street girls aid

Accra, the capital of Ghana, has a population of around 3 million people. A recent study estimated that there are 60,000 street children in Accra. Since I’ve been here, I have had the privilege of working with an NGO called ‘Street Girls Aid.’ This is a non-profit organization which houses girls who are pregnant or have children. There are 10 social workers employed with Street Girls Aid, and each of these social workers is assigned to a particular part of the city. Each night they go out to their field area to meet street girls, educate them on health issues, tell them about services offered by Street Girls Aid, and try to earn the trust of the street girls. I have gone out with several of the social workers to their field areas in the city. At night it can be easier to meet girls as they are often done their work for the day and congregate in areas to eat and sleep. The social workers often try to educate the girls about basic health concerns, proper maternal care, and the dangers of the streets. They often talk to the girls about returning to their villages, especially if the girls have children who they are unable to care for properly while living on the streets.

In addition to the social workers who go to the field, Street Girls Aid has a refuge house which gives pregnant girls and girls with young babies a safe place to stay. Every Wednesday I go to visit with the girls. Most days I help teach English or math. The majority of the girls cannot read or write; I have taught several girls how to write their names. One of the girls is from Cote d’Ivoire, and so obviously speaks fluent French. She does not know how to read or write in any of her three languages (French, English, Twi) and so I have the privilege of teaching her how to read and write in French. She is so smart and is catching on so fast. She really, really wants to learn.

Most of these girls come from rural areas in Ghana. Life in villages is hard, as there is often not enough food or any way to get an education. Most girls believe that coming to Accra will bring them economic opportunity. Unfortunately, most of them end up living on the streets. Many of these girls turn to prostitution in order to survive. Others opt for selling various items, such as water or food items, or working as porters carrying bags for those who come off buses. I have been told that neither of these jobs bring in as much money as prostitution. Many of the girls are sexually abused, some are raped. Many have more than one child. They do not have adequate sanitation, access to clean water, enough food to eat, or money to pay for hospital fees or medicine if they are sick.

For more information, check out http://www.said-ghana.com/