These are the stories of some of the people portrayed in the above set of photographs.

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Some of the narratives are presented in first-person perspectives by their actual subjects, and others are from the perspective of OA as a charity organization.

 

For reasons of promoting ethics, providing courtesy, and protecting privacy; the names, times, and places have been either changed or shuffled or both.

 

Furthermore, some of the featured stories are not illustrated by photographs, and some of the featured photographs have no descriptive text.

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However, all of the caregivers and receivers, as well as their respective situations and circumstances as depicted and described, are entirely true.

 

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STORY #01 

From danger to a degree.

 

“…I was a migrant living on the street from the age of 7.

 

Sleeping in a bus station and working selling water. Although it was very dangerous for a girl, I could not imagine another kind of life.

 

Now I am a year into my degree at University as a business student. Sometimes I can’t believe whom I have become.”

http://www.oafrica.org/upload/pdfs/OAfrica-AR-2014.pdf

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STORY #02 

Stella.

 

Stella was found living on the street with her mother who was suffering from severe psychological issues and unable to care for her. She did not attend school, was at extreme risk of abandonment, was malnourished, and had little hope for her future.

 

OA rescued Stella from the street, located her extended family, and was able to place her with her grandmother. Stella’s family now receives financial and educational support to ensure that she's well cared for and attends school regularly.

 

Stella is now living a happy and healthy childhood with her own family.

http://www.oafrica.org/upload/pdfs/OAfrica-AR-2013-Financials.pdf  

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STORY #03 

Ma Gladys.

 

Ma Gladys started working for OA in 2003 as a full-time caregiver for a special needs child. Over time it became obvious that she had an incredible ability to provide love and care to the most vulnerable of children.

 

She became famous within the organization for bringing life back to many malnourished children living with HIV, who had little chance of survival.

 

As a single mother, Ma Gladys was doing an amazing job looking after her own children as well as those supported by OA. Since then, she has been the foster mother of three of our most at-risk children.

 

Initially, OA provided monthly financial support for Ma Gladys to care for the children and to encourage her to continue her efforts. After some time, OA helped Ma Gladys to develop her own business in order to make enough money to support

her family herself, without the need for the monthly financial support.

 

Ma Gladys attended many OA-run classes that focused on savings, loans, investments, best business practices, customer care, and pricing of goods. In addition, OA provided her with financial support to kick-start her business so she could increase profitability and provide a greater degree of support to her children. These efforts have really paid off, and Ma Gladys, her business, and her children are prospering.

 

She has proven that “through hard work, determination, love, and compassion you can

achieve business success and a growing, healthy family, while providing much-needed assistance to someone in need.”

 

“Through hard work, determination, love, and compassion,

you can achieve business success and a growing healthy family”

~ Ma Gladys

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STORY #04 

Mary.

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Mary lived with her family who earned a living by herding cattle. When her father left them, her mother was banned from their home, and Mary was given to her uncle’s family where she was removed from school and forced into child labor.

 

Mary and her siblings were referred to OA by the local authorities and placed in foster care where she gained confidence and had a newfound hope for her future.

 

After being delayed in school, Mary worked hard to catch up in her classes and is now completing her final year in university to become a psychologist Her goal is to help other children in Ghana who have suffered from abuse and dream of a better life.

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STORY #05 

Kwame.

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Kwame was born with severe mental disabilities and his family, not knowing how to care for him, placed him in a local orphanage. In the orphanage, he was locked in a closet for entire days with little human contact, even being served food through a crack at the bottom of his door.

 

When Kwame was rescued by OA, he was severely traumatized and could not even speak. He was placed with a foster mother who cares for him as if he was her own and, today, Kwame is thriving.

 

He attends school and is one of the friendliest and most outgoing children at OA, he loves a good thumb war and always has much to say.

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STORY #06 

James.

 

When James was sent to us from the public orphanage, all we knew is that his mother had died from AIDS. She had been found by the roadside by a passerby, taken to the principal hospital in Accra, and died there a few weeks later. She had no papers, no money, and no hope ... only a tiny toddler strapped to her back.

