Chance for Childhood empowers Parents of children with disabilities

Chance for Childhood (CfC), a child-centred NGO promoting safe and inclusive learning environments, has launched a Livelihood Empowerment Initiative to support parents of children with disabilities participating in CfC’s Inclusive Education Project in Accra.

The initiative aims to improve household income, reduce financial stress, and enhance educational opportunities for children with disabilities by strengthening the economic resilience of their families.

As part of the programme, CfC awarded small grants totalling GH₵100,000.00 to 20 parents to enable them invest in sustainable livelihood activities. Beneficiaries used the funds to purchase start-up kits and expand existing businesses, including sewing machines, deep freezers, container shops, convenience goods, cosmetics and food items.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Richard Opoku, Inclusion and Safeguarding Lead at Chance for Childhood, highlighted the persistent economic challenges faced by families of children with disabilities.

“Despite progress in access to education, many parents of children with disabilities continue to face economic hardship. Parents often sacrifice their financial stability to care for their children. Through this initiative, we are empowering parents to create sustainable livelihoods that strengthen their families and ensure that children with disabilities can learn and thrive in inclusive environments,” he said. 

Mr. Opoku added that by equipping parents with financial literacy skills and access to small business opportunities, CfC were supporting them to generate stable incomes to have positive impact on education, inclusion and overall well-being of their children with disabilities.

In addition to the grants, parents participated in a five-day financial literacy training facilitated by Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd. The training covered key topics such as budgeting, savings and small-scale business management. Opportunity International also supports the programme by managing savings accounts opened for all participants.

Beneficiaries of the initiative shared how the support has transformed their livelihoods and ability to care for their children.

“The support came at the right time. My trading capital had reduced, but the grant helped me restock and keep my business running. I no longer worry about closing down. With the investment made into my business, I am now able to buy medication for my child when the one provided at the eye clinic finishes,” said Abigail Asiamah.

“Before the CfC grant, I could only buy a small quantity of items to sell. With the support, I expanded my stock, and now customers no longer leave my table because what they need is always available. This school term, I was able to save to pay my children’s school fees and provide books for them,” added Rahinatu Musah.

The Livelihood Empowerment Initiative is implemented with funding support from Theirworld, and aligns with CfC’s mission to ensure that every child can live with dignity and reach their full potential, regardless of ability or background.

NPC PREACHES PEACE IN SCHOOLS

The Department of Capacity Development and Outreach (CDO) of the National Peace Council (NPC) has rounded up a series of engagement with15 Senior High/ Technical Schools with a call on students to be agents of peace. 

The sensitisation exercise which engaged over 22,500 students encouraged students to reject violence and always adopt nonviolent ways of addressing grievances.

The NPC Governing Board Member, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, speaking to Students at the Kanda Technical Institute in Accra, tasked students to be disciplined, respect authority, and be tolerant of each other.

Noting that "discipline is the bridge between your aim and your goals in life" Sheikh Shaibu urged the students to be careful about the choices they made in life to utilise the investment in their education. 

The Director of Capacity Development and Outreach, NPC, Mrs. Janet Sarney-Kuma, who took them through the mandate of the National Peace Council, highlighted the values of peace, tolerance, discipline, respects, cooperation and non-violence to enhance peaceful coexistence at the school.

She entreated students to eschew violence, coexist peacefully with others while sharing some practical ways of addressing and managing conflicts among students and within the school’s space. 

The Director explained the causes and effects of conflicts and how they impacted on our society, and encouraged students to be advocates and Ambassadors of Peace.

The Principal of the Institute, Madam Emily Akua Sam thanked the delegation from the NPC and for the messages they shared with them.

She noted the essence of promoting peace and expressed the hope of working with NPC to keep on sensitising students on peaceful coexistence.

Essence of School Campaign

The recent upsurge of incidents violence in schools caused harm, deaths and destruction of some school properties. To quell the rate of these incidents the National Peace Council rolled out School Violence Prevention and Sensitisation Programme across some selected Senior High Schools in Greater Accra Region.

 

The initiative geared towards promoting peaceful coexistence among students, largely equipped school authorities with tools to prevent and manage conflicts effectively. By addressing the root causes of violence and fostering a culture of tolerance, the NPC aims to make schools spaces safer and conducive for teaching and learning. 

Schools Engaged

The CDO spearheaded the campaign engaged 15 Senior High/ Technical Schools, including St. Margaret Mary Senior High Technical, Kinbu Senior High Technical, Accra Technical Training Centre, Amasaman Senior High Technical, and Ordogonno Senior High Schools.

Others were St. John's Grammar School, Accra High, O’Rielly Senior High, Christian Methodist Senior High, and the West African Senior High as well as Ngleshie Amanfrom Senior High and Tema Senior High Schools.