AAI Ghana - Humanitarian Efforts
AAI places a heavy focus on Family Preservation within Ghana. A child is only placed in the adoption program after efforts for him/her to remain with their biological family have failed. We support Ghana's children and families in a number of ways. A portion of adoption fees go directly to provide humanitarian support. Primarily, donations are made to NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) who focus on orphan care and family preservation.
Key Projects:
Change-A-Life Grants: One of our main goals in Ghana is to empower single parents to continue caring for their children. Our Change-A-Life grant program does just that. These grants provide single parents with vocational training, education, or seed money to start a business (according to the parent's interests and ability). One past recipient started a yam-selling business. A current recipient is attending beauty school with plans to be a stylist in the future. We have an ever-growing list of parents who hope to be grant recipients in the future. A grant is typically $500. If you would like to fund an entire grant, or help with a partial donation, please click HERE. Those that are funding an entire grant may contact Anita@adoptionadvocates.org to choose the grant recipient.
Auntie Grants: In many children's homes across Ghana there is a severe lack of fund to provide an adequate number of caretakers for the children. These caretakers are lovingly referred to as "Aunties." We provide grants in six month increments to children's homes who are in need of additional Aunties to care for the children. The grant provides a monthly income of 150 cedis to the Auntie, renewed every six months on a case by case basis. An entire grant is funded with $600. To contribute to the Auntie Grant fund, please click HERE.
Larteh Village Orphan Project: One of our NGO partners in Ghana has been made aware of a small village in the Eastern Region that is in desperate need of assistance to care for its orphaned children. The village of around 500 people is caring for 37 orphaned children in a make-shift "foster home." The children are lacking in all basic necessities - food, clothing, education, medical care, and sanitary items. Many of the children are quite malnourished. AAI has been asked to assist in the care of these children. If you would like to make a donation towards this end, please click HERE.
Survival Paks: Parents and children living on the streets or in the marketplaces of Ghana often lack even the most basic necessities. Suvival Paks consist of 2-gallon ziploc bags that contain items such as socks, protein bars, canned meat, soap, a wash rag, toothbrush/toothepaste, plastic poncho, fever reducer, and an NGO Resource List (numbers they can call for assistance). The paks also include one "2-yard"--a 2 yard piece of cloth that is used as a towel, blanket, baby carrier, dress/skirt, and many other things in Ghana. If you would like to collect items and provide Survival Paks, please contact Anita Gillispie for more information.
Other ways we contribute to basic needs in Ghana include:
- Food and Medical care for children living in residence of foster homes or children's homes.
- Care of infants and toddlers that will be placed for domestic adoption within Ghana.
- Educational Sponsorships for vulnerable children still living with their family.
- Sponsorships to cover the cost of medical care for persons living with HIV/AIDS or other chronic diseases.
- School uniforms and books for low income students.
- Funding for families to secure health insurance through Ghana's National Health Insurance Scheme.
- Employment opportunities for widows, single mothers, or other at risk women who would like to care for children in foster homes or children's homes.
- Nutritional support for struggling families, children's homes, and school children.
- Free HIV/AIDS educational instruction throughout Ghana.
- Free child care, nutritional, and first aid instruction within the community.
- Sponsorship for young adults in need of vocational training.
- Assistance to struggling new mothers (hospital bills, vaccinations, infant care education)
- Support and assistance to mothers and children living on the street or in market places.