The Girl Whose Eyes Cry out for Help

The issue of child labour and for that matter the exploitation of the female child especially, sometimes appeara as tall tales or gives you the bandwagon effect of shouting with the crowd “this is bad it must be stopped!”, but having a personal encounter is another ball game altogether.

Somewhere in the middle of last year I went home from work at about 6.40pm to find a girl about 8 years peddling oranges in front of the main gate to our apartment. So I asked who she was and why she was sitting there at that hour of the evening. My two ten year olds quickly retorted “Mummy she is our friend and we buy oranges from her every evening” so as courtesy would have it I asked how she was doing and went in doors. I came home a few days later and there was the same girl sitting comfortably at her usual spot with a few oranges on her tray, her eyes calling out at me for help as if to say “please do not drive me away”. Reading in between the lines the children say to me “Mummy won’t you have oranges?” “No” I said “Mummy please buy the rest of her oranges” I thought twice about it and asked them to have it and pay for it.

Later that evening, I started questioning my girls and got to know a few things about their latest fancy. I sensed that even as children they could feel the girl’s lack of love and basic desires. So at our next encounter I sat with them and started chit chatting. I offered to go and see her parents and officially ask for permission for her to come over and play at her leisure but she vehemently said NO and that she would be beaten to pulp if her mother found out she comes to play with my girls.

So I started thinking? What do you do if you come home and found a young girl with eyes crying out for love and help but very reluctant or better still restrained from getting help? How does one offer to help without being too intrusive and how does one make her good intentions known without raising people’s suspicions?

Well I have not found answers to those questions yet but it has moved me into a process of critically examining the situation of the girl child. For example I have started taking very serious note of the child labour situation in the country. I have been taking keen interest in the number of young girls selling ice water at the Nima junction in the evenings sometimes as late as 8.30pm weaving in between vehicles with some of them being as young as 7 years. One wonders when they would have time to rest and glance at their books if they are in school and if they have books at all. One wonders the diverse types of violations they have to suffer just to make ends meet. One wonders what type of policies are available to protect these girls and if the people we have queued up to vote for (sometimes for hours) even have these young girls on their web designed radar screens, screens which are often too complex for mere humans such as myself to understand.

The children of today have their childhood stolen away by a complex mirage of things. Do not think only about deprivation, even in rich homes the television for example has stolen not only the childhoods of children but the children themselves away from their families. Careers of parents have deprived children from enjoying their childhoods etc. So you see, it is a complex web of issues that needs to be thought about fast and hard.

Anyway while you are still pondering I also have some serious strategizing to do about that 8 year old girl whose eyes continue to cry out to me for help even though presently I am at my wits ends as to how to offer that support

Beatrice Boakye-Yiadom
Acting Grants Manager

CERTIFICATE COURSE IN RESOURCE MOBILIZATION FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS

September 7 – October 2, 2009

• Are you an Executive Director or manager of a non-profit organization
• Are you working in the NGO sector?
• Is your organization’s sustainability threatened by shrinking donor support?
• Are you in charge of fundraising and resource mobilisation in your
organization
• Do want to enhance your skills in fundraising?
• Are you a trainer or consultant in fundraising and resource mobilisation for
the non-profit sector?

If your answer to any or all of the above questions is yes, then this 20 days course organised jointly by GIMPA, the Resource Alliance (UK) and the African Women’s Development Foundation (AWDF) Ghana is definitely a must!

The Certificate in Resources Mobilization for Non-Profits course will equip you with critical knowledge and skills which when applied in everyday work situations will result in a significant increase in the effectiveness of your fundraising.

Come and learn from the experience of fundraising experts and donor agents. This is your organization’s ticket to financial sustainability.

