Annual Report 2012 April 2013

Chance for Children 2

Content

Chance for Children Ghana1. Letter from the directors in Ghana2. Overview of our work3. Street work4. Drop-In Centre5. Girls Group Home in Hebron6. Girls Home Hebron7. Boys Home Hebron8. Youth department9. Children reunited with their families10. Graduated young men and women11. Production and sales12. Education13. Auditors’ Opinion14. Goals 2013

Chance for Children Switzerland:1. Letter from the president2. Letter from the head of public relations3. Organisational structure4. Finances5. Revision report6. Contact- and banking information

Chance for Children 3

The vision of

Chance for Children:

Street children in Accra

shall get a chance

to take their lives

into their own hands

by receiving love and

support as well as

scholar and

professional training.

Thank you very much for your support in 2012!

Daniela Rüdisüli Sodjah Amon Kotey

Dear sponsors, co-workers and friends,

Thank you very much for your big support in the year 2012!We can look back at a successful year, during which we were able to work with 125 children and adolescents. We are very grateful that we could assist so many children as they make their way though life. Like every year, we are also positively touched by the children’s development.

In June 2012 the second dormitory of our girls’ project was opened in Hebron. Ten more girls found a new home there, from where they can go to school and thus create a basis for their future. It is a big gift for them to have this possibility in their life and it’s rewarding to us to see the light in their eyes.

Thanks to internal surveys, respective analysis, reflections and revisions, we were able to improve the quality of our work in various departments. We would like to express our gratitude to all of our workers for doing such a great job!

Once again, thank you so much on behalf of all the children, adolescents and staff.

Directors Chance for Children

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Overview of our work

Drop-In Centre in James Town Opened in November 2008, our Drop-In Centre provides up to 40 street children each day with the opportunity to take a break from the daily struggles of life on the street. They receive a warm meal, medical and psychological care and the chance to attend educational and technical workshops. In this way we can support the street children on-site and develop short- and long-term perspectives with them.

Children supported in families CFC supports up to 20 children within their original families. The families receive financial aid and are assisted by a social worker.

Girls Group Home in James TownSince November 2009 we provide a supervised living arrangement for ten former street girls. These girls attend public schools or receive professional training. Dormitory for boys and girls in HebronAt the moment there are 30 boys living at the boys’ dormitory, which opened in 2002 in Hebron (about a one hour drive from Accra). Since July 2011, there are 10 girls staying at the girls’ dormitory, which is situated right behind the boys’ facility. In June 2012 the residential building for another 10 girls was completed and 10 girls and a housemother now can reside there. As members of a community, the boys and girls learn to take responsibility for their actions and attend schools in neighbouring villages.

Adolescents attending professional trainingYoung adults, who have completed the obligatory schooling, are attending professional training programmes or secondary schools. They are being visited regularly at their shared housing arrangements or dorms by CFC social workers and thus accompanied on their way to independence.

WorkshopsThe children and adolescents are attending various handcrafts- and practical-workshops. In producing batik cloths, cards or jewellery, they can develop manual talents.

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Drop-In Centre

Throughout the year 2012, approximately 154 children, 49 girls and 105 boys, were able to benefit from our services at the Drop-In Centre. The average daily number of children using our facilities was 35.

We offer these boys and girls services including but limited to: bathing, washing, medical care, clothing, Math and English basic education, different workshops, family support and linkage, and a daily meal.

Our successes include being able to send ten children (9 boys and 1 girl) back to their various villages and towns where they were successfully reintegrated into their families and from where they are now going to school.

Additionally, two boys and nine girls were taken out from the street and were sent to the Boys’ and Girls’ Home at Hebron where they were given the full sponsorship program from Chance for Children.

