The Salesians of Don Bosco in collaboration with Omenaa Foundation has commissioned a school block for rescued trafficked children in Ghana.
The facility funded by the Omenaa Foundation, christened “Kids Haven” will see to the mental preparation of the inmates for academic work in the rehabilitation process.
The ultra-modern facility consists of classrooms, offices, washrooms and ICT lab among others.
Speaking at the commissioning event at the Don Bosco Child Protection Centre on September 4, Founder of Omenaa Foundation, Omenaa Mensah, the motivation for the project was to help underprivileged children have a better life.
“The reason was very simple, I grew up in a home where education was regarded as the greatest value. One that no one can ever take away from you and also because one educated person is tolerant and can have the life they choose and deserve,” she said.
The Don Bosco Child Protection Centre works with children ranging between the ages of 6 and 17.
Currently what they do is mainly rehabilitation, working directly with government institutions and NGOs involved in the rescuing of trafficked children.
The centre runs what is described as preparatory classes divided into three sessions.
The lower class have individuals struggling with alphabets.
Whereas the middle class accommodates those who can at least identify the alphabets but are struggling with two or three letter words.
The senior class consists of individuals with basics in reading.
The centre has been in insistence since March 2014 and have played a major role in the rehabilitation of trafficked children.
According to the Director of the centre, Rev. Fr. Anthony Dela Acquaye, SDB, the children are reintegrated as and when the facility is able to vouch for their readiness for society.
The facility he noted has a total number of 25 inmates.
“The children who are here currently are 25 and we are hoping to receive more,” he said.
The Omenaa Foundation is engaged in spreading the attitude of tolerance, arousing positive thoughts about diversity of other cultures and nations in children and youth and encouraging to increase interest in the fate of minorities.
It also focuses its energies on building up emotions and empathy of beneficiaries and thus teaches respect to others and prevents discrimination.