Course content

The courses content address critical issues including the following:

• Role and relationships of state, business and voluntary sector
• Public policy environment within which non-profits operate
• Main sources of non-profit funding and support
• Donor prospecting and research; donor motivations and trends in giving
• Ethics, accountability and transparency
• Effective Communications and resource mobilisation
• Strategic planning, financial planning
• Resource Mobilisation Techniques (Diaspora Fundraising, Fundraising events,
Payroll Giving, Corporate Fundraising)
• Managing self (self-awareness, time management, stress management) and
others (suppliers, volunteers, staff)

Target Audience

• People working in resource mobilisation in the non-profit sector. They may
be involved full-time or part-time in mobilising resources and may be paid
or volunteers
• Trainers or consultants in fundraising and resource mobilisation for the non-
profit sector
• Officials with responsibility for fundraising in public Institutions

Cost

Tuition fee: US$ 1.500
Accommodation: Air Conditioned room - $18.4 per night
Executive Room - $42 per night (includes dinner)
Meals: Lunch $5, Dinner $5

Entry Requirement

• Applicants with first degree or its equivalent are preferred though
completion of other certificate and diploma courses may be sufficient.
• Applicant must know how to use email and word processing and simple
spreadsheet software.
• Applicant must have a minimum of one year’s experience in mobilising
resources.

Assessment and Evaluation

• A combination of continuous assessment, exams and project presentation at
the end of the course are used to assess students for the award of
certificate.
• Participants must be regular in class for at least 90% of the course
duration to qualify for the award of certificate.

For further information about the course, please contact:

The Assistant Registrar, Business Support & Executive Programs
GIMPA, P. O. Box AH 50, Achimota – Ghana
Tel: 021-42161 or 401681-3 Ext. 1082, 1076. Email: bsep@gimpa.edu.gh
Application forms are available on GIMPA’s website: www.gimpa.edu.gh or the Cash Office, GIMPA

AWDFGrant

AWDF has put in place a small bursary to sponsor qualified grantees to attend this course. Applying Grantees should be ready to share, priority will be given to applicants who will explicitly state this in their application.

How to apply for the AWDF Grant (important)

Individuals applying should submit the following documents
• Name of organisation
• Address
• Telephone and Fax number
• Contact person's name and title
• Application letter
• Applicant’s CV
• A one page personal statement explaining why you should be considered.
• A signed recommendation letter from applicant’s organisation

Important information

The process for selecting qualified applicant will be highly competitive and will adhere strictly to the entry requirements. No application will be reviewed without a signed recommendation letter from applicant’s organisation’s head. Please send both hard and soft copies of your application documents to the following address. Soft copies should be email to awdf@awdf.org

There will be cost sharing where necessary and selected applicants will be notified.

The Grants Administrator
78 Ambassadorial Enclaves
East Legon, Accra, Ghana

PMB CT89 Cantonments
Accra, Ghana
Tel/Fax: 00233 21 782502
Tel: 00233 21 780476/7
Email: awdf@awdf.org

Please note that the deadline for receiving all applications is August 7, 2009

MAN THREATENS WOMEN ACTIVISTS WITH LAW SUIT FOR SEX BOYCOTT

This is an update to the blog I posted on women’s rights activists calling on women to go on a seven- day sex boycott (girlcott?), posted on Aril 30. I know blogger has been acting up lately and is still deciding whether or not to accept or reject comments, so I want to assume that’s the reason for the silence.

This morning it was reported that a Kenyan man is threatening to sue the G10 for ‘inciting’ his wife to deny him sex for seven days, which has caused him great distress and anguish and inability to release his tension, which led to his inability to concentrate at work etc, etc.

According to him he was accustomed to having sex with his wife three times daily. (No it is not Panadol we are talking about here). Anyway, some people think that it is the guy who should be sued for turning his wife into a sex machine, while others think he should seek medical help. A few people even thing that activists should check on the wife, he has probably given her a black eye…..

Roselynn Musa
Information & Documentation Officer

“Onamdaade” Graduate

On the 25th day of November 2008, Rose Buabeng, affectionately called Auntie Rose, declared herself team leader of the "Onamdaade" fun club or should I rather say "wahala" club???????(Ref.25/11/08 blog)

Barely six months later, there has been a massive elevation from "Onamdaade" to "Owo daade", Auntie Rose has "released" a fairly new Toyota Corolla saloon car and as it stands now is struggling to perfect her driving techniques. SSSsssshhhh rumor has it that, she is actually better than a vibrant member of the "Owodaade" club… but who am I (an "Onamdadian") to judge?

