AGREDS better the lives of street girls

Pg 11. Tues. Feb. 26/08

Story Rebecca Quaicoe Duho
THE Life Line Project of the Assemblies of God Relief and Development Services (AGREDS) at Agbogbloshie in Accra has, over the years, brought relief to hundreds of street girls whose lives on the streets exposed them to various social problems.
The centre, which trains young girls in dressmaking, hairdressing, catering and batik and tie and dye-making, has become a lifeline project for girls who are exposed to deplorable conditions on the streets.
Most of the girls who find refuge at the centre are those who are exposed to the worse forms of child labour, servitude, domestic work, child abuse and trafficking.
Presently, there are 85 girls at the centre who are undergoing a one-year training in various skills.
Last year, 97 girls graduated from the centre and after they had been equipped with the needed tools to start their lives, most of them were reintegrated with their families, especially in the northern part of the country, while others who, for various reasons, could not go back to their communities are undergoing apprenticeship in Accra.
But for the timely intervention of the AGREDS project, the children who are aged between nine and 18 would have grown to become social misfits who will pose a burden to society.
To give hope and encouragement to these young girls at the centre, some privileged group of young girls visited them and donated clothes, shoes and other items to them.
The privileged girls, who have formed a teenagers’ non-governmental organisation known as the Shalom Teenagers Foundation, led by its Founder, Angela Lucas, a Form Two Junior High School pupil of the St Lawrence Preparatory School in North Kaneshie, were able to gather some used items from their neighbourhoods and friends and donated to the centre, with assistance from Reverend Dr. Harry S. Insaidoo of the Assemblies of God Church, North Kaneshie.
According to Angela, the group was aimed at educating their fellow teenage girls on the dangers of HIV/AIDS, the need to abstain from social and immoral vices, teenage pregnancy and also cultivate better habits such as being obedient and responsible.
Some members of the New Testament Church of Chelton in London also presented clothing and chocolates to the young ladies to inspire them to aim high and not to demean themselves as a result of their circumstances.
Four members of the New Testament Church who are in the country as guests of the North Kaneshie Branch of the Assemblies of God Church took turns to speak words of encouragement to the young girls.
They tasked the girls not to see their situation as hopeless but remain resolute to develop their talents.
They also asked them to take their skills training seriously to acquire skills to help them to lead meaningful lives and look ahead for a brighter future.
The Manager of the centre, Mrs Susana Mahama, who received the items on behalf of the girls, thanked the donors for coming to the aid of the centre.
The girls later entertained their guests with some traditional dances.

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Above: Seated are some of the beneficiaries of the AGREDS project and members of the Shalom Teenagers Foundation. Insert is Angela Lucas (left), Founder of the foundation presenting some of the items to Mrs Sussana Mahama, Manager of the centre.