Light for Children Fun Day

Written by: Carly Moran, Co-Ordinator / Volunteer and Jacqui Lowe, Kumasi District Volunteer

Light for Children volunteers and staff were keen to meet all the children in a group, and give the children an exciting day out at the same time, so it was decided what a better place to do it than the zoo! Twenty children under Light for Children’s care who are infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, attended with their family members for a memorable day out.

After meeting all the children and families the day began with fun and games in the cultural centre grounds, Kumasi. The children were taught playground games by the volunteers, such as ‘stuck in the mud’ and ‘ladders’ amongst others. After the children had worn the volunteers out, more relaxing games were played!

Whilst the volunteers and children were busy getting stuck in the mud, parents and Light for Children directors, Mike and Yaw, held a meeting to discuss the provision of medication for all the children, and advice and support was given.

A quick snack break to refuel was followed by a gift presentation for all the children attending the day. Packs were given with token gifts of sweets, bands and pencils etc. and were appreciated by all.

Next stop for the group was Kumasi Zoo, where the excited children were given a guided tour, and all listened intently to the in depth descriptions given by the experienced guide. The highlight for the children was undoubtedly seeing the mighty lions up close, but other highlights included the Gorillas, spinning Chimpanzees, and the Crocodiles.

Once the fascinating tour was finished, the group still had energy left for balloon fights!

Lunch was provided for all by Light for Children of fried rice, chicken and sweets for the children, which was much appreciated after the busy day. The day ended with many young smiling faces and fond farewells.

 

Volunteer Gordon Pearce’s good-bye party

Written by: Gordon Pearce, Kumasi District Co-Ordinator / Volunteer

On Sunday 22nd July Light for Children staff organised a party for a group of nine vulnerable children from around the Atonsu-Agogo area of Kumasi. Accompanied by LIFOC field staff, volunteers and carers the children played games, sang songs and enjoyed a range of special party food and drink provided by Light for Children’s director Yaw Otchere Baffour and his wife Maria. The young people who were invited to join the fun all came from households where money is very tight and so the chance to go to an event of this kind was a special treat which they would not normally have experienced. As well as being an enjoyable afternoon’s entertainment, the party provided a chance for the children to meet other youngsters affected by HIV/AIDS and so reduce the feelings of isolation which can arise from the kinds of difficulties which they have experienced.

Sunday’s party also served as a chance for LIFOC volunteer Gordon Pearce to say goodbye after four very enjoyable months working with the NGO. Gordon returned to England at the end of July along with his girlfriend Lucy Birchenough who came to Ghana for three weeks to see some of the work that Light for Children does in the Ashanti region. Although he will be starting a job in London in September, Gordon hopes to be able to continue supporting Light for Children through fundraising and sponsorship activities.

 

HIV Education Outreach – ICCES Vocational Training Centres

Written by: Gordon Pearce, Kumasi District Co-Ordinator / Volunteer

A further step towards the goal of expanding Light for Children’s educational outreach work across the whole Ashanti region was taken on Tuesday 29th May, when LIFOC staff and volunteers paid a visit to the Integrated Community Centre for Employable Skills at Offinso, 20km north of Kumasi. ICCES centres exist to provide vocational training in areas such as carpentry, masonry, catering and fashion to school-leavers aged between fifteen and twenty-four; statistically this group has a higher than average risk of contracting HIV, which makes the work that our organisation undertakes with them all the more important. Light for Children plans to visit twelve ICCES centres in total, of which Offinso was the first.

Because Community Centre students are older than the JSS pupils who have previously constituted the main focus of Light for Children’s educational work, a slightly different perspective was adopted for the HIV/AIDS presentation. The Journey of Hope metaphor was still employed as the central theme but whereas with younger children abstinence was promoted as the main method of protection against HIV transmission, here equal weighting was also given to faithfulness and condom use in recognition of the fact that many if not most of the students who took part are already sexually active. The importance of seeking Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) services to find out one’s HIV status before engaging in unprotected sex within a faithful relationship was particularly emphasised; students were told about the low cost (5000 Cedis – roughly US$0.50) of such services and the benefits which knowing for sure if you have HIV can bring, whether in terms of steering clear of infection or in seeking early treatment.

