Akyem Tafo (E/R), GNA – May 15, GNA – SOS Children’s Villages Ghana, has
equipped nine youth with start-up kits under its “Strengthening Families
programme” at Akyem Tafo in the Abuakwa North Municipality of the Eastern
Region.
The beneficiaries, who were made up of eight females and a male, were given
start-up kits in their fields of skills training such as dress making, welding,
auto electrician, auto mechanics, hair dressing and welding.
The event, which took place at Akyem Tafo, was chaired by Osabarima
Adusei Peasah IV, Akyem Tafohene.
The SOS Children’s Villages Ghana started implementing the Family
Strengthening intervention programme over the past two and half years in
Akyem Tafo and Kukurantumi in the Abuakwa North Municipality of the
Eastern Region.
It seeks to build the capacity of 300 vulnerable families to sustainably care
for 1,000 children, empower existing community structures to advocate for
the rights of children, work with existing community structures for improved
water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) and support 120 youth to acquire skills
and resources for sustainable jobs.
Mr Alexander Mar Kekula, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Ghana,
said under the programme, 1,013 vulnerable children from 303 families were
being supported in terms of care, education and health.
He said 91 caregivers had been supported with a total grants of
GHS109,100.00 through 10 Village Savings and Loans Associations formed,
adding that individual caregivers had also benefitted from GHS50,000.00
grants to engage in income generating activities.
He said three child protection committees had been established within the
Tafo and Kukurantumi communities and that 135 caregivers had been
equipped with good parenting skills through training.
He said through the programme they were able enrol 136 children in school,
who were hitherto not in school but were of school going age at the
beginning of 2021, saying “these children were supported with books, school
bags, footwears and uniforms. These children now attend school regularly.”
In addition, 81 children and 23 caregivers were registered with the National
Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to enable them access healthcare.
He said they’ve been able to support caregivers to acquire legal documents
(birth certificates) for 109 children.
Mr Daniel Baani, Programme Director, SOS Children’s Village Asiakwa, said
their Families Strengthening programme was meant to support families so
that they would be able to avoid child abandonment.
He said under the programme, 122 youth were currently being supported to
acquire various skills and start their business to earn decent living and create
jobs in the Municipality.
The breakdown includes youth in agriculture (rabbitry, organic tomato, taro
and vegetable production), dress making including apprentices 43,
hairdressing 19, auto electrician two, welding five, electricals three and other
vocations 14, while six youth were being supported to attain tertiary
education.
Mr Baani said during the COVID-19 (lockdown period), SOS Children’s Villages
Ghana supported 26 families with cash transfers for three months,
distributed 5,000 nose masks, and also distributed 50 veronica buckets,
carbolic soaps and paper towels at vantage points including lorry parks.
He indicated that 25 families were also given grants to expand their
businesses to enable them go through the shocks of COVID-19 pandemic in
the country.
Osabarima Adusei Peasah expressed gratitude to SOS Children’s Villages
Ghana for transforming the lives of the youth in his traditional area.
He further appealed to the beneficiaries to put the equipment to good use.
A visibly elated Mr Seidu Zembo, a beneficiary of the programme, on behalf
of his colleagues thanked SOS Children’s Villages Ghana for giving them the
needed support to enable them earn a living.
This, he noted, would go a long way to help to take care of themselves and
their families.