One boy was also sent to the Youth Department and enrolled in an apprenticeship. He is doing very well. Other successes include a back yard garden being created and a small composting site installed to valorize our kitchen and garden waste. The children apply the compost on the crops to later harvest and consume the vegetables. We started a kindergarten class for children ages six to eight so that they can learn playfully with songs, rhymes, coloring and other engaging activities.We built a computer room for the kids to both learning as well as have fun through various computer programs. This should also contribute to ease the pressure and tension the kids living on the street experience.Throughout the year we had - children referred to us from the street work dept.: 54- children coming to us directly from the street: 87- boys going to the Hebron house: 6- girls going to the house/shared living: 11- children supported in their families: 3

Osman Adam Ibrahim

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Street work

Street work remains our core focus. When we establish a first contact with the children on the street, we aim at building a trusting relationship with them so that they feel accepted. It’s through this acceptance that they feel motivated to reflect on their lives and to develop a fresh perspective.

We don’t have any present research about the number of children living on the street. The latest figures are from 2011 and recorded numbers between 33,000 and 61,000 children living in Greater Accra Region, depending on the source. This year the situation of the street markets changed a lot for the children, which meant that they were forced to change their work and thus also their living places. However, our street workers did not lose contact with them.

In 2012 we have continued our street work efforts similarly to the last two years. We were able to maintain the face to face contacts of 200 children a month. The two fieldworkers, Amon and Konde, work with the children during the mornings and the nights on the street. Depending on their specific evaluation and recommendation, the kids are then either reintegrated into their families, referred to the Drop-In Centre, or are referred to other NGOs.

During some months, the fieldworkers faced challenges in their attempts to engage the children. These challenges included having difficulty motivating the children to come to the Drop-In Centre and to change something in their lives. At times, it appeared that the kids resisted the services being offered and thus were more challenging to engage.

Amon Kotey

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Girls Group Home in James Town

The Jamestown Home is a home for 10 girls. One girl is in SHS second year and one is preparing to write her final year exam in catering in 2013. The rest of the girls are in various levels in basic school.

EducationIt is important to us that the girls learn how to read and write well. To this end, each child is being helped to read with the Jolly phonics system. Social workers and volunteers have been trained to help and assess each child and provide the right level for optimum benefit. This is done with the necessary and appropriate materials.

Care PlanEach child has a care plan, and we have been working with the other departments for a uniform and more precise and meaningful way of implementing the care plans so that each child would benefit as per his/her needs.

CommunicationWe have started working on ways to improve communication between staff and children and amongst the children as well. To this end, we have introduced a suggestion box, and are presently working on a complaint system. We have also planned a series of workshops on communication for the children and training for the workers.

ChallengesThe department experienced a challenging year related to different changes in the daily lives of the girls. First, three of them were moved to Hebron which required the girls to change the school they are attending. Additionally, a new manager started and finally three new girls joined the home from the Drop-In Centre. I am proud to say that all in all, the girls handled these challenges quite well. In essence they have been a good team in relating very well with each other and the staff.

Sara Sackey

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Girls home in Hebron

• The girls group home in Hebron started in 2012 with eleven girls and four permanent staff members: A manager, social worker, housemother and security man. We ended the year with 20 girls and an additional house mother. We have two chalets and a common dining hall. The girls live in groups of ten in a chalet with a housemother who cares for them. Most activities are done by the girls of both chalets together. They do house chores, eat, watch TV, study, and play activities under the supervision of the housemothers. With the aid of duty roasters and time tables, the housemothers encourage and supervise the girls to do their tasks.

• Our aim is to support the girls in their development to become responsible and independent Ghanaian women. Last year, we organised

▫ workshops to educate them on good health, sexual and social practices▫ peer group discussions for girls to discuss issues affecting them in the house and

school. ▫ several children meetings. We have a social worker who mainly handles psychosocial issues and also assists the housemothers in handling issues affecting the children’s welfare.

• All twenty girls enjoyed formal education. At the end of the year 2012, three girls were going to kindergarten, thirteen attended the lower primary and four the upper primary school.

• Every girl was vaccinated against Hepatitis B. All girls below twelve took yellow fever vaccines and those who were fourteen and above took vaccines for tetanus.

• The year 2012 was a very active and interesting year for the girls’ home in Hebron. The difficulties that appeared were addressed successfully. On behalf of the children and staff, I thank all those who contributed to the good development of the girls’ home.