 

The child was about two and had a sunny disposition, as well as HIV and a multi-drug resistant strain of pneumonia that we carefully nursed. He was always terribly hungry. He wandered around with his infectious grin repeating only one word like a mantra: “food, food, food.” Understandably that’s what the other children ended up calling him.

 

Today, ten years later, highly specialized doctors have confirmed that that happy, starving little man (now a handsome 12-year old) is one of the rare “elite control” patients. These are a small group of HIV-positive people (thought to be less than 2% of the HIV positive population) who live their whole lives without progressing to AIDS – and do so without the help of HIV medications.

 

His is certainly a charmed life ... but without OA, James’ life chances would have been extremely slim.

http://www.oafrica.org/upload/pdfs/OA_Annual_Report_webversion_2012.pdf

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STORY #07 

Sabah Patience is my name.

 

I am 18 years old.

 

I come from Hohoe, a town in the Volta Region of Ghana.

 My father is dead but my mother is alive. I met OA in 2004.

 

When I was in primary three, I was put into Christ Faith Mission School in Foster Home. I then transferred to St. Peter’s Mission School, which I have completed. I am now waiting for my BECE result so I can continue to the Senior High Level.

 

Ever since I came to this program, OA, I have been treated like family.

 

I have been sheltered, fed, and, most of all, educated.

OA is putting smiles on vulnerable children’s faces.

 

They’ve made me realize that I have the opportunity to be somebody in the future.

 

I have a dream and I believe the most important single thing, beyond discipline and creativity, is daring to dare.

 

OA has made me realize my

vision and with my determination and their help, I am going to make it a

reality.

http://www.oafrica.org/upload/pdfs/AR_2011.pdf

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STORY #08 

Ama Victoria.

 

In February 2004 Ama Victoria came under the care of OA. She had formerly

been living in Osu Children’s Home – an orphanage recently exposed by the local media as being riddled with scandals including child abuse and corruption.

 

When I saw Ama Victoria, I went straight to her and picked her up. She was tiny and acutely malnourished and seemed to be just a baby, although she was actually about six years old at the time.

 

She also suffered from Cerebral Palsy and had not been stimulated or properly cared for. She therefore could not walk, talk, or even eat unaided. She could not crawl and spent all her time on her back sucking on a bottle.

Under the care of OA, she started improving drastically as soon as she met Rose, the woman who was to become her OA Foster mother. From the beginning, there was an incredible bond between them.

 

 A few days following her arrival, OA spokeswoman Victoria Abril came on a site visit and connected with Ama Victoria immediately- that’s where the smiling, brave little girl got her nickname “Victoria”. Slowly she started crawling and become more active, and all of us, especially Mother Rose, put a lot of energy into helping her become more mobile.

 

We tried therapy in 2009 to straighten her legs without great results, but this year a German volunteer physiotherapist Chis Christensen helped us to get in contact with a Dutch orthopedic surgeon on a mission to Ghana.

 

In May 2011 Ama Victoria underwent a complex painful operation, staying three months in a hospital in the Volta Region with Foster Mother Rose by her side. From there, they then went to Nswam Orthopedic Training Centre to learn physical therapy exercises for almost two months.

 

Today Ama Victoria is home at the OA Foster Family community again. Every day she attends school with Mr. Peter our special needs teacher. Her favorite activities are drawing and writing- she can say almost half the alphabet! She loves playing with her toy kitchen set where she pretends to cook.

 

Ama Victoria was visited by Farida Bedwei, a Ghanaian software engineer and writer who was also born with Cerebral Palsy. She has been instrumental in giving Ama Victoria the inspiration of a valid role model and has also taught her how to control her jaw muscles so that she no longer drools.

 

Against all odds, the future looks bright for this little girl who started life out with so many setbacks. OrphanAid Africa aspires to continue to support Ama Victoria through therapy and special education classes so she can eventually learn to both walk and talk.

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STORY #09 

Emmanuel is a 12-year old.

 

He is a beneficiary of OrphanAid Africa, living in Akropong, Ghana. He is originally from the village of Mamfe-Koforidua. Emmanuel was found in an orphanage by OA and was later resettled with his grandmother. He has a

twin brother, Kofi, and spent years separated from him, not even knowing if his twin was alive.

 

After having been a beneficiary of OA for a few years, and extensive tracing efforts, Emmanuel and Kofi were happily reunited...

