The Need
Why We Do What We Do
According to UNICEF, over 30% of children in Ghana are involved in some form of child labor. Due to extreme poverty, there is a family reliance on income generated by children working, or by the sale of the child. There are no reliable figures on the number of children affected by the worst forms of child labor (sale of children, child prostitution and trafficking) and children living and working on the streets of Ghana, but it is believed that the large majority of all cases involve children, mainly girls. (Source)
Another stunning statistic published by UNICEF is nearly 45% of students will not progress from primary to secondary school. For those who can find a way through high school and university, the unemployment rate for Ghana’s graduates is bleak at 39%. (Source)
Touch A Life operates the only long-term rehabilitative care center for former child slaves in West Africa. We currently care for 140 children, catering specifically to the needs of this vulnerable population of children. Once a local government agency rescues a child from slavery, typically in the fishing industry or in selling goods on the streets, he or she is brought to our Care Center. Touch A Life absorbs all of the costs to take care of each child, including all education expenses.
Touch A Life seeks to stand in the gap for the children in our care by ensuring they receive the best possible schooling opportunities, equipping them with the tools they need to progress through the education system in a timely and successful fashion. Currently, we have a 100% rate of progress from primary school to secondary school.