It is amazing, almost unbelievable how some companies and institutions are striving to outdo each other to sponsor beauty contests and other social events but they are unwilling to assist unfortunate children in orphanages.
These children need just a fraction of what companies and other sponsors lavish on beauty pageants that have become numerous on Ghana's social calendar.
You knock on doors, seeking a little help for orphans but the doors are firmly shut. You persist but nothing happens. Tears swell in your eyes when you read in newspapers huge amounts these companies give out to sponsor social events. Your heart bleeds.
As a young girl, it's been my dream to have a place to shelter orphans and support street kids but if wishes were horses beggars will ride.
It is just a dream but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step, as the Chinese say.
I completed the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) this year and I am aspiring to be a broadcast journalist. I am doing my National Service with the Ghana News Agency and I have decided to use my voice to talk for the needy and the voiceless.
I am from the Kwahu Mountains and Easter is our main festival but during this year's Easter festivities I had to forgo the fun and I travelled to Asebu, a village in the Central Region, with a friend with whom I share the same passion, a passion to help the needy.
Mame Esi, also a student of GIJ, and I went "to have fun" at an orphanage, Children's Home of Hope, and it was amazing the hugs and the smiles we received from the children.
We saw that these Children yearn for love, hugs, kisses and more and we spent three day because we had to go back to school. I told myself I owed these kids some love.
During my final examinations I could not stop dreaming about these kids neither could I wait to be with them. I submitted my project work on the 19th of July and I was in a state transport bus heading to Cape Coast on July 20.
Since that day my life has never been the same. As soon as the kids set their eyes on me it was all smiles, laughter, kisses and hugs. I was touched. I had three months to prepare for my national service but I decided "I'm not going anywhere I'm staying right here with these lovely kids".
My mother had been very supportive as well as some friends who understand the language of the needy but it has not been smooth volunteering.
I gave up my job and people kept on telling me "hey Akua you should work for money not for free." It is sad to know that a lot of people do not want to be volunteers. To me it is the most rewarding job I've ever had in my life.
Beauty contests, fun games and some social events get institutions and companies to sponsor them but Mame Esi and I combed Accra and Tema, from one company to the other, presented letters for sponsorships to be able to organize a little Christmas party for these kids. We drew blank.
We presented over 15 sponsorship letters but none of these companies donated a cedi or some of their products to be given to these orphans.
My friend Mame Esi wept but what else could we do? Together we planned to use some our national service allowance to cater for the simple needs of these kids who have become a part of our lives.
I am very proud to be a volunteer in Ghana. Please when we eat, drink, wear good cloths, celebrate and make merry, let us not forget the orphans.
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