By Abigail, AfriKids’ Communications Manager
I’ve just got back from northern Ghana where I had the joy of seeing the incredible impact your support is having. We landed in bustling Accra, then flew in a small plane up to Tamale before driving two hours along dusty roads to Bolgatanga, a town in the Upper East Region and home to AfriKids’ base.
Along the way, I saw children walking to school, women carrying goods on their heads, and markets buzzing with life- moments that brought home just how much your support helps create hope and opportunity.
While I was there, I met Emmanuella, a 31-year-old who was supported by AfriKids to stay in school as a teenager. Today she is a nurse training to become a midwife and an active member of the AfriKids Alumni Network, mentoring girls to reach their full potential. Her story showed me the ripple effect of your support and the difference education can make to entire communities.
As a teenager, Emmanuella had dropped out of school. After losing her father, her family struggled financially and her mother couldn’t afford to keep her in education. She told me she was “roaming with friends, doing unnecessary things” and had little hope of returning. With her mother’s determination, and AfriKids providing the support she needed, she returned to her studies and focused on her future.
Emmanuella explained why education matters:
“It helps you move forward. When a lot of children are educated… the poverty level will be lower. You’ll be enlightened. You’ll have the knowledge to do other things.”
Yet poverty, child labour, and early marriage still keep thousands of girls out of school. Three in every ten girls have never set foot inside a classroom. When families are struggling, girls are often the first to stay home to help, leaving them more vulnerable to exploitation, early pregnancy, and a lifetime of limited opportunities.
What inspired me most was Emmanuella’s heart for giving back. She now mentors girls following the path she once walked.
“It’s important because we benefitted. Even small-small, we can support children to rise up too,” she said.
Thank you for being part of the community that makes stories like Emmanuella’s happen.
You can help more girls like Emmanuella learn, thrive and give back.
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