Last year, the Upper East Region of Ghana saw exam results decrease everywhere... apart from in the schools which run AfriKids Child Rights Clubs.AfriKids have been asked by the Ghana Education Service to increase the number of Child Rights Clubs from just under 50 to 273. Not only are we, at AfriKids, delighted to see such tangible results from our work, we are also delighted to be invited to expand our work in conjunction with and at the request of the Ghana Education Service.

In 2007 the International Labour Organisation funded a SCREAM

February 2012

AfriKids is a Child Rights Organisation working to improve life for Ghana’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children in a holistic, inclusive and sustainable manner

programme (Securing Child Rights through Education, Arts and Music) in conjunction with Operation Sunlight. The idea is to engage children in song, drama, poetry recitals, quizzes and debates but above all, boost confidence levels and teach children that they have rights. This scheme was so well received that AfriKids replicated and adapted them as Child Rights Clubs. They are now common place throughout all of AfriKids’ projects.

A further benefit of these clubs is that it draws the attention of the community to the child rights issues and unites the School Management Committees Group, Parent Teacher Association, the presidents of the Child Rights Clubs (children who have earned the responsiblity of being ‘President’) and all the children in the

clubs. It is a unique and successful approach to education which in turn, achieves higher enrolment figures in schools and higher exam results.

We look forward to watching the progress of many more children after expanding.

“Just two months after establishing the AfriKids child rights club our JHS2 class enrolment is up by 67%”Clement Azupio, HeadmasterDuulugu Junior High School

CHILD RIGHTSMore AfriKids Child Rights Clubs are requested by the Ghana Education Service

PROJECT FOCUSFrom Child Rights Clubs to ...The AfriKids Child Rights Clubs have been driving improvements in education but last month Georgie Fienberg, International Director, saw first-hand another deeper benefit of these clubs.Expanding further afield into new schools is important for educational performance and group engagement reasons. However, it also introduces AfriKids to new people and potential crises. AfriKids Ghana is well known for protecting child rights so they are often approached and told of situations in need of intervention. Last month they heard about a boy named Kwesi.

Kwesi’s younger sister, Assibi, was born with physical disabilities (pictured bottom left). Shortly after her birth their mother died. Kwesi then fell ill aged eight following a fall from a donkey whilst shepherding. The family came to the conclusion that a curse existed and Kwesi and Assibi were spirit children. They did not wish them dead but were too scared to live under the same roof as Kwesi so built a room at the edge of the compound for him. He has been in that room for the past 10 years, with Assibi visiting him to feed and clean him.

On hearing about this situation, AfriKids Ghana has met the family and is doing everything possible to turn this situation around. They are focusing on educating the family on the spirit child phenomenon and working on integrating Kwesi and Assibi back into the family and community. Removing Kwesi from the family is certainly not the first port of call. Ensuring a child has a good life with their family is AfriKids Ghana’s priority in all

AfriKids AcademyAfriKids Eco VillageAfriKids Ethical TradeAfriKids Medical CentreBolga Area ProgrammeEducational fundKassena Nankana Area ProgrammeMedical fundOperation BolgaOperation Mango TreeOperation SINGhOperation SmilesOperation ZuarunguStreet Mothers AssociationTalensi Nabdam Area ProgrammeYoung Entrepreneurs

situations.

“The uncle said that if we had a place, we should take him, but we said that we didn’t come to take over, we came to help. So we are helping.” Cecilia, Bolga Area Programme Field workerAfriKids Ghana

This particular case highlights just how important community education is and exactly what the Child Rights Clubs tackle head on. The more people that engage with them, the more people will question harmful traditional beliefs. Kwesi’s family have acted out of fear from what they have been led to believe, not because they are child abusers. They mean Kwesi no harm but fear for the safety of their family so keep their distance.

