AfriKids Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the welfare and education of children in the Builsa South District and other operational areas, with a bold target to put “one million smiles” on the faces of beneficiaries by the year 2027.
Speaking at the AfriKids Teachers Awards ceremony in Fumbisi, Valeria Abakisi, District Project Manager of AfriKids in Builsa South, outlined the organization’s wide-reaching interventions and future plans for sustainability.
“We are here to ensure that children are safe. By 2027, we are expected to put one million smiles on the faces of everyone we have worked with. It means that everyone we come into contact with should be happy with whatever we have done in the Builsa South District,” she said.
AfriKids’ interventions in the district span multiple sectors, including health, education, and child protection. Programs such as food support for at-risk children, mobile libraries, and medical screening have directly impacted hundreds of lives. The STEM Club initiative, in particular, has encouraged more girls to pursue science and technology at the senior high school level.
The organization has also introduced a Community Child Protection Programme, enabling children to report cases of abuse, and an afforestation project aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.
On training and capacity-building, Ms. Abakisi highlighted that AfriKids has trained various groups, including STEM mentors, library mentors, School Improvement Support Officers (SISOs), headteachers, Safe School mentors, and facilitators for reusable sanitary pad production.
Success stories emerging from the project include more stable school enrolments, an increase in child-reported abuse cases—which she said reflects growing awareness and trust—and a notable rise in the number of girls enrolling in STEM-related programs at the secondary school level.
Addressing some of the challenges faced, she noted:
“There is a significant furniture deficit, teacher attrition, and in some cases, parental neglect. We’ve also encountered limited cooperation from a few stakeholders and extreme expectations from teachers, which can stretch available resources.”
Looking ahead, AfriKids is focusing on sustainability through strategic measures such as building capacity among stakeholders, empowering Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) and School Management Committees (SMCs), and ensuring trained personnel are retained within the district.
AfriKids Ghana believes that every child deserves an opportunity to smile. Therefore, collaborating with the right stakeholders is essential to achieving this goal.
“We are here to serve, to partner, and to grow with the community. Together, we can ensure every child has the opportunity to smile and thrive,” Ms. Abakisi concluded.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Gerard Asagi|Builsa South