 

Emmanuel’s Story

Emmanuel’s mother became pregnant with twins by a man that she was not married to. During her pregnancy, Emmanuel’s father abandoned his mother. She gave birth to the boys two months later.

 

When the twins were seven months old, their father returned for a short time. He told their mother that he was going to raise funds for their naming ceremony and that he would be back soon, but he was neither ever seen nor heard from again. Not long after, their mother began to succumb to a chronic mental illness.

 

Emmanuel and his brother Kofi had a difficult childhood and had to work hard to meet their basic needs. Their village of Mamfe-Korforidua had no school, so they couldn’t receive an education. They spent their childhood running errands for their new

stepfather (who worked as an herbalist) and other people in the town so they could earn enough money to feed themselves.

 

One day, a couple came to seek the help of their stepfather. During their stay at the village, Kofi ran errands for them. When they left to return to their village of Teshie, Kofi followed them to work for them. When he arrived, he shared one room with their family of six. Life there was difficult for Kofi and he struggled to get along with the family. It was during this time that Emmanuel and Kofi became separated and lost contact with each other.

 

Life without his twin proved to be very difficult for Emmanuel and he struggled to get by. After a visit from his grandmother who lived in a nearby town, he decided to secretly follow her back home to her village to ask if he could live with her. He asked if she would allow him to move into her home but due to limited money and resources, she was unable to take him in and shortly after moved him to an orphanage.

 

Emmanuel was found in the orphanage by OA and quickly became a beneficiary.

He received the funds to enable him to go to school and placed under the supervision of a key social worker who visited him several times a month to offer him support and ensure that his needs were being met.

 

Emmanuel regarded his social worker as his mother

and developed a close relationship with her. He wanted to tell her about his twin brother that he had lost contact with years before, but didn’t know how to bring the subject up with her.

 

When the OA resettlement program began, Emmanuel was resettled with his

grandmother, who received a stipend from OA that allowed her to properly care for her grandson. All this time, the twins were still out of contact.

 

One day, while discussing his future with his social worker, she asked Emmanuel what his plans were. He shared

that he wanted to become a famous football player.

 

When asked about the most important person in his life, he saw this as an opportunity to tell his key worker about his lost twin. The social worker promised Emmanuel that they would help him locate his twin.

 

Kofi was later located in the suburb of Teshie and the boys were reunited. Shortly after, Kofi was resettled to Akropong, with his grandmother and twin brother. The boys are doing well and are infinitely thankful to OA.

 

They are both motivated to make the most out of their futures and have strong hopes for what they will accomplish.

http://www.oafrica.org/upload/pdfs/AR10_OrphanAid.pdf

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STORY #10 

I'm a 13-year old girl. 

 

"I live in a small village in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana with my aunt and two older sisters. I am currently a student in class six in a public school. I will go on to my first year in Junior High School at the beginning of the next academic year.

 

I lost my father when I was young. My mother was a primary school teacher and took good care of us until she passed away earlier this year, and I became a double orphan. Life had suddenly become unbearable. I wondered how I would ever accomplish my goal of becoming a doctor until OA came to our aid.

 

Ever since the OA team came to visit my family, my siblings and I knew our dreams would come true. I have always been the best student in my class and worked hard to get good grades. Recently, I took part in a district science quiz and was first!

 

I strongly believe that with my knowledge and the support of OA, I will be able to pursue my goals. I thank OA for their wonderful support.”

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STORY #11 

My name is Amos.

 

I was 7 years old when my mother left me and my father all alone. Although my father was by my side giving me all the love he could possibly give, I still yearned to be in my mother’s arms. I waited for many years, but she never returned. I became accustomed to the idea that it was just going to be me and my dad and nobody else.

 

Not long ago he decided to get remarried and we all moved from Ghana to Cote d’Ivoire. My stepmother had three children of her own, and it took me some time to adjust to life with them. Everything was going well until one day when destiny decided to take my father away. After he died I wondered what would happen to me.

 

A couple of months later my stepmother realized raising four kids on her own was a huge burden. Her three kids and I were too much for her to handle alone. We came back to Ghana when life became more difficult in Cote d’Ivoire, because of the war. She didn’t care when I went out and didn’t return home. Since she didn’t care what I did and whether or not I had anything to eat, I left.

