Provide Education to Prevent Child Labor in Ghana

            With the commencement of term two at Challenging Heights School in January, the Child Sponsorship Program continues to grow, and reach more children. This term, we are happy to report the implementation of new projects, and the growth of existing projects at the CH school.

            With the help from our generous donors, we have been able to reach more children for our feeding program for at-risk children this term. When children come to school without money to buy food they often times report feeling confused, angry, tired, and lacking in energy to concentrate on their studies. Some children will even stay home from school if they are unable to get money for food. Since the implementation of the program, the children have reported being able to focus more on their studies and have more energy to contribute to class activities and discussions. Our feeding program is very valuable to our students because we are able to reach the most vulnerable children by supplying them with lunch money to ensure they remain in school and have access to nutritious meals.

            Ishmael, age 14, is a student in class 6 at Challenging Heights School. He is a bright student with big plans for the future to become an artist. Prior to being included in the feeding program, Ishmael’s parents would struggle to provide their five children with money for lunches, which would result in Ishmael coming to school without lunch quite frequently. He said that it was difficult to focus on classes and he would often times feel tired and hungry throughout the day. Now that he is benefiting from the feeding program, Ishmael can buy his favourite food, wakye or kenkey, and remain focused and energized to excel in all of his classes and studies. Ishmael says, “If you do not have food you cannot learn. When I come and collect the money for lunch I become happy because I feel motivated to learn, bath, and sleep.” Thank you for helping us to provide our students with nutritious meals!          

            We have also been able to continue doing maintenance work on our boarding house to ensure the children have a safe and healthy living environment. Our work on the boarding house this term has included repairs to the fan in the boys’ dorm, feeding money, gas for the gas cylinder, and electrical repairs.

A look at the term ahead:

            In the current term we are excited to be able to implement new interventions at the Challenging Heights School as part of the Child Sponsorship Program to keep children in school and away from child labour. Some of the upcoming interventions that we will be implementing in the next month include subsidized school fees for vulnerable children and providing school supplies and materials needed to keep our students in school.

           We really appreciate your generous support and loyalty to the Child Sponsorship Program! The children are extremely grateful that they are able to come to school and get an education at Challenging Heights School!

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