SOS Children’s Villages Ghana, in collaboration with SOS Children’s Villages Norway, has launched a five-year initiative to enhance care systems for vulnerable children throughout the country.
The project, titled “Protecting Children at Risk of Losing Parental Care,” is funded by the Norwegian Government through the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and will span from 2025 to 2029. The initiative aims to strengthen child protection structures and ensure better support for children at risk of losing parental care.
The launch was marked by a kick-off workshop that brought together key stakeholders in Ghana’s social development sector. The event provided a platform to align project goals with national policy frameworks and donor expectations.
The initiative aims to prevent family separation by providing direct assistance to vulnerable households. It is expected to benefit 6,000 children at risk of losing parental care and 2,000 caregivers in 20 communities across the Greater Accra, Volta, Central, and Bono East regions. Additionally, the project seeks to empower community-based child protection committees and enhance the advocacy efforts of civil society organizations.
A key component of the initiative is the economic empowerment of caregivers, alongside the promotion of positive parenting and the provision of locally relevant literacy support. The project also aims to strengthen community preparedness and response to emergencies, especially in districts vulnerable to disasters.
With the support of the Department of Social Welfare, implementation will be led by four community-based organisations: Friends of Adaklu, Search for Rural Development, Volta Resilience Foundation, and Youth Rise International.
The project is expected to bring about systemic change in child protection by strengthening families, empowering communities, and ensuring children grow up in safe and nurturing environments. SOS Children’s Villages Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to working with government and civil society partners to ensure that no child grows up alone.
Source: myghanadaily
