“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.”
-Nelson Mandela
Over 60,000 vulnerable children roam the streets in Ghana living without the basic needs of life like food, shelter and health care. Sadly, many of these children become victims of human trafficking as they are recruited, harbored, or transported into situations of exploitation. One 9-year-old girl shared “If I do not sell at least 6 bags of water and bring back the money to my auntie she will beat me up.” This little girl was sold to a woman in Kumasi and enslaved for four years. She is just one example of the many young victims who face physical and mental abuse as they are forced into labor, begging, crime, prostitution, and forced marriage, and even become victims of organ removal.
The Daughters of Charity’s Program for Street Children in Kumasi, Ghana advocates for children who are victims of human trafficking. Sister Olivia, Project Director at the Talitha Kum Center, made a trip to Rome in 2019 to share information and define priorities to support anti-trafficking efforts. This meeting served as an opportunity for collaboration with other organizations with the same goal to fight against human trafficking. Talitha Kum, an International Network of Congregations of Consecrated Life who engage in the struggle against Human Trafficking, facilitates collaboration between organizations and countries, and exchanges information between members of relgious congregations in more than 90 countries around the globe.
“Looking forward, I can also say that 2020 will be another year full of events such as the International Day for Street Children, the 15- year anniversary of the project, and many more yet to come. All of this would not have been possible without you! We wish to thank every collaborator, partner, volunteer, and individual who has contributed to the immense success of all that we have achieved in 2019. It is with your kind gestures and warm hearts that we are able to reach out to all these children and beyond.”
-Sister Olivia
Information above is from Catholic Archdiocese of Kumasi NEWSLETTER
Source: http://www.daughtersips.org/experience/
I believe in everything Sister Olivia has written about my country of origin as I have observed that, even in the villages. Education is now free in Ghana, school going children are also given free food, and so, parents who could not afford to take their kids to school, can now take advantage of the new education policy. God bless the leadership to continue to inspire parents to take their kids to school.