 

I had no idea where I was going until I found myself in Accra. I was 14 years old. Days and months passed and I was still living in the streets of Accra. It was really hard for me to find food to eat, a place to sleep, and a person to turn to when I became ill. I became familiar with most of the streets here in Accra.

 

One day I was walking down the road of Labone and I met a stranger, a woman, who saw I was in bad shape. She began to ask me questions and I told her my story. She watched, fascinated, as I began to narrate my story to her. She didn’t say anything after I was done, but she took me to the Ministries.

 

She had a discussion with a couple of different people and then she turned to me and said that somebody was going to take care of me. I was very happy. It was the first good thing I had heard since I came to Accra. I was taken to a Remand Home and introduced to the Head Mistress. At the Remand Home, the Head Mistress took care of me until I completed Junior High School.

 

When the laws changed I had to be taken out from the Remand Home and I had nowhere to go. A social worker came in to speak, and she introduced me to OA. I came into the program in 2006 when I was 17 years old. They

enrolled me in a school in Accra named Saint Thomas Aquinas Senior High. I was there for three years and graduated in 2009.

 

While waiting for my results, they registered me with Towers I.T. Training School, where I could learn computer skills. I am now attending the University of Development Studies in Navrongo.

 

OA is supporting hundreds of vulnerable children in Ghana. I give many thanks to OA. I have achieved so much in my life in just the short time period that I have been with the program. Through OA, I have a National Health Insurance Card that allows me to seek care when I am ill.

 

The Young Adults' Meetings have really made me aware of so many things in the world and how to take responsibility in my everyday life. I am now 21 years old.

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STORY #12 

My name is Faustina.

​

I am 26 years old. I come from Sogakope, a town in the Volta Region of Ghana. My mother is alive but my father has passed away.

 

Through a Social Worker, I became a beneficiary of OA who came to my assistance in 2007. They enrolled me in Christ the Savior School in Madina, which I completed successfully. They then continued my education by enrolling me in a Vocational School called Liberty Specialist Institute. There I learned catering, which was a course I enjoyed very much.

 

While in school I was given all of the things that I needed for my course of study. I was also given an allowance for small expenses and food. I am now benefiting from the National Health Insurance Scheme, which means my health is secured.

 

OA Young Adult Meetings are a source of encouragement and understanding for all of the realities of life. I get to share ideas and listen to other points of view, which sometimes result in finding answers to other questions. It’s a great program, and I’m really thankful for this program to run.

 

I thank all of the workers, sponsors, and everybody that is helping OA to assist less fortunate people, like me. Thank you once again and I appreciate all of the support.

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STORY #13 

Francis’ story.

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In March 2009 a lovely little boy was brought to the OA Rehabilitation Center in Ayenyah village because he was suffering from acute malnutrition. He was seven years old and his name was Francis Adjan. He was referred to OA by the Ghanaian Department of Social Welfare when they intervened to close down an abusive orphanage in the Volta region as part of Ghana’s Care Reform Initiative.

 

OA is working with the government of Ghana on this initiative, seeking to place abandoned children in families rather than orphanages. In this particular institution, the children were starving, literally eating the roots in the garden in order to survive. The Department of Social Welfare got involved, rescued every child, and brought ten of those in need of intensive care to OA.

 

Of all of the children, Francis was the most touching as he was very sad, withdrawn, and unresponsive. Mama Rose, our Mother for children with special needs, immediately went to work making him some of our delicious nutritious restorative soup.

 

After just a few weeks, he gained weight, his skin improved, and he finally began to take an interest in his surroundings.

 

However, although he improved physically, we realized that he was unwilling to talk, and a child with special needs. We later learned that his father is unknown and his mother is mentally challenged. He had been taken to the orphanage by his grandfather who could not afford to care for him.

 

Mama Rose suspected that something was also wrong with Francis’ heart and took the long journey to the Cardio-Thoracic centers in Korle-bu in Accra with him. Her suspicions were confirmed when the surgeon told us he had a Ventricular Septal Defect, with cardiac compromise, otherwise known as a “hole in the heart”. He needed open-heart surgery to save his life, a costly procedure in Ghana.