Rose Tegayi

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Boys Home Hebron• There are a total of 30 boys in the home. Twenty three of them are in primary school, six are in

Junior High School, while one is studying an apprenticeship in car mechanics. Two new boys joined the home in January and July of 2012. One joined his colleagues in class one, while the other joined class two. One boy was released to his family. All the boys were promoted to their respective next class with the exception of one, who performed poorly and had to repeat the class. One of the boys performed exceptionally well and came top of his class.

• In order to instil a sense of responsibility in the children, three committees were formed to cater to the welfare of the children in the house. The first of the committees is the sports committee with the responsibility of managing all sports equipment in the house and also helping with the organisation of sport activities in the home; the second is the library committee with the responsibility of taking care of the books and encouraging reading amongst the children; and finally the third is the TV room committee with the responsibility of controlling and taking care of the TV room. There are three boys in each committee and a social worker is responsible to guide the committee members in dispatching their duties.

• During the Easter holidays, several programmes were organised simultaneously in order for the children to learn and play at the same time. These included reading workshops, outdoor and indoor games, cooking workshops, art workshops, a drumming workshop, going to the beach, excursions to Shai Hill, home visits and also an exchange programme with Kinder Paradise.

• We were able to establish a professional relationship with the District Health Directorate in our

locality. In July, October and December, nurses from this Health Directorate came to organise health workshops for the children.

• Finally, in October a suggestion box was put in place for the children to make suggestions on how to improve daily life or simply to comment on happenings in the house. The children were very excited about the fact that they can also make a contribution to the development of our home.

Daniel Awuley Nartey

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Youth Department

• In 2012 CFC supported 12 young men:

▫ Three attended Senior High School.▫ Two went to a technical school.▫ Seven were learning an apprenticeship: among them are two electricians, two

plumbers, one carpenter, one refrigeration and air conditioning repairer and one computer hardware repairer.

▫ Two of the youth graduated this year and are now self-dependent.

• Throughout the year, the social workers visited the youth members at their various flats, in school, and at their work places. They guided them in the monthly meetings as well as with individual counselling. We organized an excursions to Kumasi (Ashanti region)as well.

• Some of the young men were doing very well and they needed only minimal support, while others demanded more attention and faced several difficulties. For all of our adolescents it is quite challenging to reasonably handle their freedom, money, social contacts and other influences.

• When CFC organizes social activities for the children, the adolescents are also invited to participate. Sometimes we ask them to help us out with different tasks. We include them in the organisation to make them feel that they are an important part of the CFC family and so they can take on responsibilities.

Amon Kotey

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Children reunited

• Currently, 19 children are being supported in their families.

• All of the 19 children are receiving financial support and other services such as counseling and guidance.

• A social worker visits them twice a month. Six of them live in the Northern region, six in the Eastern region and the rest in Greater Accra.

• We are currently working to support 10 more children within their families. Structures are also being put in place to ensure the smooth running of the department.

Sara Sackey

Chance for Children 12

In the year 2012 two men successfully completed their apprenticeship as electricians.We are very proud of them and wish them all the best!

In 2012 four adolescents were reintegrated into their families before completing their education. However, one of the reintegrated boys was not able to complete his education.

All together 32 young men and women have until now graduated while being supported by CFC.

This is the outcome of the questionnaire we did in 2012:

We interviewed 27 of the graduated men and women:

- 7 (26%) are married- 9 (33%) have children- 23 (85%) are working

Out of these 23 who are working:

- 11 (48%) are externally employed - 12 (52%) are self-employed- 13 (57%) are working in the profession they have learnt with the support of CFC- 10 (43%) are working in another profession- 2 (9%) are working for Chance for Children

Graduated young men and women

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Production and sales

 Supported by our interns, local experts taught the children in regular workshops how to produce Tie and Dye fabrics, recycled paper, jewelry made of recycled glass beads and wooden products.

In 2012 we, together with the children, were able to:- print and dye 700 yards of fabric- create 800 necklaces, 400 bracelets and 1000 garlands of all kinds- produce 4300 hand-made papers- make 90 Oware games- carve 50 letter openers

This represents an increase in production of more than 20% compared to last year. It was always a challenge to conduct the creative workshops according to the interests of the children, while at the same time ensuring high-quality products. Especially in the development of new products it was very important to choose products in accordance with the ability of the children.

