Cheerful Hearts Foundation in collaboration with Child Rights Ambassadors, Denmark initiated a pilot project ?MY RIGHT MY FUTURE? in the Gomoa Nyanyano fishing community with the aim to reduce child labour and increase school enrolment through increase awareness on rights of children, dangers of child labour & trafficking, importance or education and importance of community volunteering. The project funded by the Danish Youth Council (DUF) began February, 2014 and ends November, 2014. The project initially trained 20 community volunteers from Gomoa Nyanyano as peer educator who went house to house to create more educational awareness campaign with parents, children, fishermen and entire community as a means of achieving the said project objective.
Including other numerous activities geared towards achieving the project goal was a community durbar which would involve all stakeholders in the community to ensure a maximum ownership of the project by the community hence sustainability.
Finally the second community durbar of the ?My Right ? My Future project came off on the on the 27th day of October, 2014 at Nyanyano Old Palace. Prior to the event, Cheerful Hearts Foundation was fortunate to gain the total support of the community and its leaders. The Head Chief of the community Nana Obeng Wiabo V and his council, Chief Fisherman, Miss Monica Bentum (Community Health Nurse) and His Lordship Justice Nii Kpakpo Abrahams who is a former Ghanaian High Court Judge and a citizen of Nyanyano assisted us greatly in the organizing of the event.
The event which discussed the importance of education, Rights of children, dangers of child labour & trafficking and volunteerism, brought together all stakeholders including The Stool Secretary of Gomoa Nyanyano Traditional Council and all 13 council of elders, Chief fisherman (Nana Awotwe II), Assemblymen, some religious leaders, Director of Social welfare for Gomoa East District (Mr. Eric Agyapong), The Inspector of Police Nyanyano, Headmaster?s of all 10 schools in Nyanyano, Unit committee Chairman, Executive Director of Campaign for Learning Disabilities Ghana (Mr. Padmore Quansah), Executive Director of Holy Heart Foundation (Mr. Frank Korsi), Project Manager of Gadraige Aid Foundation International-Mr. Justice Arthur, former Executive Director of Ghana-Denmark Association (Nana Danchie) as well the media partners TV Africa.
The programme was chaired by Mr. Emmanuel Augustine K. Awote (Nana Sagoe) who is the Stool Secretary of Gomoa Nyanyano Traditional Council and was supported by 13 council of elders who are all sub-chiefs of the Nyanyano Traditional Council.
As the sun shines brightly with cool sea breeze with no signs of rain, school children from Franklin Annan Memorial, Ebenezer Memorial, Sea Breeze, Mother Care, Premier school Complex, Kumi Memorial etc began to fill the seating space as well as the invited guest, parents, traders, fishermen, passerby?s etc.
The event started at 11am with a cultural performance of drumming and dancing followed by the introduction of guests and Chairman for the event.
The Chairman who represented the Head Chief of Nyanyano Nana Obeng Wiabo V in his remarks commended the efforts of Cheerful Hearts Foundation for the great work in the fight against child labour and trafficking, promoting importance of education as well as community volunteer work. He praised the MY RIGHTS MY FUTURE Project for its promising future in the children?s life and future of Nyanyano. He also informed the community to now take advantage of the new scholarship opportunity set up by the Chief of Nyanyano known as the Nana Wiabo Educational Trust Fund.? The Educational trust fund is established to help support brilliant students to pursue higher education to help increase school enrolment and a better future for citizens of Nyanyano.
The 20 community volunteers who were trained by on the My Rights My Future project were formally introduced to the people of Nyanyano. They were lauded and praised by the chief and people gathered, creating a positive impression associated with volunteerism.
Students from Kumi Memorial school did a short drama on the importance of education and effects of irresponsible parenthood and was marvelous. Other schools such as Ebenezer Memorial and Franklin Annan Memorial school also gave speeches addressing why they were thankful to be in school and how important an education is to their future.
Mr. Eric Opoku Agyemang then gave a brief report to the community about the My Right-My Future project including our partners CRA as well as DUF and its work and also thanked the chief?s and people of Nyanyano for their support to the activities of CHF/CRA.
The Chief Fisherman in his message also echoed the importance of education to his sector now due to new ways of fishing and its technological advancement hence leading to the establishment of the national fisheries college by the government. He added that in some few years to come without education one could no longer work in the fishing industry. He said that, currently even the fishermen are sending their children to school for a better future which is a clear indication that education must be a concern of the entire Nyanyano community.
Music interludes and cultural displays accompanied the various speeches from other Guest speakers including Mr. George Arthur (Head Master Franklin Annan Memorial), Assembly Men, Mr. Jane Aidoo (Director of Jane Complex School) and most especially Mr. Eric Agyapong who is the Director of Social Welfare for the Gomoa East district. Each speaker talked the power of education in different forms and the impact that it can make in the community and a child?s life. The Director of social welfare further explained the various rights to the child and also informed parents not to send their children out after 8pm which is against the laws of our state with regards to children?s right.
After the Chairman?s official closing remarks, the programme continued with an exciting dance competition for all the various invited schools. Representatives from the various schools were great dancers and this sparked a very tight and exciting dance competition which brought overcrowd which was difficult to penetrate as everyone wanted to see the dance show.
TV Africa News representative went to capture seen of children working at the shore and later conducted interviews with the Chief Fisherman to find out more of his strategies to end child labour in the community. Mr. Eric Opoku Agyemang being interviewed by the TV Africa team proposed that the communities enact and implement bye-laws to help reduce the problem of child labour in our various communities.
It was a wonderful event and it was great to see the support that the community gives to our projects and to their children?s education. The full impact of the ?My right- My Future project? is currently being evaluated and would be put online soon. You can check later updates on www.cheerfulheartsfoundation.org or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CheerfulHeartsFoundationGhana
Many thanks and appreciation to everyone who contributed to making this event and project a success!
Eric Opoku Agyemang
Project Director
Cheerful Hearts Foundation