Kwesi

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01: Duulugu Junior High School stakeholders meeting, discussing the expansion of Child Rights Clubs

02: Cletus, Bolgatanga Area Programme Manager, talks to Kwesi’s family

03: Gabriel, Bolgatanga Area Programme Field Worker, jokes with Assibi and her cousin at their compound

04: Assibi’s cousin smiles for the camera

05: A rural scene in Bolga, just behind the compound that The Telegraph journalist, Bryony Gordon stayed in. Read her article here

06: Juliana and her class celebrate on hearing the news that she will come to the AfriKids 10 Year Ball in September. To see this photo come to life, click hereTo see the article in The Telegraph on Juliana, click here

All these photos were taken two weeks ago in Bolgatanga

in

The Telegraph Christmas Appeal has now finished and we look back on our partnership with pride.

Thank you to everyone for your patience with our mail outs asking you to look out for us in The Telegraph! We have nine fantastic articles to keep and share and hope that this partnership will result in worldwide knowledge about the AfriKids mission!

The appeal raised over £500,000 between their three chosen charities; AfriKids, Skillforce and Riding for the Disabled. We are delighted with the generosity of donors and could not have hoped for a better way to end 2011 and start 2012.

Here are some snapshots of just some of our articles so you can see how many column inches we accumulated...

‘One young Ghanaian’s battle against a soothsayer’s curse’

‘Saving the cursed children of Ghana’

‘Help AfriKids plan to pay for themselves’

‘I can’t express my gratitude to AfriKids’

‘How Ghana got under my skin’

‘Why charity is building a luxury hotel’

AFRIKIDSONLINE

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www.facebook.com/afrikids Let’s tweet @AfriKids

AfriKidsThe AfriKids office is open today at the start of our anniversary year... AFRIKIDS IS TEN! Watch this space for celebratory events throughout the year. All the very best for 2012 to you all! :)

Ella Jolly so inspired after last night’s talk on technology for social impact at #apple in covent garden - thanks @AfriKids @VitalRegen @IG_Advisors

AfriKidsLook @ stats from last year... Over 1,000 students and teachers received IT training @AfriKids IT Academy.

26 Jan

AfriKidsApril this yera, a group of wild and wonderful volunteers paln to drive a number of ambulances from Southampton to the Upper East Region of Ghana! See their incredible story here...

2 people like this

23 Jan

Leigh Anna MullettMy husband @kdmullett surprised me with THE coolest Christmas presents!!! Coffee tastes better in this mug! @Afrikids

5 Jan

APE UPDATES

Dave Brown from Ape Inc has updated his portfolio with the AfriKids rebrand. Dave is a true friend of AfriKids’ and has been involved on many levels. The rebrand is still new and exciting for us and his website shows just how good it really is!

See all of Ape’s incredible work here

FUNDRAISE FORAFRIKIDSIT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR THOSE RESOLUTIONS!

Do you love a challenge? Was your new year’s resolution to do more running or cycling? Well look no further! We have three different challenges for you to consider...

The Heroes Run is a 5km or 10km fun run to raise money for some of our local heroes in Ghana... and you can even dress up as a superhero!

London, Clapham Common- Sunday 1st April 2012Brighton, Hove Seafront- Sunday 20th May 2012Southampton, Southampton Common- Sat 13th October 2012Poole, Poole Park- Sunday 14th October 2012www.heroesrun.org.uk

The Brighton Marathon - we have ONE PLACE LEFT! This event is getting more and more popular so don’t hesitate if you want to get involved.

Brighton, Sunday 15th April, 2012www.brightonmarathon.co.uk

Nightrider is for all you cyclists out there. Take a break from battling the commute on your bike and go on an exciting 100km moonlit ride past London’s iconic landmarks. This is the first year AfriKids will be participating in this event and we hope you’ll join in what’s set to be a spectacular cycling challenge with a difference.

London, Saturday 9th - Sunday 10th June, 2012www.nightrider.org.uk

Please contact Ama if you would like more information: amaatteen@afrikids.org

COME TO GHANA WITH US THIS YEAR!

Would you like to take on the ‘Experience Challenge’ this year?

We’re sure you’ve heard about it by now (especially as it was reported in The Telegraph), but experience life as either a teacher, farmer or local business person in rural northern Ghana and witness the innovative and inspirational ways villagers living a hand-to-mouth existence work to overcome the every day challenges they face as individuals, as families and as communities.

For any queries, please contact katiearnold@afrikids.org