SCEF @10: A decade of impacting the lives of children in Street situations
By Stephanie Darko, Communications Assistant, SCEF
As it is often said, “a journey of a thousand miles, begins with a step”. Street Children Empowerment Foundation’s (SCEF) first step towards transforming the lives of vulnerable children was taken somewhere in Accra, Ghana in September 2010.
Through the hard work of the founders and their commitment to the welfare of children in street situations, SCEF can now boast of some presence in Finland, Germany, and the USA with support from its network of dedicated volunteers. With a mission to rescue, rehabilitate and reintegrate children in street situations, the organization has over the last decade directly rescued and provided scholarships to about 500 children from the streets of Accra, with some of the beneficiaries completing their university education and others at various levels of the educational ladder.
Indeed, 10 years of staying relevant in the lives of children in street situations is certainly a decade worth celebrating not only by associates of SCEF but by all who are deeply worried about the welfare of the children in street-connected situations.
Within a decade of impacting the lives of these children, SCEF can boast of an ultramodern learning hub, a conducive and serene environment for children who wish to learn and play under the care of dedicated and loving staff who are ever ready to lend a helping hand to children in need. With the support of reputable donors and sponsors, the SCEF learning hub is impacting about 1000 children each month, bringing SCEF closer to realizing its vision of building a society where every child, regardless of their differences has equal opportunities in reaching their fullest potentials.
Also, SCEF is currently partnering with Book Aid International to set up libraries in some selected schools in Accra to help promote reading amongst children. Over the last decade of impacting the lives of children, SCEF did not only offer scholarships and educational opportunities to disadvantaged children but also created an environment for children to develop their talent in art and craft. Through its art and craft center, rescued children have been trained in hairstyling and beads making to help them earn an income for themselves after school.
In this remarkable journey over the last decade, SCEF undertook several outreaches to provide hygiene and sex education for girls within the James Town area. This initiative has been particularly significant, given the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in the area.
The tremendous successes achieved by SCEF over the years has been due to its ability to build local and international partnerships. One of such has been with Right to Play International, this partnership has led to the visit of German and FC Bayern München defender Jerome Boateng and Nathan Redmond of English premier league side Southampton to SCEF to empower and motivate disadvantaged children.
Despite the challenges posed by the Corona Virus Pandemic, SCEF never neglected these vulnerable ones during these hard times. It is worth noting that, despite its limited resources, SCEF has risen to the challenge of protecting vulnerable children in these times. Together with other partners, it has donated hand washing containers, liquid soap, and nose masks to help protect these children.
Overall, it has been a decade of impact on the lives of children in street situations. SCEF has played a parental role in the lives of these children. It has demonstrated in clear terms, it’s the readiness to impact more disadvantaged children when given the needed support. As the organization marches onto the next decade of impact, it is worth saying a BIG CONGRATULATIONS to staff, interns, and volunteers who have contributed to this mission over the last 10 years.
AYEKOO to SCEF!!!!!
