Ahotokurom supports 20 children in its residential child care unit. A child sponsorship programme ensures that all the children are fed, clothed and receive an education.
Some of the children are abandoned or orphaned, others have
disabilities and their families cannot support them.
One such child is Afua Grace. Afua got leprosy at the age of 9. At first her parents tried to hide it. Eventually they took her to the Leprosarium and left her there. As a result of the delay in treatment she had suffered some damage to the nerves in her fingers and some 'clawing' of the hands.
Three years later they still hadn't returned to the Leprosarium to collect their daughter. She was discharged into childcare at Ahotokurom at the age of 13. Here she has made friends, gained a little weight, learnt to speak English and started school.
The staff have encouraged the parents to take a little interest in their child and in October 1998 Afua was over the moon as she went home for a short holiday with her family. It is important for the children to maintain some contact with their families even if it is unlikely that they will ever be able to live at home. With support of Ahotokurom Afua is doing well, without their support she faced a lonely and difficult future.
Ahotokurom also supports a number of children in the local community with food aid and school fees. These children are all disadvantaged or disabled in some way and need support in order to be able to continue living at home. Without support they would suffer malnutrition, poor education and an uncertain future.
