Child trafficking in Ghana

Human trafficking is an international problem affecting millions of people in many countries across the world. In Ghana however, the internal trafficking of children is one of the biggest challenges. Children in Ghana are subject to the worst forms of labour including: Sexual slavery and prostitution for children as young as ten years old Hazardous labour including mining, fishing, agriculture, and domestic servitude for children as young as six years old Due to ignorance, poverty, and broken homes, children are often “given out” by parents to fishermen, usually with a verbal agreement, for as little as $50 - $100 per annum. Trafficked children represent cheap labor for the fishermen who exploit them. Children are usually kept under bondage and are often ill-treated, malnourished and forced to work extremely long hours in deplorable and dangerous conditions, sometimes without adult supervision.  

Social work is not something that is commonly practised with individuals who appear to be physically fit but these children are in urgent need of psychological support and social work input. In February 2015 I will be joining Projects Abroad to volunteer for 3 weeks in Ghana.

I will be using my skills as a social worker to enhance the limited support that is available to these children and their local communities. My time will be spent supporting children to: • Increase literacy and numeracy; • Promote early childhood development; • Improve hygiene levels of the children; and • Increase emotional support and care to the children In order to volunteer my time I need to raise approximately £3000. This will go towards travel, costs of the host family, safety equipment, and resources for the children and their community. This will be added to the funds already set aside from myself and a social work colleague who will also be volunteering her time. We are both grateful for any sponsorship, anything you can spare to support this cause.