God's Work

Yesterday I went for the first time to the drop-in center for street kids that this organization called Chance for Children runs. I am going to be working with the organization on developing several parts of their program and needed to see first hand how the center functioned. I should preface this with what I saw on my way to the drop-in center and mention that I did not take any pictures because it was my first time being introduced to the children and staff and I didn't want them to feel uncomfortable but the staff told me I'm welcome to take pictures if I want so maybe next time. The center is located in a very poor area of town called Jamestown near the water's edge. In parts it looks like a shanty town. But what I noticed most were the amount of young children wandering the streets and working. I saw kids pushing carts and carrying heavy loads on their heads (which you can actually see all over Ghana). They often look very disheveled and dirty and when you consider the labor they are doing and the fact that they haven't probably eaten all day, it's quite disturbing. You start to wonder where their parents are and where do they sleep. And then we arrived at the drop-in center and there these same sorts of kids were. Immediately I noticed laughing, playing, smiling kids and for a moment it could have been a school of some sort. But then, when I look in the corner I saw 3 kids sleeping on the floor on a mat - maybe they were 8 years old - and I realizes they are sleeping because they have probably been working tirelessly and sleeping on a table in some shop or not sleeping at all. Reality sunk in about what these kids are really facing. There are no shelters for them to sleep like in New York and no police officers are making sure these children are appropriately cared for. In fact, no one would probably be looking after them if it wasn't for this center and places like it.

So one of the workers, Fred, gave me a tour and I was so impressed with his level of enthusiasm about the work they are doing there. While we walked around he told me that "this is God's work," not just going to church on Sundays, but actually working with these children. So he showed me their routine during the day. The children come at 8am after a night sleeping on the street, they bathe, they wash their clothes and then lay them out on the grass in their backyard to dry, they can get a hot meal and sleep. They also have homemade foosball and table tennis tables that their carpenter made for them in the backyard. They have little rooms where they learn batiking, arts and crafts, carpentry and then other rooms where they learn basic math and English. As he was showing me around, a man arrived who comes weekly to teach the kids drumming and dancing. Immediately, 5 children bolted for the door to the room where the drums are kept and were banging on it trying to get in. As soon as they got in they scrambled for the drums and sprinted across the lawn to start playing. I have never seen so much excitement and eagerness. What the worker told me is that they expose many things to the children and they watch and see which kids gravitate towards which activities whether it is learning a trade like batiking or maybe going to school and then they foster that. So I watched the children as they had their drumming lesson and then progressed to dancing and I was really impressed as they danced traditional African dances to complicated drum rhythms. Then I was taken upstairs where they have recently opened a girls home. Six girls live there and most attend school during the day. When I was there, the girls involved in a painting activity. They also have a boys home a little outside of the city. These are children that have excelled in their drop-in center and have shown consistency and an ability to live with others. Also...quite an amazing program.

As I went back down to the yard (where I should also mention they are teaching the children to plant and keep a garden), I was pulled over to the foosball table by a boy. Most of the children can't speak English so that was his way of asking me to play with him. He kicked my butt at foosball and laughed at me for how little skill I had. Then another boy came over and so he helped me out a bit. I taught them to high five when they scored and they thought that was pretty neat.

It was an inspirational several hours and I really look forward to going there to spend more time. These children are like little sponges just waiting to soak up learning, play, attention, affection, and basically anything you are willing to give them because they've been so neglected and deprived of a normal childhood. I just hope that I can contribute in some way.