Water in the Desert

Many many children and long long queues!!! As a way of rewarding their customers in the Northern Region, a company that deals with beverages and milk products in Ghana organised a Fun Fair for children in Tamale. They had to transport all their games and equipment from the capital city Accra to the North, a 12 hour’s drive. There is only one playground in Tamale, which is not very well maintained. So having the games in Tamale and not having to pay an entrance fee was like discovering water in the desert for the children. The children far outnumbered the facilities and had to queue for hours to take turns in playing. Samuel and Micah also joined the fun.

Samuel and Micah climbing!

Samuel and Micah at the top!!

Most children in this part of Ghana do not have any toys to play with, not to speak of playgrounds. They make their own toys out of waste, sticks and stones. If they lack a football to play with, they fill a plastic bag with soil and tie it into a ball. Older children who do not go to school take care of the younger ones and many often roam the streets in Tamale. Others follow their mothers to the market and spend whole days in the shade of the stalls where their mothers sell their goods. So having such a Fun Fair in Tamale, the organisers needed little publicity as children from all corners of Tamale trooped into the Jubilee Park to seize the moment.

Within our literacy work and church activities we likewise have to seize the opportunity of reaching out to these children as they often get little direction in their lives because their parents are so busy generating what little income they can to simply survive and take care of their families. Showing love and care, giving them some attention, having fun and teaching them are little things we can do to help them to discover their talents and to let them know they are loved.