We sold the self-made products during several events in Ghana, Switzerland and in the USA. In addition, we managed to have three shops in Accra sell an assortment of our recycled greeting cards. During our Christmas card campaign, about 600 cards were sold. By assisting in the production of the products, the children could make an important contribution.

The CFC product group in Switzerland is mainly working on the smooth management and distribution of the products as well as improving the appearance of our stalls. 

Laura Müller

Chance for Children 14

EducationIn 2012 we focused on the following topics:

Working with individual development plans (Care Plans) In order to support the children in their personal development in a positive and goal-oriented manner, the social workers and housemothers of our homes work with development plans that have been prepared for each child individually. The practical implementation of individual goals turned out to be a big challenge. After much reflection, sharing and revision of our implementation approach, we are now progressing well.

Implementation of the girls curriculumThe social workers of the two girls’ homes learned how to independently prepare lessons on gender specific topics in the field of health and sexual education. These lessons are taught to the girls on a monthly basis.

Improving teaching qualityIn order to improve the quality of the educational services offered at CFC, we believe that support of the social workers and teachers is necessary. This can occur through providing external training courses for individuals and through numerous inputs to specific subjects (such as lesson planning, learning through playing or reading facilitation). Reading promotionOur social workers, teachers and interns used a British reading course to promote the often rather low reading skills of our children. Two teachers attended a training specifically about this topic and passed the learned skills on to the other teachers.

Kindergarten in the Drop-In CentreThe kindergarten teachers developed a curriculum that is specifically tailored to the needs of the younger children in the Drop-In Centre. It also contains a development program for fine motor skills .

Optimizing daily processes in the CFC homesThe teams of each home assessed their daily procedures and introduced several clear rules and rituals. This resulted in an improved structure and more tranquility in the homes.

Laura Müller

Chance for Children

Revisionsbericht 2012 Ghana

OPINION April 2013

 

In our opinion, the financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial position of Chance for Children as of 31 December 2012 and of its financial performance for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and in the manner required by the Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179).

AYEW AGYEMAN TURKSON & CO.CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS

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Chance for Children

The three main goals for the year 2013 are:

1. We will build the third chalet of the girls’ house in Hebron by the end of April 2013 and move another 10 girls and 1 housemother into the house by the end of the year.

2. We will support in total 30 children in their own families.

3. We will all achieve the three goals set for each department by the end of the year.

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Goals for 2013

Chance for Children

Thank you for your support in 2012!

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Dear Donors and CFC Supporters,

On behalf of CFC, I want to thank you for your kind support and generous donations and ideas in 2012. We are grateful that due to your support Daniela, Amon and their team of 35 staff members were able to help more than 125 Children.

More than 14 years ago Daniela and Amon have started their support of street children in Ghana and soon after, we jointly founded and registered the association CFC in Switzerland. Over the years, support for CFC in Switzerland has increased more and more so that we now count more than 2300 donors. Therefore, we decided to enlarge the base of the association and on 13 July 2012 carried out the first "wide" general assembly in Gommiswald. We were happy that more than 40 persons participated at this assembly. Apart form the formal part of this even, we also had the opportunity to foster new and old friendships. I'm already looking forward to seeing many familiar and new faces at the next general assembly, which will take place on 23rd August 2013.

I want to personally thank all of you for enabling the wonderful development of now more than 100 Ghanaian children and young people!

Sincerely,

Roger Rüdisüli (president of the association Chance for Children)

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I was full of curiosity and anticipation when I traveled to Ghana for the first time 10 years ago. I could never had imagined which beautiful friendships and what a deep connection to this land and to the project Chance for Children would develop from it. In the spring of 2012 I returned to Ghana with my husband and our two kids for three weeks.

