Ghanaian AIDS Orphan Receives Gift of Education

Every morning Alberta walks with anticipation to the R. Catholic Secondary School in Nyinahin, Ghana. Thanks to a Bless-a-Child scholarship from our Ghanaian outreach center, the 17-year-old no longer watches the other students take the path to school as she and her grandmother make their way to the forest to collect firewood. After experiencing so much sorrow and hardship in her young life, Alberta looks forward to a brighter future!

Alberta’s Story
“My mother was my provider and friend until disaster struck in 1997,” shared Alberta. “Although she was very ill for a long time and her death came as no surprise, I could not forget the pain of losing her. Increasingly difficult situations reminded me almost daily that my reliable support had been taken away too early in my life.”

Alberta’s mother had died of AIDS. Her impoverished grandmother began caring for the teenager as best as she could. Years before, Alberta’s grandmother had lost her left eye in an accident. An artificial eye had been put in its’ place, but now the sight in her right eye was failing.

The teen continued, “My education became of secondary importance. I was denied admission into school anytime my fees were not paid. In order to survive, my grandmother and I went to the forest for head-loads of firewood to sell. Occasionally, I made enough money to resume schooling but I would have to quit after a while because of the high expense.

“Even when I managed to pay the fees, I didn’t have any money for food because I couldn’t go to school and fetch firewood. My times of deep sorrow were the days when I met my classmates in their school uniforms, chatting happily, while I would be returning from the forest in worn-out clothes with a head load of firewood. I prayed for my agony to end someday but I couldn’t see how and when it would.

“Smiles replaced my sobs as OBI came to my rescue. I am a different person now. My fees have been fully paid and the relief of not being sacked from school gives me the feeling of receiving a precious gift. I have already seen progress in my academic work. My ambition is to major in computer science and establish my own internet café and secretarial business. I am currently participating in sporting activities.”

Alberta is one of the many AIDS orphans you are helping every year in Ghana! In addition to this life changing program, entire communities in rural areas are also experiencing a refreshingly welcome change – clean water.

Fresh Water Provides Life
In early 2005 more than 3,200 villagers living in Hwereso, Dedewa, Aboado and Yokuwe received a new years’ surprise. OB Ghana dug a clean well in each of the four villages. This ended decades of having to haul disease-filled water from shallow muddy patches of earth every day. Overjoyed, the villagers couldn’t wait to catch the first drops of cool water from the pump. Their lives would never be the same!

Please help us break the cycle of suffering!