In addition to the Journey of Hope tool, students were also asked to participate in another activity which involved crossing a pair of metaphorical bridges. First, a number of people were asked to try and walk along a thin pole representing faithfulness and abstinence as methods of protection against HIV. Each student was assigned a different character role to show that this is a challenge faced by people in every area of society, from school children to vicars to truck drivers. Those who were unable to pass along the pole and fell into the ‘water’ (representing unprotected sex and the risk of acquiring STIs) were then asked to repeat the challenge with a second bridge – condom use – for support. With condoms as back-up in case the other two methods failed, all were able to pass over the water successfully. The exercise served the dual purpose of illustrating the role that using protection plays in reducing the spread of HIV through sexual intercourse, and also of highlighting the fact that any type of person can put themselves at risk of contracting HIV irrespective of age, wealth or social status. Making the latter point shows not only that everyone should be careful about HIV but also that it is wrong to stigmatise or discriminate against people because they have been unlucky enough to get infected.

Demonstrations showing correct usage of both male and female condoms were carried out, with accompanying discussion about the pros and cons of each. Although more expensive and cumbersome the female variety has the advantage that it can be inserted several hours before sex, giving the woman more control with regard to enforcing the use of protection. The importance of using condoms consistently when they are chosen as the main method of protection against HIV transmission was also reiterated, since using condoms only occasionally or even most but not all of the time greatly increases the risk of contracting a sexually transmitted infection when compared with correct condom use every time.

The director of Offinso ICCES centre, Alex Addei, complemented the Light for Children representatives (Yaw Otchere Baffour, Saskia Tas and Gordon Pearce) on the quality of their presentation and the usefulness of the information it contained. Given this endorsement, along with the consent of Nana Boateng (ICCES co-ordinator for the Ashanti region), it is anticipated that LIFOC will proceed to visit a different one of the area’s twelve Community Centres each week over the course of the next three months.

HIV Education Outreach Programme for Schools in Kumasi

Written by: Gordon Pearce, Kumasi District Co-Ordinator / Volunteer

The recent May 1st celebrations marked the last day of the Easter vacation for schools in the Ashanti region, and the beginning of the new term enabled the continuation of Light for Children’s programme of HIV-related educational outreach activities. Over the past week LIFOC staff have visited three different schools in the Atonsu-Agogo area of Southern Kumasi, engaging in a combination of HIV/AIDS behaviour change presentations and associated follow-up sessions.

On Tuesday May 15th, Junior Secondary aged pupils (11 to 15 years) at Atonsu Metropolitan Authority School A participated in an interactive exercise using the Journey of Hope learning approach, which employs an imaginary fleet of ‘survival boats’ crossing a treacherous stretch of water to reach a distant tropical island as a metaphor for the methods which young people can use to help them avoid HIV and achieve their life goals. The boats represent abstinence, faithfulness and condom use, the three most effective ways to prevent transmission of the AIDS virus through sexual intercourse (the most common mode of transmission), while the risks posed by HIV, STIs and teenage pregnancy to those who fall into the water are illustrated with crocodiles lurking beneath the surface.

The idea is to help children to think about what will make them happy in the long term so that they are less likely to jeopardise their future chances in life by engaging in high-risk behaviour at a young age. It is hoped that the encouragement of pupils to take an active role in choosing the right path for them, rather than just being passive recipients of a lecture, will result in them adopting safer behaviour patterns on a more permanent basis.

As part of the interactive element in Light for Children’s education outreach work, pupils are asked at the end of the session to produce a short piece of work in the form of a poem, story, essay or picture which expresses some of their views on HIV and related sexual health issues. On May 10th and May 15th LIFOC visited Atonsu Presbyterian School and the adjacent Metro Authority School B to present prizes for the best entries and carry out a short follow-up activity.

Each winner received a pack of exercise books and stationary to help them in their studies as a token of appreciation for their outstanding compositions. Excerpts from all the pieces had been collated by LIFOC volunteers into colourful posters which were presented to the schools for display in classrooms and communal areas, allowing the children to see a tangible result from their efforts and providing them with a resource to help remember and reinforce the key messages addressed during the outreach sessions. In addition, the prize-winning work was word-processed and mounted to form part of the wall display so that the authors could enjoy recognition for their achievements. Light for Children staff discussed with students the main ideas which emerged from their contributions and explained the thinking behind expressing these themes in poster form.

LIFOC paid a further visit to Yaa Achiaa Girls’ School on Wednesday May 16th, in a continuation of our organisation’s links with this establishment. Previously pupils in JSS years 2 and 3 had taken part in activities with Light for Children staff, so this time it was the turn of a JSS 1 class to get involved with the Journey of Hope presentation.

The girls proved very receptive to the issues touched on therein, and were keen to contribute their ideas and opinions; as in the Presby and Metro schools the pupils were set an assignment to produce a piece of work expressing their viewpoint, which they will complete over the course of the next few days. Light for Children will continue to return to Yaa Achiaa over the coming weeks to present the Journey of Hope activity to more JSS 1 children and award prizes for the best essays, poems and pictures.