On one hand the reunion with familiar and new faces, the visits to the various houses and the immersion into the work of CFC was a great pleasure. On the other hand, I once again found it shocking to witness the situation of children living in Accra's streets. Although I do not presume I can understand the harshness of daily life for these children to the whole extent, but only witnessing this reality already made me sad. I was grateful to feel the bright sparks of hope at the sight of the children participating in the various activities CFC is offering them and thereby giving them a chance for a decent life and a better future. This visit to Ghana has once again made me realize the apparently "unjustified" privilege we here in Switzerland enjoy. Simultaneously it has increased my motivation even more to contribute helping that some of this privilege can be returned to the underprivileged children of Accra. I am grateful for the opportunity to coordinate the public relations for CFC in Switzerland and thus make efforts towards reaching larger circles of support.

This year we could again count on a broad base of interested and dedicated people who have spread the knowledge of CFC’s work in their families and friends, at work, in their church, school, or anywhere else. Through these various large and small, private and public occasions, they have all made a significant contribution to enhance the awareness of the street children problem and provided valuable financial assistance for CFC. Thank you very much!

Isabel Lohri-Lukunic, Director of the CFC Friends group Public Relations

Public relations Switzerland

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Organisation

„Chance for Children" is an international NGO (non-governmental organization) according to Ghanaian law and a non-profit organization under Swiss law. The two founders, Amon Kotey and Daniela Rüdisüli Sodjah manage the project along with Daniel Awuley Nartey. As required by Ghanaian authorities, an external accountant controls all financial matters.

Chance for Children Organigramm Juli 2012

STREET WORKAmon Kotey

CHILDREN REUNITED DROP-IN CENTER GIRLS GROUP HOMERose Tegayi

HEBRON HOME YOUTHAmon Kotey

MANAGEMENTDaniela Rüdisüli Sodjah, Amon Kotey

Daniela Rüdisüli Sodjah, Roger Rüdisüli, Martin Jud, Markus Bernet, Denise Wöbbe Gaye, Rolf Leuzinger BOARD

Sara Sackey

Daniel Awuley NarteyOsman A. Ibrahim

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Overview about FinancesIncome: • Chance for Children is being financially supported by more than 2’300 individuals, churches, schools, associations and

companies. Donors reside primarily in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, but there are also donors from Austria, Germany, Ghana, France, Canada and the United States.

• Donations in 2012 summed up to CHF 530‘178, almost reaching up to the record year 2010. Around CHF 22’048 of the donations have been generated in Ghana.

• Kids and youth of CFC were able to contribute almost CHF 20‘000 by producing as well as selling cards, fabric and other goods. This also includes the income generated through giving workshops.

• Contributions from annual membership fees from 110 members of the Swiss association Chance for Children summed up to CHF 3’420.

Recuring Expenses• Total expenses in 2012 were CHF 374’036. This is 7% higher than in 2011 and is driven by the higher number of

children that we take care of and the extension of CFC‘s offering (e.g., second girls‘ group home in Hebron ).

• 90% of the expenses are directly benefing CFC‘s children and youth. These are expenses for school fees, food, clothes, caretaking, transportation as well as accomodation for the children.

• The current expenses for the 90 children are about CHF 374’036 which translates to CHF 4‘156 per child

Investments 2012• In 2012 the second girls‘ group home foran additional 10 girls was built and prepared for full use. Both the new building

(CHF 63’175) and the replacement of the old bus (CHF 21’606) were financed from 2012 donations

Reserves• The management and staff of CFC are very much aware of the long-term responsibilyty for its children. For that

reason it was a major goal for CFC to build up some reserves. Chance for Children was able to increase its reserves to CHF 871’635.– in 2012.

Chance for Children

Donations and Contributions 2012

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Donations Sales of Goods

Member-ships

Other Origination -

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000 530,178

30,894 3,420 6‘070

32012

538‘550

570’562

▪ In 2012 Chance for Children received donations of 530’178, around 22’048 thereof have been generated from Ghana

▪ Sales of Goods generated inflows of 30’894, around 4’391 thereof have been generated from Ghana

Ghana

Switzerland,Europe,Americas

Swiss Franc from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012

Chance for Children 22 Quelle: Chance for Children Buchhaltung

Expenses 2012Swiss Franc from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012

