In Accra she lived with a boy who often abused her because she depended on him for her upkeep. She said she was unhappy and wanted to leave him but she was afraid. Ayele confided in the outreach worker about her desire to acquire a vocational skill.

At the S.Aid shelter Ayele was offered a place to sleep whiles she participated in the cookery training programme designed to include literacy , life skills and business management skills.

Ayele now has a job as a kitchen assistant with a fast food joint and no longer depend on a boyfriend for her upkeep. She and her two friends contribute to pay for their rented room. Ayele is 23 years old and dreams of owning a food joint in Accra one day.

She said’   I am free now and I can make friends and take care of myself.”

With the training and start up package received from S.Aid, Grace now prepares liquid soap which she sells to women in the market ,and she hopes to send her child to school when schools reopen .

She said “I now have hope”.

Before his admission to the ECD centre, Abu used to accompany his father on his daily job as a garbage collector at the market. He sat on his father’s makeshift wheel barrow as they roam the street in search of job. The practice exposed Abu to very unhygienic conditions daily .He also looked malnourished and withdrawn.

Abu was recommended for admission to the ECD centre by an outreach worker. At the centre he had the opportunity to play with other children in a safe environment .He enjoyed nutritious meals daily as well as health checks from the community health nurse.  He started and completed the necessary immunization during his time at the centre. The centre also gave Abu a chance to experience appropriate early learning activities provided by trained teachers and care givers.

Today, Abu has successfully integrated into primary school after acquiring relevant social, cognitive and literacy skills at the S.Aid ECD centre.

.Abu enjoys playing football and he said “I will become a big man one day.”