Anyway with the sudden transition of Auntie Rose to her new status ,the enviable position of team leader of Onamdaade club has been left vacant. Now the BIG question on every ones lips is “Who becomes the next leader…” is it Mama Afi or Mohammed aka Ohufo??????

Decision date is 29th May and venue is the kitchen, delegates will be drawn from all the departments and the whole electoral process is open to all.



Esi Sackey(self appointed secretary )
Volunteer, Grants Dept.

AWDF and the Women Raising Millions Campaign

It was very exciting to find out at the Women Funding Network's (WFN) annual conference (held in Atlanta, Georgia between the 30th of April and the 2nd of May) that the Women Raising Millions Campaign had surpassed it's US$150m target and raised more than US$175m. What is even more significant about the campaign is that for the very first time in history high networth women are giving huge amounts of financial resources (US$1m or more) to women's funds. This has never been done before, the North American suffragette movement for example was funded mainly by men.

Today the official press release on this momentous achievement was announced in New York and San Francisco. AWDF is proud to be one of the women's funds recognised for participating in the Women Raising Millions campaign at WFN's "Changing the face of Philanthropy Awards" luncheon.

Picture below: Abigail Burgesson, Special Programmes Manager and AWDF's donor who contributed to Women Raising Million's campaign

Albinos and Discrimation: Take a second look

I recently read a true story about a Woman who had just given birth and was being labelled a witch because she had given birth to an Albino. The in-laws did not want to have anything to do with this mum nor her baby because they feel they have been disgraced.

Come to think of it, every mum’s pain of pregnancy for nine months vanishes upon seeing her baby delivered and in one piece, but what will be your reaction if the baby happens to be an Albino???

“Albino” is the name originally given by Portuguese explorers to “white Negroes” they saw in West Africa. Since then it also has come to mean an individual, of any species of living thing, which lacks the pigments that other members of its race normally have. Albinos occur among all races of men, almost all species of domestic animals, and a wide variety of wild species. We also see, sometimes, the opposite: an intense pigmentation called “melanism”.

Enough of the History, how many times have we as individuals turned and given a second look to an Albino we see? Its even speculated that Albinos don’t die and vanish into thin air, they have magical powers and a lot more.

Discrimination against Albinos is a serious problem throughout sub-Saharan Africa, but recently in Tanzania it has taken a wicked twist: at least 19 albinos, including children, have been killed and mutilated in the past year, victims of what Tanzanian officials say is a growing criminal trade in Albino body parts. Many people in Tanzania — and across Africa, for that matter — believe Albinos have magical powers. The young are often the targets. In early May, Vumilia Makoye, 17, was eating dinner with her family in their hut in western Tanzania when two men showed up with long knives. She was killed (Credit: New York Times-June 08)

I believe, Albinos don’t choose their pigment and they depict God’s uniqueness in creation and therefore deserve our acceptance of them as such.

The next time you see an Albino, remember, they are also human and must be treated as such.



Mavis Gardiner
Finance Assistant

Update on Ekiti State Elections

6th May 2009

Dear Sisters

I would like to thank you all for your messages of support, concern and solidarity.

What happened in Ekiti State last night was an unspeakable atrocity. Before our eyes, the Resident Electoral Officer for Ekiti State, Mrs Ayoka Adebayo admitted election figures from a local government area where results were not lawfully collated, an issue over which she resigned last week. In her resignation letter she claims she was being forced to accept illegal votes, something she was not prepared to do because it would be against her Christian conscience. Her resignation was not accepted, and she agreed to return to Ekiti to complete the election provided she did so without external pressure. To our total shock and dismay, she sat here last night and produced the same results she herself had said were illegal. With these 15,000 unlawfully cast votes, the ruling party has stolen the election again.

Kayode, his Deputy and I are fine. We will continue the struggle until justice is done. What has happened goes beyond Ekiti State. We know it finds resonance in many other Nigerian States and African countries as well. As a feminist activist, my heart bleeds for yet another woman who has allowed herself to be used as another cog in the wheels of democracy. This serves as another lesson in how, where and why we recruit women into leadership.

Once again many thanks to you all.

Aluta Continua!

