The National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Ghana, a leading child welfare organization, Mr. Mar Kekula has expressed the organization’s zeal and commitment towards the achievement of the new sustainable development goals that come to replace the Millennium Development Goals.
He stated that SOS Children’s Villages Ghana has committed itself to six of the global goals, namely: poverty eradication, quality education peace and justice, equality, good health and good jobs and economic growth.
Mr. Kekula was speaking at the dinner gala to showcase the community interventions called the Family Strengthening Programme, which has been running over the past 10 years.
The event was also to award several Community Based Organizations, field workers, co-workers and other stakeholders who have contributed immensely towards the success of the project over the years.
He stated that SOS Children’s Villages Ghana has, over the past four decades, complemented government’s efforts towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, focusing on four main key areas which included: Economic Development, Access to Social Services, Child Protection and Building a Strong Civil Society. With the introduction of the of Sustainable Development Goals, it is even more committed to continue with what it is best noted for- a loving home for every child
Highlighting some success stories of the project, he hinted that the Family Strengthening Programme, which received a five year support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Co-Financing System (MFS II), committed itself to empower communities and families to enable them take charge of the continuous development of their children through well-established community support mechanisms, networks and partnerships. The project had reached out to some 30,000 children from 18 communities have benefited through several interventional schemes, thereby offering them the opportunity to develop their potentials and talents.
“The result of the economic opportunities meted out to caregivers of vulnerable children, 78% of vulnerable families have shifted from dependency to self-reliant basis. The organization has, therefore, over the years, channeled its support to such groups through the areas of care, education, health care, personal development and advocacy.” He stated.
The main objective of the Family Strengthening Programme was to prevent the worse-case scenario of child abandonment, hence, this community intervention programme focused on building the capacity of families and communities to enable them effectively and sustainably provide care for their children and also advocate for their rights.
With a belief system of empowering communities and families, SOS seeks to enable them take charge of the continuous development of their children through well – established community support mechanisms, networks and partnerships. The National Family Strengthening Coordinator of SOS Children’s Villages Ghana, Mr Anthony Owusu Gyamfi, also emphasized that, the successful implementation of the project had proven that, a sustainable community development is possible when community relies on its resources and strengthens to address the myriads of problems that confront them.
Mr. Owusu Gyamfi indicated that the enormous potentials and opportunities that exist in the communities are sufficient for the community members to drive (their own) change and development.
While summing up contributions of national and international donors, some key community based organizations, individual partners and opinion leaders were also acknowledged and rewarded based on their hard works in making the project a success and putting in place mechanisms to ensure sustainable support for the wellbeing of vulnerable children and their families.
Some representatives of national and international delegations took turns to highlight the need for the government and other benevolent institutions to join hands with the SOS Children’s Villages Ghana to improve and sustain the wellbeing of children through community interventions and direct support.
Some of the projects so far included, but not limited to: the establishment of ten water projects in locations such as Ashaiman, Chorkor, Bunso, Asokore Mampong, Nsutam and Osino; micro flash biofil toilets at Ashaiman, Bunso and Osino communities; tractors to farmers in Tamale and its environs as a way of both reducing child labour on the farms and increasing income levels of caregivers; and established bakery services.
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