Helping Children Through the Storm

In the early morning hours of October 26, a flash flood warning came over the radio in Kasoa, Ghana, where about 130 students attend school at Christ Outreach Orphanage and School. About 20 children were asleep in the dorms and all was quiet when the alarm rang out. No one heard the broadcast at the school, but nearby, a teacher named Stephen was listening to the radio. Even though it was 1 o'clock in the morning, he rushed out to notify the caretakers at the orphanage and evacuate the children.

Others came, too. Several older boys who attend school at the orphanage and live nearby also heard the warning. They, too, ran to the school to help. Every one of the children and caretakers was rescued to higher ground before a tremendous wall of water overtook the compound. Bedding, shoes, desks, clothing, kitchen supplies and school supplies were carried out into the street and through the neighborhood, along with what little many other nearby residents owned. Wooden storefronts that provided the only source of income for hundreds of families were washed away, leaving only the concrete flooring to show where they had existed hours before.

What remains of the flood is sobering. Some areas look like a war zone. People from all over the area lost everything they had. Food supplies are limited and drinking water is difficult for many families to afford, having lost so much else that needs to be replaced. About 100 children who attend the school, which is one of the least expensive in the area, live outside its walls and in the poor neighborhood surrounding it. Finding food, clean water and other necessities is just as much a challenge for them in the aftermath as it is for the orphans.

Getting the school back into running condition by replacing desks, providing food, buying clean water until the tap can run again and providing children with clothing, shoes and toiletries is so important. For many, the one meal they eat at school is the only meal they have gotten each day. Now, until the school can get new desks and school supplies, and also food to feed them, they will go without.

On Friday, October 28, a friend who was staying in Accra visited the orphanage and purchased rice, water sachets and 10 mattresses for the children sleeping there. All of their help was made possible because just two families cared enough to pitch in. Imagine what we can do if we all just give a little!

I will be traveling to the orphanage this week (November 3-10), and will return in coming weeks to assess the needs and see how Compassionate Journeys can help. If you can help, please visit https://secure.etransfer.com/CompassionateJourneys/donate.cfm! Choose Christ Outreach Orphanage in the drop-down box. All donations are tax-deductible in the US, and we are 100 percent accountable to our donors for the money used.

To date, we have raised $650 through donations from our Facebook page, and we are hoping to be able to help with so much more! Also, if you would like to volunteer to teach at the school, please visit www.compassionatejourneys.com and choose "Volunteer Projects."

Thank you for caring about these kids. Together, we really can make a difference!

Amanda Christmann Larson is Director of Compassionate Journeys, a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to bringing resources and awareness to empower people in Ghana, West Africa. In the summer of 2012, Amanda and friends will be riding bicycles from San Diego, California to St. Augustine, Florida with Babes Blocking Traffic to spread awareness about child trafficking. Visit www.compassionatejourneys.com and www.babesblockingtraffic.com for more information.