Light for Children

(MDGs – HIV/ AIDS, Education)

About Us
Light for Children is a child centered non-governmental organization in
Ghana. Working in the city of Kumasi and nine surrounding rural regions,
particularly supporting HIV positive children who need support. Our
programmes include education outreach geared towards HIV and malaria
prevention, supporting Voluntary Testing and Counseling (VCT) Centers and
child sexual abuse preventative programs. Partnering and supporting with
orphanages, schools for the deaf, and other education programs, our broad
work encompasses many of the diverse scopes of child needs in our region.

Our Community
Kumasi, the second largest city in Ghana, has a population reaching near 2
million. The city is referred to as ‘the Garden City’ because of the variety
of plants and flowers. Major exports being hardwood and cocoa, and keep a
bustling economy, despite present health, poverty, and other pressing social
issues in the town. The rural communities we work in have electricity and
roads, but lack running water and plumbing infrastructure. Our services
reach over 2500 people combined in these communities.

Our History
Our organization was founded in 2005 to respond to the growing AIDS epidemic
in the region and the influence it was having on children, either orphaned,
being raised by unsupported grandmothers. Taking lists of children from the
HIV Clinic in Kumasi, we took it as a challenge to begin offering a few
basic services, particularly providing anti-retroviral therapy, matched with
good nutrition and education. Beginning with an original eight children
meeting under a mango tree, we have broadly expanded our scope and dreams
for providing a ‘light for children’ here needing support in their early
years so they can flourish as adults.