Renovation of Domestic Violence Shelter

The Ark’s Shelter is the first and still the only operational women’s shelter in Ghana. The Shelter started operating in 1999 from the home of the Executive Director. It was relocated to a community in July 2000. Its specific location has been kept confidential as far as possible, for safety considerations. Cases referred for temporary shelter include sexual assault, sexual harassment, severe neglect, abuse and non-maintenance of children, human trafficking, rape, defilement, incest, child marriage, and other harmful traditional practices.

The Shelter provides temporary accommodation to women, their children, and sexually assaulted young females to ensure their safety. At the Shelter, they receive counseling, food, medical, psychological, child care, and pastoral care. They also receive skills training/education. Upon discharge, clients are resettled and reintegrated into their preferred communities as far as possible.For many years, the Shelter has not received any major renovation. This is as a result of financial constraints.

The Ark Shelter can accommodate twenty-six residents at a goal. There are eleven bedrooms and two washrooms for all residents. One block of the shelter which has five bedrooms is in dire need of reinforcement and expansion, fitted with washrooms to prevent residents from moving to the structure housing the washroom, particularly at night and on rainy days and a living room. The project will create more well-ventilated rooms for residents who are referred for shelter services.

So far an amount of $283.08 has been raised. This amount can buy buckets of paint and cover the cost labour for painting. The Ark Foundation is grateful to all donors who have contributed in raising this amount so far.