 

Amazingly, because of Francis’ urgent need for care coupled with his circumstances, the hospital has decided to donate half the cost of the operation, a tremendous gesture, and an incredible opportunity for Francis’ future! Thanks to several generous OA donors who responded to a special appeal, including all for Humanity/ the Golden Hearts Foundation, who made a donation of 10,700 Cedis to help save this child’s life, OA was able to provide surgery, post-surgical care, and a special mother who cared for Francis in the hospital during his recovery.

 

Francis Adjan’s operation took place on August 9th, 2010 in Korle-Bu teaching hospital. Francis stayed 2 weeks at the hospital with his foster mother after his surgery and then finished his recovery at the OA FFC. He is now starting to speak, has gained weight, and is an affectionate, communicative child who attends our special needs classroom every day.

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STORY #14 

Courage walks.

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For those of you who have been following OA since our beginnings, you may remember Courage, one of the first children we took under our care back in 2002.

 

I found him lying on the floor covered in flies in an orphanage; I had to rescue him..., I knew no one else would believe in this tiny, sick, stunted baby.

 

He was named because of his bravery, by Lena, our volunteer nurse, who was in and out of the hospital for months with him.

 

It was believed he had a spinal injury as he was paralyzed as a baby but we later got a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, autism, and epilepsy, a heavy burden for such a small boy. That is why, eight years later, this photo is such a miracle. Following many years of physical therapy, thanks to our program for disabled children, Courage can walk!

 

Walking is something no doctor thought he would be able to achieve. The day he took his first steps the atmosphere at the rehabilitation center was electric.

 

Everyone, including staff, children, and friends could only repeat in wonder "Courage can walk!"

It's a testimony to the quality of care that he is getting that he has managed to beat all the odds to get to this point.

 

Stand tall Courage, we are all proud of you! We are so thankful for all your donations, big and small, without which we cannot continue to make these miracles happen.

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STORY #15 

Pamela’s Family.

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Pamela is the biological mother of three grown-up children as well as Georgina, Deborah, and Jonathan.

 

These three children were previously institutionalized and are now receiving help from the OA Family Support Services program to attend school.

 

Pamela has made significant progress. She has been given seed capital to start a business to support the family and has since started a business making cakes. On her first day, she recorded a profit of 5 Ghana Cedi. She now gets a daily profit of 6-7 Ghana Cedi.

 

Pamela and her children are grateful to OA for the organization’s continued support.

http://www.oafrica.org/upload/pdfs/OrphanAid_Annual_Report_2009.pdf

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STORY #16 

A family visit.

 

Patrick and his family were visited. They received a resettlement package that was given to their foster mother, which includes the following: a bucket, small water drum, mattress, bedsheet, panties, clothes, shoes, mosquito net, school bag, traveling bag, soaps, towel, sponge, toothbrush and their monthly cash transfer.

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STORY #17 

A family rebuilt.

 

Two kids suffer the loss of their

mother and are finally reunited

with their grandmother

 

The Baffo household benefits from OA’s help every month. Rachel Baffo is the eldest of three children living with their grandmother, Dashivi.

Rachel is 14-years old and attends the OA District Assembly School. She

lives with her grandmother with her two brothers, Amewugah who is 9-years old, and Daniel who is 4-years old.

 

Rachel recounts her story of turning to OA along with her little brother Daniel following the loss of their mother. Daniel was extremely malnourished, and only immediate emergency hospitalization by OA saved his life. She and her brother were placed with a foster mother.

 

They lived with Mama Mary, their foster mother, for a couple of months until they were resettled with their

grandmother and given financial support.

 

In addition to free quality healthcare and education (which comes with

free uniforms and school kits), Rachel and Daniel are provided with GH¢ 40

(about 27 US$) each month. Food donations (wheat and oil) come in handy every quarter. The whole family is provided with clothes, shoes, and toys - on a regular basis.

 

Rachel is a very active young girl and participates in all the sports and dance programs offered in the village thorough the OA-Laureus sports program. She’s often seen

enjoying a game of football,

athletics and volleyball.

 

She said she often wonders how life would have been for her and her family without the support of OrphanAid Africa.

