The program was targeted at orphans and vulnerable children within the Abura Asebu Kwamankese (AAK), Komenda Edena Eguafo Abirim (KEEA) District Assemblies, and the Cape Coast Municipality, all in the central region of Ghana. More than 800 orphans and vulnerable children within the above districts had access to food, medical examination, education on social issues and entertainment.

The event was organized by the Alliance for Youth Development, with support from our partners and supporters and members of the community who supported in diverse ways.

The program was staged on the 26^th December, 2007 and it was intended to be the median edition, to be replicated in subsequent years.

Objectives

The objectives of the project were:

1.                  To feed the children present and provide drinks for the children.

2.                  To provide free medical screening for the children.

3.                  To educate the children present on the menace of AIDS and how to live a protected life. 

4.                  To raise awareness on some prevailing social issues such as the need to go to school and environmental &  sanitation.

PREPERATIONS BEFORE THE PROGRAM.

Partnership.

The planning of the program was late and behind schedule.   Its inception was in the middle of November, 2007, with barely a month to the execution of the program. The proposal was drafted by the AYD team and a letter seeking partnership with ATL FM was drafted.  The partnership was finally accepted in the first week of December, 2007. 

By the terms of the partnership, AYD was to plan and organize and raise funds for the project.  ATL Fm on the other hand was to use airtime to publicize the program and rally support and donations from her listening public. A memorandum of understanding was signed by Felix Adu Poku, the Marketing Officer, on behalf of the ATL Fm and by Elvis Morris Donkoh the Executive Director, on behalf of AYD.

Donations / Support:

Letters of sponsorship were sent out to corporate bodies, religious institutions and identifiable groups that might have interest in the program.  Letter to Dignitaries like the Regional Minister, The Central Regional Office of the Ghana National Commission on Children, The president of the Oguaa traditional Council and several others who would grace the occasion.  The public appeal yielded some positive results, just as the sponsorship letters.  The AYD team kept following the letters of sponsorship she sent out of whom they made some generous donations.

Donations were received from Pepsi Cola Ghana / Beverage Investments Ghana Ltd., Araba TEE Ventures, Morning Star Ventures, Unforgettable bookshop, Savoy Hotel, Dandetex Sachet Water, Ameen Sangari Co. Ltd., Paakotronics, S. Buckman Arts, Oguaa Cold Stores and church bodies like the Pentecost church, Deeper Life Bible Ministry, Varick AME Zion Church, Calvary Redemption Baptist Church and The Aglow women�s Fellowship. 

THE PROGRAM OUTLINE:

The program was billed to begin at 9:00am and to end at 5:00pm.  However by the time transportation to the venue, Victoria Park was arranged for the homes invited, it was past 10:30am.  The MCs for the program were Felix Adu � Poku and another female presenter, all of ATL FM.  The program was in four parts.  The first was the formal opening ceremony.  The Second was the breaking into groups and education on important societal issues. The medical screening was also in this second part.  The third was drinks and lunch served to the children at the various group venues.  The last was the entertainment and games segment with music was powered by Paaktronics.

PARTICIPATION.

Present at the event were the AYD team and volunteers, volunteers from the St. Joseph�s Catholic Church, the medical teams, the media, staff of ATL Fm, Orphans and vulnerable children in children�s homes invited, children from the community and the Artistes media.

Children�s homes

About 5 Children�s Homes were represented. They include, the Lighthouse Orphanage, Abura Literacy School, Human Services Trust, All in Abura, and vulnerable children from Abura Dunkwa and Ayeldu and Cape Coast Municipality. Also in attendance was the Children�s Home of Hope of the Alliance for Youth Development, Asebu.  Also orphaned and vulnerable children were invited from the Cape Coast municipality, raising the number to about 800. 

Groupings

The children were grouped into three groups, the below 7years, 8 to 12 years and 13 years to 17years.  They sat wide apart and were taken by the Volunteers present through pertinent societal problems.  They included issues of HIV and AIDS, Environmental Cleanliness, and personal hygiene.  Also the groups were used to in the medical screening of ensure orderliness.  Of the three groups, the below 7years group were the most in terms of numbers.  The 8 � 12 years came next with the 13 � 17years being the least participants present.  The volunteer-children ratio was about 1 to 30 which at some point seemed too much to maintain full attention. 

Dignitaries Present

Among the invited dignitaries present were Osabasrima Kwesi Atta II, the President of the Oguaa Traditional Council who chaired the opening ceremony.  His response was brief.  He commended AYD on soundness and timeliness of the project, and the fact that it was youth led organisation. He also thanked ATL FM for their support.    He left with the assurance that he will sit through the subsequent program next year.  The key note address was delivered by Mr of the Ghana National Commission on Children (GNCC) and he stressed on the need to uphold the rights of children in the society, and the need to help vulnerable children. Another speech was made by the Manager of ATL Fm who urged the children to live and grow in the spirit of the season, Christmas and not to engage in social vices and deviant behaviors. The Chief of Abura, Cape Coast, made a late appearance.  He came shortly before lunch and he sat through the program to the very end.

Artistes:

Artiste present included Asikafoo who gave a very good and thrilling performance at the start of the program.  Also, Prince, the Winner of �TV3 Mentor I� was present to sing to the children. Lastly, Omanhene Pozo, was present to trill the shout out to the children. He gave a wonderful tantalizing performance that the children would always remember.  

Volunteers

The program rellied heavily on Volunteers.  To this end a massive volunteer drive was under taken in Accra, headed by Ms. Gifty Anthony, to come to support the program itself.  Also friends of AYD in Cape Coast were approached to support the cause.  Additionally, youth members from the St. Joseph�s Catholic Church numbering about 15 were present to assist in the events of the day.

Medical Screening

Another group of volunteers was the medical personnel.  It comprised of two teams.  One for General medical Screening and another for eye screening.  The general screening team was made up of five (5) volunteers led by Dr Daitey.  The other four were final year students of the University of Ghana Medical School, Korle-bu. The general screening found skin disease and dental problems as the most prevalent medical challenges facing the children screened.  The eye screening was also conducted by a team of four (4) nurses form the AAK District Health Directorate. They also detected minor defects in the vision of those who undertook it.  The teams were assisted by volunteers from the Red Cross Society, Cape Coast.

Media

About 4 media houses were present to cover the event.  They were the Chronicle, TV Africa, Radio Central and ATL FM.

APPRECIATION.

Appreciation first and foremost goes to God who by his grace made it possible for the event to take off without discrepancy.  

Appreciation also goes to the various corporate bodies and individuals who have supported this project in cash or in kind.  Names like the Pepsi Cola Ghana Ltd and Mr Adjei Manu, the Central Regional Sales Manager cannot go unmentioned.  Also Felix Adu Poku has been very instrumental from the point of acceptance of the partnership deal to the time of execution.  The large teams of volunteers� efforts are also well appreciated.  All our sponsors� efforts are very much appreciated.

Appreciation also goes to the Children�s Homes who participated in the program. The cooking staff is duly acknowledged as well as all who contributed in diverse ways for the support of the program.

CONCLUSION

This Programme was the first of its kind in the central region of Ghana. However, the goals and objectives were realized.  We able to provide food, medical screening, entertainment, and some education to about 800 children that were present.  Also children exceeded expectations by bout a 100 margin, which was very impressive.  The programs and various events came off as expected.  It can be confidently said that the eat live and lets eat project for 2007 was very successful.

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