difficult year and we had to compromise to find solutions in any field, we can say that the situation has improved significantly. We were given one year to put in place equipment for disabled children in accordance with UNICEF standards and finally we got it! .

Now it's the rainy season. The rain has already started to do damage: a floor has collapsed and almost all the roofs are making water. We hope we'll be able to fix everyhing as soon as possible, otherwise we'll be oblige to put all our stuff in a few rooms, sacrificing living space for children.

Nonetheless we can be happy that everyone here is in good health.

Thank you for continuing supporting us!

Good news from Casa Italia: thanks to generous donations Simona managed to finish the physiotherapy room. If children used to exercise on simple mats and with some small tools, today there is a room with specific machinery and equipment for a proper and complete rehabilitation. Moreover, new prams and walkers have arrived that are really changing the lives of many children. Simona is really proud of her coffee beans that, step by step, reach excellent improvements.
The eyes of the little guests were illuminated when they saw the arrival of colour bicycles: the older children whizzed in the courtyard, the little ones helped with some push laughed enthusiastically by this new experience.
Between a pedalling and some game, there are educational tasks and activities. Simona and her staff are very attentive to the school progress of all children and believe that the placement in the asylum is to be done as soon as possible: the relationship with their peers is indispensable and strongly stimulating for the growth of children. For this little R., after learning to walk, has started his kindergarten adventure and is behaving like a real little man!
As you know, many children come from sad stories of abuse, violence and abandonment and need psychological support, that love and affection of a real family, of serenity. Every occasion becomes therefore important to make him rediscover the smile and the beauty of being together: and what holiday better than Carnival? In February the little coffee beans turned into real superheroes and between magic powers spent a beautiful day in joy!
At this moment when we were shocked by the Corona virus emergency, Simona’s stories make us rediscover hope and positivity, But at the same time we are very concerned about what could happen if this terrible evil came to Ghana and other African countries where health conditions are already very precarious. To date Simona has reassured us about the health conditions of the children; the government has ordered the closure of schools, but the recorded cases seem to be circumscribed.
Thank you so much for your generosity, we hope to give you only good news soon!