School HIV Education Programmes

Written by: Femke Hendriks (Light for Children Volunteer, Ghana Project-Co-Ordinator)

As past of light for children Gh’s desire to carry out HIV/AIDS education in a number of schools, a programme of activity has been lined up in it’s project area. The objective is to reach as many schools as possible. Secondary it is to help the pupils use the available information to adopt positive live styles. Thirdly it is to help prevent HIV/STI (Sexually Transmitted Illness) infection and teenage pregnancy. In this regard two schools has so far been visited, namely Yaa Achiaa Girls School and Atonsu M/A junior Secondary School.

Yaa Achiaa Girls School

On the 7th and 14th of February 2007 respectively HIV/AIDS/STI education was carried out at this school located in the middle of the city of Kumasi. Before this, arrangements have been made with the school authorities on the timing and contents of the education. The focus of the programmed was on behavior change. Since awareness level of HIV/AIDS is very high, the biggest challenge is behavior change.

The pupils were therefore taken through communication skills, with the help of the Journey of Hope Kit (a behavior change communication tool). The demonstration of the kit, which is more interactive, allows full participation and also helps them pick on the best practices by themselves. Two classes have so far been covered and the rest will be taken care of on weekly basis till the end of the school term. The director of the organization, Yaw Otchere Baffour, and Femke Hendriks, a volunteer from Holland facilitated the sessions.

 

Atonsu M/A Junior Secondary School

On Friday the 11th of February 2007 the facilitating team of the organization undertook another HIV/AIDS/STI education at the Atonsu M/A Junior Secondary School, at Atonsu a suburb of Kumasi. Earlier, an appointment has been made with the school authorities and arrangement concluded on the day and time.
The pupils who were numbered about 150 were taken through behavior change skills using the Journey of Hope tool. They were taken through the three main modes of prevention of HIV infection. These are abstinence, condom and faithfulness.

They were also made aware of the dangers of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancy and its associated problems. After the presentation, pupils resolved to abstain from anything that will put their lives at risk and could spoil their schooling and future. The session was very interactive since it allowed the pupils to participate.

OICI Food Ration

Written by: Femke Hendriks (Light for Children Volunteer, Ghana Project-Co-Ordinator)

On Saturday the 3rd of February 2007 the monthly Food Rationing Programme for orphans and vulnerable children as well as people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS took place at chief palace. In all about 100 people turned up for the monthly programme.

Light for children, which has it’s clients enlisted on the program, were there to take their ration. The group’s executives and volunteers were there to give a helping hand.

Christmas Carol Event

The ideal of the Christmas carols was mooted by hardworking Sebastian Lindstrom, the chairman of board of directors of Light for Children. It took place at the premises of Yaa Achiaa Girls Junior Secondary school in Kumasi on the 14th of December. In all 3 groups from the school took part, namely the school choir, the school choreography group and the school cultural troupe.

The programme was interspersed with thought-provoking poetry recitals which highlighted in the plight of the orphans and street children. Moreover a team from the local teaching hospital (Kath) which included 6 people who were HIV positive made a presentation on HIV/AIDS.

The school cultural troupe treated the audience with very nice cultural dances from almost all big tribes in the country. The school choir also thrilled the audience with melodic and scintillating choral music which kept the audience all standing on their feet. Sebastian taught the choir a south African song called ‘awimbawe’ which they sang to perfection and it drew cheers from the audience.

The choreography group were delight to watch. They danced to popular gospel music from south Africa and Ghana with admiration. Infact, they endeared them self so much to the audience that they had a standing ovation from some of the foreign volunteers who were present.

There were 3 poetry recitals. 2 in english and the other in the local language. The climax of the programme came when the volunteers under the instruction of Mike (programme co-ordinator) sang a song which gave commendations to the school for accepting to host the programme. The song was hurriedly composed by Mike:

REMEMBER YAA ACHIAA O LORD(2X)
WHEN YOU COME TO SELECT YOUR PEOPLE
REMEMBER YAA ACHIAA
REMEMBER YAA ACHIAA!!
WHEN YOU COME TO SELECT YOUR PEOPLE

The leader of the medical team from the hospital gave a chilling statistics on the AIDS situation in the city. The solemn tme came when someone of the people living with HIV narrated how she contracted HIV. This sent chills to some of the audience most of whom have never seen HIV positive persons before (apart from television).

