Your Investment Will Change Lives

Dr. Margaret Sackey, Challenging Heights board chair

Dear friends and supporters,

It is with great pleasure that I present to you the summaries of our performance in the year 2011.

In the year 2011, Challenging Heights provided support to a total of 1,420 children and youth made up of 872 girls, and 588 boys across its programs in 40 communities across 6 districts. An additional 260 women received a total of GHC75,000 ($47,000) in microloans to undertake various businesses in order to support their children.

One remarkable thing about our programs for 2011 was that, we sought for compensation for 20 ex-child slaves, and these compensation went toward the skills training and the education of those survivors, and pursued the prosecution of two other traffickers who proved recalcitrant.

The year 2011 was a milestone. We constructed a modern 65-capacity child trafficking survivors support shelter, and won 2 international awards, bringing our total stock of international awards to six in six years!

Out of the total number of children and youth supported, 37 of them were rescued from slavery, while the rest were children either at risk of being trafficked, or vulnerable to other forms of exploitation.

Challenging Heights embarked on massive community awareness on the menace of child labour, and the need for parents to send their children to school. Over 30,000 people were directly reached with our message, resulting in greater awareness which is estimated to have contributed to the increased reporting of incidence of child labour exploitation.

Challenging Heights since 2003 has advocated for the rights of children and youth in Ghana, especially children at risk of labour exploitation, and promoted education in several communities across the country. We pride ourselves to be the leading organization in Ghana that does not just speak on behalf of children and youth, but also take practical steps in supporting vulnerable children and youth to regain their freedom, gain access to education, and empower communities and families to resist child labour in all its forms.

So far Challenging Heights has established over 40 children’s right clubs across its programs to ensure that children participated in their own development. It has also established a total of 32 Community Child Protection Committees to ensure that communities have the needed structures to safeguard the interests of vulnerable children.

Unfortunately, the year 2011 saw the resurgence of death threats on our people, especially myself and family. My brother who helps with child rescues is currently unable to return to his duty base for fear for his life. My nephew who helped us to rescue a couple of boys is still missing after several months of search.

We however remain strong and with high morale because you support us. We therefore remain grateful to you for your support and continuous believe in our mission, and trust that 2012 will even be better.

As we move into 2012 projects, we respectfully count on your believe in us. You may visit our website at www.challengingheights.org for more information on how to help, or email me personally at jameskofiannan@gmail.com.

…and I will remain grateful if you could please forward this letter to members of your networks – facebook, emails and other communication networks.

Thank you!

Dr. Margaret Sacked