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STORY #18 

Joseph.

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Joseph has been raised by his single mother, and never met his father who died when he was still a baby. In 2004 his mother was in financial difficulty and turned to OA for support.

 

“OrphanAid Africa started sponsoring me when I was twelve years old. I was enrolled in an elementary level (Primary), a school called Christ Faith Mission at Foster Home. I completed class one through six and continued to Agomeda D.A Junior High School, where I graduated this year. I am very happy and grateful to OA for having shown up in my life which is now on the right track thanks to my education. My level of English has also improved thanks to the Young Adult Support Services Program. I have much more confidence in myself, and I strongly believe all vulnerable and less fortunate children should have the opportunity to access education. I would like to use this platform to thank all donors who have helped OA."

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STORY #19 

Emmanuel.

​

Emmanuel Ntiri - University College of Education.

 

I did not find it easy at all when unfortunately my father passed on while I was still in Primary and JSS; and my mother, not having anything at all, had to send me to one of my uncles at a village near Kade.

 

In fact, I stopped school to help my uncle with farming. Now I'm happy that God has blessed his people, including me and this is one of my greatest moments that all things are running smoothly.

 

I have everything in the house and my life is perfect. With the support of OA, I am now pursuing my university education in the field of Special Education at the University College of Education Winneba.

 

I want to study hard to achieve my aim so that I can also support less fortunate children in OA here at home and in the nation as a whole.

http://www.oafrica.org/upload/pdfs/Annual_Report-_OrphanAid_Africa.pdf

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STORY #20 

Gbemou Akpene.

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Gbemou Akpene - University for Development Studies.

 

I am grateful to Orphan Aid Africa for supporting me to reach university. I am a young girl whose father passed on some years back, and I had nobody to support my education.

 

My siblings could not support me so I sought support from OA. The OA Education Director gave me career guidance and counseling after Senior High School, and with OA’s support, I am now at university.

 

I am pursuing a degree in Integrated Development Studies at the University for Development Studies. I want to specialize in Community Development and hope to support needy young children in the future.

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STORY #21 

Archibald.

 

Archibald Afriyie - Delcam College.

 

I would like to thank OA management and benefactors for supporting me and my mates in taking extra classes to re-write our West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) exams.

 

It has been very kind of you and we really appreciate being part of the class at Delcam College. My colleagues and I have now equipped ourselves very well academically, and have improved greatly since last year.

 

We will be very happy if our other mates could also start taking these extra classes when school resumes.

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STORY #22 

Abigail.

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Abigail Djan is a 19-year-old girl from Anyinam in the Eastern Region. She is from a broken home whose father hasn't been traced after he abandoned the family.

 

Abigail lives with her single mother and two other siblings. Thanks to the support of OA, Abigail completed Mancel Vocational School in Kumasi where she studied Home Economics and Catering.

 

Abigail often expresses her gratitude to OA for all the support – especially career guidance and financial counseling.

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STORY #23 

Peace.

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Peace Kwakudua is 17 years old. Her father passed away, leaving Peace with her mother at Ashiyie, a suburb of Accra.

 

Peace's mother used to sell roasted plantain on the streets to support the family but fell very sick and as a result, she was unable to work.

 

With the help of OA, Peace completed High School at Christian Heritage School where she studied General Arts.

 

Peace is deeply appreciative of all the support that she has received, in funding (fees), materials (books and uniforms), and career guidance from OA.

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STORY #24 

Michael.

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Michael is 21-years old and is from Navrongo in the Upper East Region. Both of his

parents are alive but are unable to work due to old age.

 

Because of his family’s situation, he migrated to Accra to find a job on the street and ended up becoming a street boy.

 

OA supported him so that he could complete his basic education while he was living with a brother at Anumle near Legon - Accra.

 

Michael completed Junior High School at Kotobabi in Accra, but all efforts to get admission to Senior High School for him proved futile. Admission to all schools in the Greater Accra Region seemed impossible.

 

Thanks to OA's education director who traveled to Navrongo, Michael was finally admitted to Awe Senior High and Technical School. He is now in school, reunited with his family and community, and performing well in his studies.

 

Michael is sincerely grateful to OA for helping him to not be a dropout.

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STORY #25 

Stella.

