Kumasi – Ghana

We have teamed up with a local organisation in Kumasi, Teensnet foundation, to assist with the provision of education resources for children who are suffering from HIV/AIDS, many of whom are living in squalid conditions.

Some of the children are orphans who are squatting in building sites or shacks that are comparable to cattle sheds; and not very good cattle sheds at that. These children are dealing with issues that we would never expect to go through.

Some cannot afford to eat and are too exhausted to stay awake during lessons. There are no toilet facilities or transport, and no school materials yet alone toys.

Despite these hardships, the children of Ghana are happy and resilient and often totally unaware of their terrible situations. They are open, friendly and honest and it was an emotional thing – to be so happy and so sad at the same time – when we met them. These children need essential medication to help their plight against AIDS. We can do that!

They need vital education materials and toys to stimulate their lives and provide them with opportunities that we take for granted. We can do that too! And the school needs a roof – when it rains (which happens a lot in rainy season) the whole class has to move to one side of the room...hang on a minute..We can do that! We are doing what we can to finance all these things, and its working. We are already starting to make a small difference...But it’s all towards a bigger aim.

The SAFE foundation and Teensnet foundation want nothing more than to build a centre of hope for many more children who we simply cannot support right now. The plan is for four outbuildings centred around a play facility...a building for medication, one for education, one for recreation and somewhere for volunteers to rest. This is a long term aim – something that we anticipate taking 7 years to complete...but together... WE CAN DO IT!