Two Steps Forward

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Civil war brings chaos, violence, and an uncertain future for all those swept up in its wake. The most vulnerable of these are the children, who often must flee their homes and villages at a moment’s notice.

The lucky ones leave with their families intact.

"I do not know how I left Liberia. But I can remember staying with a couple in Guinea who told me that I followed them in the bush when they fled from Liberia. I asked whether they know my parents. They said no."

Sensee came to Ghana with her older brother James. James took care of Sensee for a while, helping her with school and basic necessities. In 2004, James disappeared from home. Sensee hasn’t been to school since.

"We were in school when the rebels attacked the campus. Everyone scattered. I was picked up by an ECOMOG solder. I later boarded a ship to Ghana without seeing my parents again."

Many, however, are forced to escape alone, or with whoever happens to be near. These children, once separated from their families, may not know if their parents are alive or dead. Some never see or hear from them again.

At Buduburam, these "unaccompanied" kids have spent years, moving from childhood to young adulthood, without a parent’s guidance, love, and encouragement. Fostered with families sometimes five and six children deep, they scrape by with whatever means they have available. Most of them, however, barely have enough to fulfill their most basic needs. Given such a meager existence, they certainly cannot afford to "indulge" themselves with textbooks and school fees.

Naomi fled from Liberia with relatives of a friend. A lady named Sarah brought her to Ghana but has since abandoned her. She does not know the whereabouts of her parents.

"I came from Liberia on a ship with Uncle Jerry [George’s present caretaker]. He says he saw my parents being killed. I cannot afford school fees because things are hard."

Yet even living in as barren a place as a refugee camp, they realize how invaluable an education is. Irene, Sensee and others wait patiently for the day they will return to school and complete their educations.

Become a sponsor and help an "unaccompanied" young person fulfill his or her modest dream of graduating from high school.