The Danqua Family
While establishing our philanthropy work in Ghana, the most significant problem that we often come across is the burden of sponsoring a child in Education.
Within the third world countries, education is the most effective way of growing a community into full economical maturity, yet it is not easy to support a child to complete education. There are regions in Ghana where poverty is extreme and education is only affordable by a selected group of people.
Dora Osei is the mother of 10 children. She is an evangelist and preaches on the street markets of Kumasi. She lost her husband almost 16 years ago including two of her children. One of her children has a handicap. She stays in the village with her relatives at the moment. Throughout the years Dora managed to care and educate the rest of the children with her small income but that was not sufficient. This caused the children to drop out of school to do any kind of skillful work that they could find. As she grew older, she felt the calling of God upon her life as an evangelist to preach the Gospel. Through the evangelical work she became popular among the evangelical women. Her passion for the gospel grew but her misery became worse.
Shelter became a problem and taking care of her last two children, Faustina Danqua, a girl of 19 years old and Isaac Danqua, a boy of 18 years old is a burden.
These two children are her only hope because of their excellent performance at school. However because of the lack of finance for their education they both find it hard to continue their studies.
According to her story, Faustina finished her secondary school but due to lack of finances she could not continue to high school. This applied to the boy as well but with the help of her evangelical work, she was able to gather some money from local pastor friends for the children to resume back to college. Due to her age, it is a burden to have a daily job. Sometimes, she earns her daily bread through gifts and collections that are presented to her after preaching the gospel on the streets.
Her youngest son Isaac received a scholarship as a medical student during his secondary academic year, which was going to allow him to study, oversees but due to the lack of finances it was delayed and cancelled.
At the moment she is not able to pay the fees for her two kids to go to high school and university respectively. When CWAF heard about her story from a regional coördinator (Pstr. M Kwarteng), an appointment was made for an interview.
At the interview she shared her story with us about how she is struggling to take care of the children and the difficulties she is facing since she has no home of her own. CWAF took the initiative to visit her at the street market in Kumasi to witness her evangelical work and to see where she currently lives with her children.
Her house rent is now overdue and she finds herself in a middle of a situation where she can be thrown out of her house. Those who used to support her with financial assistance are solving their own difficulties as well. She told us that she believes God for a miracle and that someday a change is going to come.
Her son Isaac is the last born of the family and is now 18 years old. He is preparing for his last science examination period at the Konongo – Odumase Senior High School, which will allow his final entrance to the university to study medical science in June 2013. This examination term and college fees cost Ghc370 (€143.00), which is already paid through the funds and donations to Coree World Aid Foundation. He has already obtained a November-December certificate with results, which will allow him to enter the university at the end his last semester in June 2013. University entrance fees for medical science student will cost Ghc30,000 (€1,159.44) and the term fees will be Ghc800(€309.18). Each term will take 4 months before vacation and the studies will take 7 years to complete. After passing his final exams he will receive a full doctor degree. His passion and determination is to become a medical doctor in the future and he pleads for support from the foundation in order to enable him to complete his studies.
Faustina Danqua is now 19 years and her desire is to complete her studies and become a lawyer. She completed her studies from the secondary school nearly three years ago but due to lack of finances, she could not continue for high school. Through some means, they managed to get funds that gave her the entrance to start high school again last year. She is now studying General Arts at the Yaa Asantewaa Girls Senior High School in Kumasi (YAGSH). She has two more years of studies left to complete her studies at the senior high school. For every semester, which is within a period of 4 months, she has to pay an amount equivalent to Ghc400 (€154.59), 3 semesters in a year. This includes her study books, meals, etc. Her grades are amazing and her education is her priority. Her school is 35 minutes drive away from her home with a local transport. However she faces difficulties within her neighborhood. She stays at the same house where her mother and older sister who is currently jobless, resides as she cares for her four children. This is a problem for her studies and makes it difficult for her to concentrate which ultimately affects her performance at school. She desires to be a boarding student instead of a day student. This means that she will be allowed to come home only during vacation periods and on authentic notice or permissions only. However as a day student the expenses are a bit less than a boarding student, but the benefit of a boarding student is that you get the chance to study in a calm and safe environment and you have long hours of study.
CWAF has helped these children and paid their semester fees in January 2013. They both have resumed their studies. Through our effort and donations from our partners, we will be able to continue to care and pay education of these children to become better people in the society and accomplish their goals.