January 14th, 2017

Youth that inspire me

In April 2016, I was made aware of two cousins that were very active in the Hope Ghana church, walking some 6 kilometers round trip a few times a week for services, choir practice and volunteer work in the computer lab. When the boys dropped out of their local junior high,  the church got the boys back into school.  They were re-enrolled and each given a bicycle to ride the 10 kilometers to school and back. Now, broken down bikes forced the boys to walk.

Hawa and I went to visit the boys in their large compound house where they live with their extended family. The adobe house has a baobab tree growing out of one of the compound yards with a maze of dwelling huts and passages. As with most village compound homes, they have no running water or electricity. What little money they have goes to supplementing what food they can farm.

Richard lost his father and his mother now lives in another city. Justice’ step mother helps take care of Richard along with nine other children. The other village boys of Justice and Richard’s age have all dropped out of school so it was imperative that we step in to support these two boys. I met with Justice’ mother and father, the many siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. We talked of the importance of an education for the future of their sons. 

Both are now benefiting through GCP scholarships to allow them to continue their education.