Sponsorship Gives Young Adam the Chance to be Educated
Written by: Marian Roberts
Adam, a 17 year old boy from Kukuo, a farming community within the Tolon programme area in the Northern Region of Ghana, became a sponsored child when he was in 6th grade. Now in JHS 3 at the St. Monica's Junior High School (JHS), Adam expressed how fortunate he is to be sponsored. “I thank God for my sponsor and I am very happy to be sponsored,” he said, filled with gratitude. Adam, the fourth born of ten children, narrated he was once an unhappy child because he could not go to school regularly and felt his future was bleak. This he said was because his parents could not afford to provide him books, uniforms, shoes and even food sometimes. “But since World Vision came in and got me a Sponsor, things have gotten better. My family was provided with rabbits which give us food and this also allows us to sell some for my educational needs as well” he noted.
Adam revealed that he enjoyed his relationship with his Sponsor through the exchange of letters and pictures which made him feel cared for. “My dream is to complete university and become a doctor. And I believe I will make it, when I obey my Sponsor's constant encouragement to learn hard and draw closer to God”. Alhassan Adam, father of Adam and a farmer recalled that their community was in total deprivation before World Vision intervened. He mentioned the absence of potable drinking water, economic hardship on parents, low enrolment of children in school and several other challenges. “I remember, we used to drink rain water but now we drink from a reservoir. We were provided with soya beans, maize and fertilizers which has helped harvest more. Our children don't fall sick again because of the immunization and deworming exercise organized by World Vision. I must say the burden of parents have reduced so we are now able to take care of our children”.
Adams interracting with his friends at school
Continuing, Alhassan, a Muslim expressed how amazed he and his family were when his son was chosen to be sponsored. He said “I know World Vision is a Christian organization, but when they came, they took care of everybody including Muslims. Things have really changed for the better in our community to the extent that some of our neighboring towns envy us”.
An elated Alhassan further thanked his son's sponsor for his support and positive impact on his family. He said “My son's sponsor influenced us all through his advice for us to draw closer to our creator and also live a healthy lifestyle.”
Adding, Mumuni Danaa, also the former Assemblyman for Kukuo electoral area, emphasized that World Vision's sponsorship programmes have impacted immensely on his community. Recounting the benefits community members had received, he stated “I have a friend whose son was a sponsored child and now in Nalerigu Nursing Training College. Several other sponsored children are in Senior High Schools and some in the universities as well”.
Adam monitoring his rabbits
Mumuni who is also a farmer cited the Village Savings Group and Loan Scheme which they call 'Adaka', literally meaning box as one intervention that has brought significant change to the community. According to him, members involved in the savings group used their portion of the Shared money to support the upkeep of their respective families. “For me the 'Adaka' is really a blessing to us and I know when World Vision exits, it will sustain us” he affirmed.