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Stella is 16 years old. Her father passed away, leaving her with her mother at Kasoa in the Central Region. Her mother does petty trading to support the family.

 

OA supports Stella and her elder sister Florence so that they can continue to go to school. Stella completed Christ Faith Mission School in April 2007, and was supposed to enter Senior High School in September 2007, but did not get admission until February 2008.

 

OA sought admission for her at the Aburi Secondary Technical School, and the headmaster was very kind to admit her. Now because of OA’s support, Stella is in school and did not become a dropout.

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STORY #26 

Ataa.

​

Ataa is a name that's automatically given to a twin girl in Ghana.  She and her brother are the first of the three sets of twins born by her mother. In all, her mother has 11 children, and Ataa and her brother are the third born.

 

Ataa is thirteen years old and comes from Akotekrom in the Birim North District of the

Eastern Region.

 

One day her father left the family home to go to the farm and never returned. After some time it was rumored that he had died in the bush. Her twin brother also drowned in a river whilst fetching water.

 

Her mother was left without the means to care for Ataa, and sent her to stay with her maternal aunt in the village of Akroso. This was the beginning of Ataa’s tumultuous upbringing between several households.

 

Her aunt subsequently asked her teacher to care

for Ataa, so that she could continue with her schooling. When the teacher was transferred she did not take Ataa with her but left her in

the custody of a friend who then sent her to work as a housemaid in Adukrom which is a town near Akropong.

 

An OA social worker first came across Ataa on the 5th of July 2007, at the time she had just been arrested by the district education committee

for loitering during school hours.

 

When questioned, she said she didn’t attend school

because her caretaker told her she must sell what she could to raise the amount of twenty Ghana cedis (approximately 13 euros) before she would be sent to school.

 

Unable to earn this meager sum to attend school, she passed her days loitering about. She was referred to the District Social Welfare office and after their investigations, they sent her into the custody of OrphanAid Africa, where she was until she was reunited with her mother on the 23rd of December 2007.

 

The reunion of mother and daughter was incredible for both of them, as it had been seven years since they had seen each other.

 

Ataa has now been enrolled in the Catholic Basic School in the town under the sponsorship of OA. She is in class six and doing very well. Her mother is grateful for OA's monthly allowance which gives her the confidence and capacity to care for her daughter.

http://www.oafrica.org/upload/pdfs/OA_Annual_Report_2007.pdf

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STORY #27 

Ernestina.

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Ernestina Ababio is an OA ward at Christ Faith. She is 15-years old and is in Junior High Form Three. She was the best student in her class with excellent grades in all subjects last term. Her overall aggregate is six (06) with distinction, which is the best result you can have in the final exams. Tina is from a broken family. Her parents divorced and since then, her father cannot be traced. Her single mother is unemployed and supporting three other children. With the help of OA, she was able to pay her children’s school feeds. Tina went on to receive the OA Best Student Award on January 3rd, 2008.

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STORY #28 

Christiana.

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Christiana is an OA ward studying at Christ Faith. She is 13-years old and in Junior High School - form one. Her parents are alive but unemployed. Her father has serious health problems, which has put the entire family burden on her mother. Without the help of OA, both of their children would have undoubtedly dropped out of school. Christiana is a very brilliant student. She performed excellently in all her subjects earning an aggregate of six (06) with distinction. With the help of OA, she and her brother Jonathan have continued pursuing their education.

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STORY #29 

Gloria Ama Awuma.

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22-year old Gloria is an OA sponsored student pursuing a

course in Civil Engineering at

Kwame Nkrumah University of

Science and Technology in Kumasi. She lost her father and was living with her elderly mother who is a pensioner. With the help of OA, she’s

been able to pursue her course up to the final level.

After completing her course in June 2008, she will graduate with a degree in civil engineering. Gloria often

expresses her joy and gratitude for OA’s intervention to support her in her educational career.

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STORY #30 

George Ameyaw.

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24-year-old George was admitted to the University for Development Studies, Wa Campus in the Upper

West Region in August 2007. OA is supporting him in his pursual of a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Integrated Development Studies. Both of George’s parents have

passed away and therefore he had no one to support his

education. Now, with the help of OA, he has been able to

attend university.

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