Child labor causes lower numbers at orphanage
Gone to Ghana
Kimberly Foli
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: The Scene
Portia, a girl who was living at the orphanage, is now selling water sachets at the station in Adenta. I nearly cried when I found out.
I'm sure others are hawking on the streets as well. I talked to the head Madame about this, with worry visibly showing in my face.
"This is life in Ghana," she said. She then explained to me that when she was an infant, her father died.
Her mother had to raise her on her own, and so it was expected that the daughter work alongside her mother in the markets.
She said that is how her mom got money for her to go to school.
I seriously doubt that all of these children are going to school though. Upset about learning of Portia's new life away from the orphanage, I wandered outside to play with some of the remaining children.
I was helping this little girl, Coco, make bead necklaces when I overheard a fight erupt between two of the younger boys.
I rushed over to where Michael and Rich were swinging at each other and I separated them. Michael ran off and Rich picked up some stones to throw at him.
I grabbed onto his tiny hand and sat him down on the concrete step. I told him that he needed to play nice and tried to calm him down. He pointed to his little arm and gave me one of those puppy dogs looks.
"I know Michael hit you, but I saw you hit him, too," I said. "You have to play nice." I gave him a hug and then turned around to go and help Coco with the necklaces.
I looked back just in time to see Rich climb up a slanted board that was leaning against the concrete step.
I yelled at him to get off, but there was no time. The board dropped to the ground, and Rich's face smacked against the corner of the concrete step.
I rushed over to him and had him in my arms before he had even realized what happened. The tears started flowing, and so did the blood. I couldn't see his teeth.
I panicked and ran up to some of the women who work there. They just sat there. I realized that if anything was going to be done about him, I would have to help him myself.
I raced him into the orphanage kitchen and sat him on the counter. Nikki, a British volunteer, came to my assistance immediately. We got him a bottle of water and had him spit out all the blood. I was relieved to see that he still had a full set of teeth.
His lip, however, was gashed rather deeply on the inside. I got a cold water sachet out of the fridge and held it up to his quivering lip in order to alleviate some of the swelling. He finally quit crying, but would not let me put him down for quite some time.
I usually try not to give in to their needy tantrums, but it's so hard not to. I've never given so many hugs in my life.
I'm going to miss these kids terribly when June rolls around and I leave this place. If you would like to find out how you can help out with my orphanage project, just check out my blog at www.kimberfoli.blogspot.com.
I'm sure others are hawking on the streets as well. I talked to the head Madame about this, with worry visibly showing in my face.
"This is life in Ghana," she said. She then explained to me that when she was an infant, her father died.
Her mother had to raise her on her own, and so it was expected that the daughter work alongside her mother in the markets.
She said that is how her mom got money for her to go to school.
I seriously doubt that all of these children are going to school though. Upset about learning of Portia's new life away from the orphanage, I wandered outside to play with some of the remaining children.
I was helping this little girl, Coco, make bead necklaces when I overheard a fight erupt between two of the younger boys.
I rushed over to where Michael and Rich were swinging at each other and I separated them. Michael ran off and Rich picked up some stones to throw at him.
I grabbed onto his tiny hand and sat him down on the concrete step. I told him that he needed to play nice and tried to calm him down. He pointed to his little arm and gave me one of those puppy dogs looks.
"I know Michael hit you, but I saw you hit him, too," I said. "You have to play nice." I gave him a hug and then turned around to go and help Coco with the necklaces.
I looked back just in time to see Rich climb up a slanted board that was leaning against the concrete step.
I yelled at him to get off, but there was no time. The board dropped to the ground, and Rich's face smacked against the corner of the concrete step.
I rushed over to him and had him in my arms before he had even realized what happened. The tears started flowing, and so did the blood. I couldn't see his teeth.
I panicked and ran up to some of the women who work there. They just sat there. I realized that if anything was going to be done about him, I would have to help him myself.
I raced him into the orphanage kitchen and sat him on the counter. Nikki, a British volunteer, came to my assistance immediately. We got him a bottle of water and had him spit out all the blood. I was relieved to see that he still had a full set of teeth.
His lip, however, was gashed rather deeply on the inside. I got a cold water sachet out of the fridge and held it up to his quivering lip in order to alleviate some of the swelling. He finally quit crying, but would not let me put him down for quite some time.
I usually try not to give in to their needy tantrums, but it's so hard not to. I've never given so many hugs in my life.
I'm going to miss these kids terribly when June rolls around and I leave this place. If you would like to find out how you can help out with my orphanage project, just check out my blog at www.kimberfoli.blogspot.com.