Seeing sponsored children come and grow

What do you like about your work?

What I love about my job is that it gives me the opportunity to help children to grow up in a good environment and be part of their journey to success. And I feel so proud of all the ones I’ve worked with over the years: they are like family to me. One attended to me as a technician at the hospital. One designed my children’s school uniform and another teaches my son English. And we stay in touch. I play soccer with some after work and during festivals we often eat together. Hearing them say that I encouraged them to be who they are today gives me eternal peace.

What is the hardest part of your job?

The most difficult part of my work is knowing we can’t do it all. It’s hard to visit a community not part of our program and see malnourished children during harvesting. It will be worse for them in the lean season. These are challenges I had growing up and never want any child to go through.

What was life like for you growing up?

As a child, I grew up in a rural community in Ghana with mostly small farms that barely grow enough to meet the needs of the families. As the second born after a girl, I had to learn to cook, fetch water and wash dishes because my sister was not living with us. Women and girls ridiculed me when I went to fetch water. After my morning chores, I had to run over four kilometres to school so I wouldn’t be late. It was hard to concentrate on days I was late because I would be worried about being punished by teachers.

After school, I had to run back home to fetch firewood. At night, I sold kerosene on the street to earn enough money for lunch and other schoolboys would make fun of me for this.

My parents worked very hard, but there were times I was forced to leave school because my family couldn’t pay the school fees. I never had any textbooks to read at home and relied on the notes I copied from my teachers in lessons.

But I know that girls in my community had it particularly tough because they also had these challenges, and many were married young and would then drop out of school completely.

How did you overcome such a tough childhood?

Even in the midst of those challenges I never gave up. I was determined to change the narrative for my family, because my parents never finished school. Through hard work and determination, I managed to complete my education.

How is your life now?

I can say that I am on the right path to achieve my goals. I am married with two boys and two girls enrolled in a good school, and they have what I lacked growing up. They do not sell to survive and don’t have to watch television through a neighbour’s window or walk a long distance to school.

Whether it is my own children at home or the sponsored children I support, I will defend their choices so that they can make a better life for themselves.

Find out how you can make a difference, and help make an impact today!

About Children Believe

Children Believe works globally to empower children to dream fearlessly, stand up for what they believe in — and be heard. For 60+ years, we’ve brought together brave young dreamers, caring supporters and partners, and unabashed idealists. Together, we’re driven by a common belief: creating access to education — inside and outside of classrooms — is the most powerful tool children can use to change their world.

About Childfund Alliance:

A member of ChildFund Alliance, Children Believe is part of a global network of child-focused development organizations working to create opportunities for children and youth, their families and communities. ChildFund helps nearly 23-million children and their families in 70 countries overcome poverty and underlying conditions that prevent children from achieving their full potential. We work to end violence against children; provide expertise in emergencies and disasters to ease the harmful impact on children and their communities; and engage children and youth to create lasting change and elevate their voices in decisions that affect their lives.