 

After the programme, all the audience were invited to the school assembly hall where they were served a snack, which was sponsored by Life for Children (LIFOC). In all over 300 people composed, of children from 3 school (mostly from Yaa Achiaa Girls school), parents, 7 foreign volunteers, teachers and others.

World Aids Day in Ashanti-region

On the 8th of December Ashanti region celebrated world AIDS day. It was postponed one week due to the clash with the real world AIDS day and the Ghanaian farmer’s day celebrations!

The event was held in a small town called Femina (1 hour from Kumasi). The fact that we where 2 hours late didn’t really matter; the event that would start at 8 started at 10:30! African time is the best time, you’re never late!

School kids and officials filled a big football field. I estimate that +1000 people jointed in on the festival! Me and Kate, Canadian social worker, together with two Japanese volunteers where the only foreigners attending. Drumming, speeches by Aids commission people and chairman addresses where mixed with AID prevention sketches. People where really enjoying themselves in the heat! Every year the World AIDS day have a different theme –this time it was ‘Stop Aids, Keep the promise, the time is now ’. Condoms where distributed amongst the crowd and people felt unity.

Conclusion; The event was very successful and I really felt that the Ghanaians have come a long way with their HIV/AIDS policies and strategies to fight the pandemic. Ghana has a 3% HIV prevalence rate compared to Botswana and Swaziland where 40% of the people are HIV positive. South Africa with its big population has a 20% HIV prevalence rate. Ghana has come a long way.

Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s yearly Carol Festival for Schools

Background info: The NGO is preparing a sponsorship of a Christmas graduation party for one of the girl schools in Kumasi on the 14th of December. During the planning of this event together with Yaa Achiaa M.A Girls J.S.S management we got the invite to the yearly Carol Festival.

The actual event: Exited as I was I managed to get to the church by 8:20. (Travel time was only 25 minutes, normally the same route would take me 1 hour, morning rush is the worst rush!) According to the programme of the event ‘arrival of schools and guests’ should be taken place at 7.30. At 8.20 only one choir had arrived and the spectator number was a smashing amount of three! Time and Ghanaian lifestyle does not go hand in hand. Quarter after 9 most school choirs had showed up and the event could move forward.

In total 9 downtown Kumasi school’s had sent their choirs to this event. After the opening prayer and introduction of chairman + response the carols could finally begin. Every time a non-Ghanaian Christmas song was performed by a choir a big hurray was acknowledged throughout the church. When one choir started singing ‘Gloooria’ the yelling and shouting didn’t stop until the chairperson stepped in and asked for silence. Between every choir performance the crowd could enjoy bible readings, example Luke 1:26-32, performed by school children.

After two hours of carol’s suddenly the whole crowd starts moving around in the church. The Movements becomes dancing and the dancing turns into a combo of both dancing to singing. I then decided to join the dancing crowd and I quickly received applauds for my interaction!

Two hours become three and the singing, drumming, dancing and theatre performances will soon be over. Unfortunately I and Yaw needed to rush of before closure for our second appointment of the day.

Conclusion of the event; music make people feel alive. If you feel alive you are usually happy and happiness seemed to be the theme amongst all of the choirs.

Light for Children at Kumasi Mayor’s birthday Bash

On the 28th of November some of the potential beneficiaries of the Light for Children (LFC) project were invited to join the celebration of the 50th birthday party of the mayor in Kumasi. Kumasi is the second city of Ghana and the seat of LFC.

The mayor, Patricia Appiagyei, is famous because she is the first female Mayor in Ghana. The birthday party was held at her private residence in Kumasi. Five basic schools, including a school for mentally challenged children and four NGOs, were invited. The Mayor had dedicated the birthday party to the orphans and vulnerable children of Ghana; in all 250 children were invited. LFC presented 12 children and they were chaperoned by the two volunteers of LFC; Sebastian form Sweden and Elisabeth from Iceland. The executive director and the project coordinator were also at the party.

The children were treated to cultural displays, poetry recitals, gospel music by the school for mentally challenged, choral, hip-hop and traditional music. There were a lot to eat and drink, including biscuit and toffee. The Mayor distributed exercise books, toys, souvenirs and other stationary.

All the four NGOs present were invited to introduce their organizations to the gathering. Sebastian was chosen to introduce LFC and briefed the people on the activities our organization. The two volunteers took an active part in all the activities at the party, everything from playing with the children to being a part of the food distribution. They admittedly became cynosure of all eyes.

The Mayor, as a politician, had invited politicians and government officials whom added a color to the occasion. The highlight of the day was when an inflated slide emerged from the ground. Children rushed the site and played until the end of the event. After the party the children where transported to their homes by an official bus from the city council amidst dancing and singing in the bus.