Kids’ Club Helps Rescue Patience from Child Marriage

Within the Jirapa Area Program, World Vision Ghana is working to improve and sustain the quality of education for young children in the Sigri community. Sigri is noted for its high rate of school dropouts, teenage pregnancies, child abuse, and child marriage. World Vision, in partnership with Social Welfare, the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) and community volunteers, addresses these prevalent issues through kids' clubs.

The activities of the Kids' Clubs include sensitisation on child rights and protection and campaigning to end violence against children such as child marriage, child abuse, and teenage pregnancy. They also educate their peers on national policies; and COVID-19 prevention protocols. Other topics are the importance of education, health, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), and food security. The empowerment initiatives not only made children change agents but also provided them with a platform for their voices to be heard. This activity has begun to yield positive results. 

The marriage of a 16-year-old Patience who was eloped with a man older than her age was aborted thanks to the kids’ club campaign against child marriage in Sigri community. Patience was rescued and re-integrated into her family and subsequently enrolled back to school. Patience is now a child marriage ambassador leading several campaigns against child marriage in her community. Patience now 18, narrated her story:

"My name is Bayuo Patience, a World Vision registered child. I was eloped by a man to Karni in the Lambussie District of the Upper West Region. I was just 16 years old then.

I was forced to stay with the man against my will for seven days. During that period, I hardly ate anything. This affected my health. I was constantly praying to God that help would arrive soon.

My involvement in the Kids' club activities built my prayer life and helped me focus on God in times of trouble and affliction. I was rescued and reunited with my family thanks to the help of my parents, the community child protection committee, the kids' club, my teacher, who is also a Child Welfare Supervisor (CWS), and my close friend Julita, and the Jirapa AP.

I am now happily back to school. I pledge to continue my education to the highest level to serve as a role model to other kids in my community. I will continue to advocate against all forms of violence against children”.