OrphanAid launches event to support children

Accra, Nov 20, GNA - OrphanAid Africa, a humanitarian organisation dedicated to helping orphans and vulnerable children, has launched a three-day event to raise awareness on the problem in the country. The event, dubbed "OrphanAid Weekend", which is scheduled to start from December 3, to December 5, involves a range of entertainment and other social activities. It will feature celebrated musicians including Blakk Rasta, Samini, Fifi Sela and King Ayisoba, who will perform at designated venues, to among other things, raise funds to support the cause of vulnerable children in the country. Speaking at a reception held at the residence of the French Ambassador in Accra on Friday to launch the event as well as introduce the music stars who will be performing at the event, Ms Lisa Lovatt-Smith, President of OrphanAid Africa, reiterated the need to reunite children in orphanages with their families to enable them build a long term relationship with their relations. Ms Lovatt-Smith said: "Most of the children in orphanages in Ghana are not really orphans but their parents and extended families find it difficult to care for them because of the burden of poverty, disease and lack of social protection, and end up sending them to orphanages simply to ensure access to food and education." She said this practice was not good for proper development of children in such conditions and called for adequate social interventions to empower vulnerable and economically unsound homes to enable them provide adequate support for their children.

Ms Lovatt-Smith said this informed the launch of the event to raise awareness on the issue and raise funds to support such families. She gave a rundown of the event as follows: Friday December 3, "OrphanAid Accra Mall Takeover" where children will engage in a number of competitions to win prizes, Saturday December 4, OrphanAid presents Blakk Rasta and Friends, which is a musical entertainment show to take place at the Alliance Francaise in Accra and Sunday December 5, OrphanAid Sports Day with Marcel Desailly at the Lizzy Sports Complex. She also spoke about other activities of the non-governmental organisation, which included using its Wellness Centre to help families of children at the risk of abandonment and give them secure future. The organisation would sponsor the education of their children up to the tertiary level.

Blakk Rasta, a Disc Jockey and Musician who represented the group of musicians who will perform at the event, said he has a "soft side" for children and believe that they deserve the best of treatment in life. He gave the assurance that he and his friends are ready to perform to champion the cause of children and promised a great show for patrons. Mr Francis Hurtut, French Ambassador, commended OrphanAid Africa for the event and pledged his support towards its success. The three-day event is sponsored by Africa Cola, MTN and Shorprite.