Ghana Community in Geneva donates to the Osu Children’s Home

The Ghana Community in Geneva donated 22 boxes of new and slightly used clothes and a Deep Freezer to the Osu Children’s Home on Thursday 10th October 2019 at a brief ceremony on the premises of the Home in Labone.

The Osu Children’s Home is a community for orphaned, abandoned and needy children.

The Home caters for children up to the age of 18 years. Children are referred to the Home by hospitals, courts, police and social work agencies.

Children in the Home are given an opportunity to have education to any level their capabilities would permit. Most of the children of school going age attend schools in the neighbourhood so as to interact with other children.

The Home provides pre-school educational opportunities for the children who are yet to start school. If an individual is 18 years old and still in school or has nowhere to go, the Home continues to care for the individual until he or she is able to secure a job.

Children with special challenges such as disabilities and other medical conditions are referred to specialist agencies or given special care.

The 22 boxes contained new and slightly used clothes and shoes for kids, adolescents and adults. To ensure the Ghana Community in Geneva’s donations were needed by the Home, the Community interacted with the Manageress of the Home, Ms Christiana Addo prior to the donation of the items.

The decision to purchase a Deep Freezer was informed by the discussion with the Manageress of the Home. The Ghana Community in Geneva thus presented 22 boxes of clothes and a Deep Freezer to the Osu Children’s Home on Thursday 10th October 2019.

The President of the Ghana Community in Geneva, Mr Kofi Amekudzi, speaking on behalf of the Ghana Community in Geneva, noted that the Home was chosen because it receives most of the children in the most populous region of Ghana, the Greater Accra Region and also, it was often neglected because of the perception that being located in Accra, it would always be a beneficiary of donations.

Interaction with the Department of Social Welfare and the Manageress of the Home, highlighted the many pressing challenges faced by the Home.

Mr Amekudzi noted that the Ghana Community in Geneva was humbled by the opportunity to contribute towards the betterment of the life of children in the Home and stated that there is nothing nobler than donating to people who do not have a voice to say thank you.

The Manageress of the Home, Ms Christiana Addo expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the entire membership of the Ghana Community in Geneva for their benevolence in donating the Deep freezer and 22 boxes of clothes to the Home.

She indicated that the donation will immensely help with efforts to offer adequate and appropriate care to the children in the Home.

She asked for God’s blessings for all who touch the lives of the less privileged in society. The Manageress of the Home took the President of the Ghana Community in Geneva round the Home to better understand the plight of the children in the Home.

She also provided a list of items needed by the Home and urged Ghanaians from all walks of life to support our needy children.

In response, the Ghana Community in Geneva committed to sharing information on the needs of the Home with Ghanaians everywhere to encourage and facilitate appropriate donations to the Home.

Mr. Amekudzi stated that the contribution of the Ghana Community in Geneva must encourage and open the doors for more contributions. Some of the needs of the Home are listed below

• Refurbishment of the children’s playground

• Furnishing of a new nursery block

• A small bus – preferably a 33-seater bus

• Clothing, shoes, toothpaste and sponges

• Baby formula (Lactogen, etc)

• Diapers for children and adults

• Disposable gloves

• Detergents, soaps and disinfectants

• Staple foods (maize, cassava dough, beans, pepper, etc)

• Wheelchairs for special needs children and adults

• School supplies (books, school bags, teaching and learning aids, etc)

• Deep freezer, Fridges, Gas cookers and Washing machines

• Commercial food warmers

• Sanitary pads and underwear for boys and girls

• Computers (desk tops and laptops), printers and photocopiers

• Bed sheets, pillow cases, mattresses (all sizes)

• Deep baby cots and cots sheets

• Regular or occasional supply of medication such as pain killers, vitamins, anti-malaria medication, psychiatric drugs, feeding bottles, etc.

The Ghana Community in Geneva believes we can all make a difference in the lives of the less privileged. We don’t have to be wealthy to donate some of the clothes we may have outgrown or have no need for today.

Some of us are in the position to donate some of the items listed above either individually or as part of a group or society. May we rise up to the challenge of supporting the voiceless, needy and underprivileged in society. Thank you.