Kunfusi Evangelical Church of Ghana Child and Youth Development Centre held its one-year anniversary on April 1st, 2023 at Kunfusi, a community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District. As part of the celebration, the centre sought to raise awareness of Child Protection Issues at the community level in order to guarantee the safety of children in the community against all forms of abuse.
The occasion was graced by notable personalities, including the Chief of Kunfusi and his elders, the Chief Imam of the community, Also present were the FCP pastor and leadership, a resource person from the Social Welfare Department, Bole who gave the speech on Child Protection. Approximately 400 community members were also in attendance. In his speech, Mr. Jonathan Sabuli, the Project Director for the centre, stated that they are a 3-member staff (Child Development Workers) and twelve volunteers that help in the running of the centre.
He further added that the programme was put in place to specifically perform two functions, the first being to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the centre, which commenced on March 1st, 2022 and the second, to raise awareness of child protection issues in the community Mr. Sabuli affirmed that as part of the celebration, they were hoping to raise awareness of child protection issues, and how as a community they can take care of children and protect them against all forms of abuse. He stressed that the programme is a way of conscientising the community members of the dangers of exposing children to all forms of abuse. Mr. Sabuli further added that the program was also to let the community members, chief and his elders know that child protection is a global issue and for that matter cannot be left to the care of just the biological parents of the child. This he said will help raise children to be responsible adults in future.
Mr. Sabuli mentioned that children are the future leaders, and so if they are exposed to abuses at an early stage, they will grow to become social misfits, contrary to the desire of every parent to see their children have a better life and be responsible leaders tomorrow. In his concluding remarks, Mr. Sabuli added that children are assets to every community and if they are cared for well, they will grow to become shinning stars as parents have always wished for their children. Hence, the need for an-all-hands on the deck approach towards helping propagate and protect the rights of children.
Also, speaking on the occasion, the Social Welfare Officer, Mr. Saaka Blaise stressed that the two parents of the child can only guide the child to an extent.
He illustrated this point by making a child stand in the middle whilst two adults representing the parents stood beside the child – one to the right and the other to the left. He observed that the left and right are protected but the front and back of the child are not, thereby exposing the child to dangers from the back or front.
Therefore, members of the community have a responsibility to help the parents protect these children. He illustrated this by calling four more adults to proceed to the front – two males and two females representing the community who together with the parents made a hedge around the child, protecting the child from any form of abuse. He concluded by reiterating the fact that Child Protection is a community led initiative.
Mr. Francis Kipo Toyiri, the Church Partner Committee (CPC) Chairman took the gathering through how the centre started.
Mr Francis mentioned that about three years ago, the Pastor of the centre, Rev. Rtd Jon Jimah Dari informed him about an impending visit to the church by a team from Compassion International Ghana. Following the arrival of the guests, a couple of proposals were made to the people of Kunfusi, one of which was to establish a Child and Youth Development Centre through the Evangelical Church of Ghana, Kunfusi branch. The magnitude of the work at hand was herculean – a daunting task indeed. They however trusted God to see them through. One of the requirements was an office space where the centre will operate from and at least six classroom space and staff to be employed and trained to manage the centre.
The community was involved in the whole process, considering the seriousness of the work. Members of the community demonstrated their commitment and support for the initiative by making voluntary cash donations, amounting to two hundred and twenty-six cedis, thirty-six pesewas.
Source: nkilgifmonline.com
