Trailblazers Ghana, a non-profit organization in collaboration with Fun House Nursery, a multinational and bi-lingual nursery school in Accra, has donated food items and stationery worth GHS9, 000 to the Home of Taqwa Orphanage at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region.

Trailblazers Ghana seeks to improve and empower women and children in rural and underprivileged communities.

The items donated to the orphanage include rice, sardines, noodles, tom brown, cooking oil, sugar, canned tomatoes, gari, beans, stationery, shoes, toys, drinks, confectionery, books and educational materials for their library.

The General Manger of the Home of Taqwa Orphanage, Waris Alhassan, said the support centre for underprivileged children started in 2014.

According to him, when they started, there was no residential facility with a school attached as they have it today.

“We didn't have a facility like this. We had orphans and we tried to seek sponsorship for them so every month we gave them stipends through their guardians. But, especially in our Zongo communities, we realized that the guardians don't spend it on the children and you see them roaming instead of being in school. So, we had to look for land and put up this place with God's help and the help of others “he noted.

Subsequently, the residential facility was opened on the 13th of August 2019.

He said the orphanage had about 200 children, but was forced to cut down on the numbers after losing its international sponsorship in 2021.

“We lost some of our sponsorship from outside, and so it became a big problem for us. We had to rely on donations so we laid off some workers and reduced the number of children because some children had other options of living so we took them out of here.

He explained further that their aim is not only to keep the children in the facility “but also to give them education and the right moral training so that once they go out, they can fit into the society and not be vulnerable but valuable.”

Challenges

He enumerated the many challenges the orphanage faces in its operations and called for the support of all and sundry to sustain them.

“The biggest challenge here is access to foodstuffs because the children eat thrice a day. So, we will need help with that. Education is also very expensive now, especially running a private school because we don't have the help of the government. Getting teachers on board, paying them, and buying books takes a lot.

According to him, paying workers is also a challenge since they do not have adequate income-generating activities. He, however, hinted at plans to start a poultry farm that would feed the orphanage.

He revealed that they're into Shea butter production which is processed and exported, but so far the revenue from that hasn't been enough.

He also complained about infrequent water supply from the Ghana Water Company Limited. Despite the irregular flow, he said they pay a lot for water, and their tanks cannot hold a lot of water.

The Administrator of Trailblazers Ghana, Ms Gifty Takyi, said the donation with the support of Fun House Nursery was done in the spirit of Christmas as their way of supporting underprivileged children.

“It's Christmas, the season of giving. We're making merry so we decided that we put smiles on the faces of these orphans who find themselves in these orphanages. We visited some orphanages and decided to solicit support for the children. Fun House Nursery came to our aid. In partnership with parents, staff and their affiliates, they did a collection of items and then we came together and decided to donate to the Home of Taqwa.”

She expressed the hope that these items would go a long way to help the children and make them happy this Christmas.

“We are thankful to Fun House Nursery for this kind gesture and we entreat others who can help to reach out to these orphanages this season, next year and beyond. They need help “she noted.
Ms Takyi encouraged the children to take their studies seriously, obey their facilitators and be of good behaviour as they’re working on more support for them.

Funhouse Nursery is a multinational and bi-lingual nursery school in the Airport Residential area, Accra, which offers a welcoming, friendly, and stimulating atmosphere.

Funhouse believes that a child’s role is to experience learning through fun and adventure, hence, they always strive to provide a child-centred learning environment that encourages active learning, involvement, and discovery through a hands-on approach.