The Drop in Centre which is the main Safe-Child Advocacy’s office is located at Roman Hill, Kumasi. This is the administrative seat of the project and the welcome centre for all children living and working on the streets of Kumasi. The centre provides a warm, safe and non-threatening space for all children in street situation to rest during the day. Besides rest; the Drop- in Centre serves as the meeting point with children who decide to quit the street and seek help. In this centre children are registered, interviewed, counselled and talked to about other options rather than street life. At the Drop- in Centre staff provide a range of activities towards motivating children to leave the street. Even while children remain on the street, the Drop- in Centre provides needed support to children, youth and young mothers on the street. Additionally, the centre is where all rehabilitation activities are planned and regulated.
Rehabilitation Activities
STREET OUTREACH
Safe-Child Advocacy as an organization is concerned about the plight of children who live on the streets and therefore considers street outreach very essential in getting children off the street. Street outreach is carried out on daily basis by staff of the project. This activity provides a platform for staff to educate children on various health and social related issues considered vital to their development and growth. Street outreach is carried out within the environs of Kumasi at principal areas like Alabar, Central Market, Railways, Asafo Market, Roman Hill and Adum. After street education children are invited to the Drop- in Centre to participate in the on-going activities in the centre. .
INTERVIEWS AND INTERACTION
Interviews and interactions are carried out on daily basis for children who come to the centre. These children get the opportunity of speaking to a safe and concerned adult. Interactions help children to build rapport with children while interviews give staff the children to probe and get to know the children better. During interview and interaction, staff members also help children to explore alternative options and enlighten them on steps they could take to change their current life courses.
GAMES AND CREATIVE ARTS
Playing games with children is another activity that we undertake to bond with the children. In our experience playing games with children is a wonderful activity to build a warm relationship with children. With games children become free to open us to share their stories with staff. Staff members play various games with the children and interact with them as well. Games make children feel recognized and attend to.
FAMILY REINTEGRATION
With each child we serve our staff, conducts a background investigation to locate and establish contact with their relatives. If a child can be reunited with his or her family that is always our preference. Family is the primary institution where children are nurtured and socialized into adulthood. It is our desire to reconnect children to their families, so in every situation we strive to restore the family unit. If the family is willing to care for the child but unable to do so for financial reasons, we will work with the family to provide the child with an academic scholarship
VALUE TALK
After street outreach children are invited to partake in the activity value talk. Staff of the project use this opportunity to educate children on how to cope with challenges of street life and family pressures based on well- chosen topics. Topics of education include Child Rights, Dangers of Street Life, Sex Education (HIV/AIDS, Sexual Abuse, STD’s etc.), Child Advocacy, Budgeting and Saving, Benefits of Education and Skill training, Healthy living habits among others, Family reintegration and many more. We believe that value talk helps to enlighten the children minds and that they are made aware of the various opportunities, provided by Street Children Project to build up their capacities.
COUNSELLING
Counselling is carried out to help children process their situation and issues. To think deeply about their choice to be on the street, consider other possibilities available to develop themselves and decide on rehabilitation activity towards building a future. Regular counselling sessions prepares children to transit from street life into normal living conditions.
LITERACY CLASS/ICT
Literacy classes are organized at the Drop- in centre to help young children who have no basic literacy to learn how to read and write and as well develop interest in education. During literacy classes children who never had attended school are given an opportunity to learn and in they develop interest in schooling and need help to go to school, the project enrols them under sponsorship. Since 2018, computer literacy has been added to the literacy class curriculum.
FOLLOW-UP
Every beneficiary is monitored and supervised through the period of assistance and for a minimum of three years after completion of the rehabilitation plan. Follow-up serves as a support system to beneficiaries because it provides opportunities for them to talk to our staff about issues thy may have with their developmental activities. Staff also use this opportunity to listen to teachers and trainers on the performance of our beneficiaries. During follow- up needed fees are paid and learning materials equally provided. Follow- up is carried out both in schools, training centres and families.