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi

In Homage to Mothers

GOD THOUGHT OF MOTHER

God, could not be in every place,
With loving hands to help erase
The teardrops from each baby’s face
And so He thought of Mother

He could not send us here alone
And leave us to a fate unknown
Without providing for His own
The outstretched hands of Mother

God could not watch us night and day
And kneel beside your crib and pray
Or kiss our little aches away
And so he sent us Mother

And when our childhood days begun
He simply could not take command
That’s why he placed our little hand
Securely into Mother’s

The days of youth slipped quickly by
Life’s sun rose higher in the sky
Full grown were we, yet even nigh
To love us still was Mother

And when life’s span of years shall end
I know that God will gladly send
To welcome home her child again
That ever faithful Mother.

George W. Wiseman


Well, well, well, finally I made the move…..to join the blogosphere, after several prodding’s, and not so subtle hints from my colleagues, especially my dearest officemate and friend, Nana.

Having decided to take the plunge, I am inspired by the many commercials on air these last few weeks advertising all sorts of scintillating deals and activities in honour of the upcoming Mother’s Day. By the way, can someone tell me exactly what date this Mother’s Day falls on?

I find that in the rush to advertise our projects and make a few cedis in the name of providing people with the means to honour their Mother’s, we often loose sight of the real thing – which to me should be a sober reflection and appreciation of all that our Mother’s have been and still are to us.

How many of us would have been completely lost without the loving guidance of our Mother’s? How many of us, even now, rely on our Mother’s to go through the whole exercise of mothering over and over again – looking after us, and our children – the never ending cycle of mothering.

To my mind, there is never really any amount we could ‘pay’ to compensate them for the time, and energy they put into supporting us. And for me, I am not sure that any Mother ever expects to be paid back for these services, except in terms of them seeing us and our children grow up to become responsible citizens and delighting in our successes.

And so, on this Mother’s Day (When is it please…) I dedicate the poem above which someone sent me a couple of years ago on Mother’s Day, to all Mother’s……and say…We love you our Mother’s, May you live long to see the fruits of your labour bloom…HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Joan Koomson
Donor Liaison Officer
African Women’s Development Fund.

MOTHERS' DAY IS HERE AGAIN

MOTHERS DAY IS HERE AGAIN

Well I guess I'm like too many other daughters who are looking at the calendar and realizing that Mother's Day is less than a week away! and I still haven't done any preparations towards it.

Sisters do you know that our Moms don't get weekends off, sick time or vacation days and they work 24/7, 365 days in a year?. However, moms do get bonuses and one such bonus is Mother's Day. Mother's Day may be celebrated on different days in different countries, but in all countries it does one thing ... HONOR MUMS!


The first teacher of a child is his/her mother alone. She is the one who inculcates the values the child lives with for his/her life. She is the one who takes our finger and teaches us to walk.

We celebrate Mothers' Day for we rejoice and acknowledge their contributions to the society and mankind as a whole. I bow to all mothers in this world. I celebrate the spirit of motherhood. The power God has placed in the hands of a woman is incredible; the power to reproduce, the power to give birth to life. Without which, mankind would cease to exist. Admit it, men! You are, because of women. It is only a woman who can give birth to you.

Our mothers are the impersonation of God on this earth. Let us salute the mother in every woman!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sophia Kpebutso
Administrative Assistant

Highlights from Women's Funding Network's Conference

It's Day 2 of the Women's Funding Network's annual conference for 2009 and there have been so many highlights. My personal highlights have included:

* Lynn Huntley's introductory speech at the conference on "Enemies and Victory". A memorable quote she shared was "May my enemies live long so they may see my victory".

* Hearing from Helen and Swanee Hunt who inspired the Women Moving Millions campaign which surpassed it's target of US$150 million and raised over US$170 million. The African Women's Development Fund (AWDF) alongside other women's funds was honoured with an award for our participation in this innovative campaign.

* Being inspired by Asha who whilst still a law student at Spelman College in Atlanta started a grassroots movement which has fought back against the negative depiction of black women in rap and hip hop videos.

Love from Atlanta,

Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah
Programme Officer
Fundraising & Communications