Total expenses: 478’293▪ Current expenses: 374’036▪ Expenses for goods sold,

cards, workshops 11’299▪ Investments: 92’958

▪ Second Girls‘ House in Hebron was built in 2012

▪ The current expenses for the 90 children are about CHF 374’036 that means about CHF 4‘156 per child

▪ The children and youth of CFC benefit directly from 90% of the expenses

▪ These are expenses for the school fees, food, clothes, caretaking, transportation as well as accommodation for the kids

Transportation in Swtizerland/Flights: 2’189 (0.5%)

Administration/advertisement: 40’214 (8.4%)

Kids direct: 435’890 (91.1%)• School fees, food, clothes and

transportation: 27.5%• Caretaking: 35.0%• Accomodation (incl new house): 28.6%

Current expenses: CHF 374’036 (78%)

Investments CHF 92’958 (19%)

Chance for Children 23

Swiss Franc from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012

Quelle: Chance for Children Buchhaltung

.

Sales 2012

Kids and youth of CFC are able to contribute almost CHF 20‘000 by producing as well as selling cards, fabrics and other goods

This also includes the income generated through giving workshops.

Expenses Income Profit

CFC Sales and workshops

30’894 19’595

-11’299

Chance for Children

Revisionsbericht Schweiz 2012

Als Revisoren haben wir die Buchführung und die Jahresrechnung der Chance for Children für das am 31. Dezember 2012 abgeschlossene Geschäftsjahr geprüft. Für die Jahresrechnung ist unser CFO Mac Bernet verantwortlich, während unsere Aufgabe darin besteht, diese zu prüfen und zu beurteilen.  Unsere Prüfung erfolgte nach anerkannten Grundsätzen, wonach eine Prüfung so zu planen und durchzuführen ist, dass wesentliche Fehlaussagen in der Jahresrechnung mit angemessener Sicherheit erkannt werden. Wir prüften die Posten und Angaben der Jahresrechnung 2012 mittels Analysen und Erhebungen auf der Basis von Stichproben. Ferner beurteilten wir die Anwendung der massgebenden Rechnungslegungsgrundsätze und die Darstellung der Jahresrechnung als Ganzes. Wir sind der Auffassung, dass die Prüfung eine ausreichende Grundlage für unser Urteil bildet. Gemäss unserer Beurteilung erfolgte die Buchführung und die Darstellung der Jahresrechnung ordnungsgemäss. Daher empfehlen wir der Versammlung, die vorliegende Jahresrechnung 2012 zu genehmigen. Wilen, 2.4.2013 Die Revisoren

Tobias Wüst Stefan Burth

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Thank you for your support!

Additional information under: www.chance-for-children.org

In Ghana

Amon Kotey / Daniela Rüdisüli SodjahP.O. Box 251La - AccraTel.: ++233 (0)244 602006 (Amon)Tel.: ++233 (0)244 202881 (Daniela)daniela.ruedisuelisodjah@chance-for-children.org

In Switzerland:

Public RelationsIsabel Lohri-LukunicMattenhof 38CH-8051 ZürichTel.: ++41 (0)34 402 46 68isabel.lohri@chance-for-children.org

Administration of DonationsChristina GabrielliMilchbuckstrasse 508057 Zürich++41 (0)44 362 00 58christina.gabrielli@chance-for-children.org

SCHWEIZER FRANKEN Bankkonto :Raiffeisenbank Benken(Clearing: 81256, PC-Konto der Bank: 90-5115-5) Spendenkonto Chance for ChildrenIBAN: CH54 8125 6000 0035 0229 4SWIFT/BIC: RAIFCH22XXX EURO Bankkonto in Deutschland:Postbank Stuttgart (Bankleitzahl 600 100 70) Spendenkonto Chance for ChildrenKonto-Nr. 158 395 708 IBAN: DE43 6001 0070 0158 3957 08SWIFT/BIC: PBNKDEFF

GHC/DOLLAR Bankkonto:Barclays Bank of Ghana LTDBarclays House, Hight StreetP.O. Box GP 69, AccraSWIFT: BARCGHACDollar Konto: 012/1038725Cedis Konto: 012/1057131