February 2016
In This Issue: Senyo Update
RTBF Club Advocates with Art
Senyo Update
Since Senyo was rescued in 2014, we have chronicled the story of this young survivor of child trafficking. He suffered a crippling spine injury while working on Lake Volta in Ghana. When he was rescued, his age was estimated to be about 12 years old, although physically, he appeared younger due to his malnourished condition and physical disability.
Over a year later, Senyo, with the support of generous donors, has been cured of his spinal tuberculosis and is successfully recovering from his spine reconstruction surgery. He continues to convalesce at a rehabilitation facility close to Accra, Ghana where he receives physical therapy and exercise, reading and writing lessons, and peer engagement and support from other children who face physical challenges. He has been working one-on-one with a teacher to focus on math, English (official language of Ghana), and writing to help prepare him for school.
Left: Senyo after he was rescued, before he had spine reconstruction surgery. Right: Eric Peasah with Senyo at the rehabilitation facility where he continues to recover.
Senyo will remain at the rehabilitation facility for another year to receive a basic academic foundation to better prepare him for school. He continues to work hard and make progress in his physical therapy and academic studies. He loves to play football (soccer), something he could never have imagined doing before his surgery. He told Eric he wants to be a doctor, soldier or tailor. Whatever he decides to do, Senyo is free to dream big, stand tall and walk on his own. This could not be possible without the support of those who reached out to make a significant and lasting difference in this young boy's life.
Next year, Senyo will be transferred to the shelter where his two older brothers (rescued last year) live and attend school. Since the boys' father is deceased and their mother is mentally ill and unable to care for them, RTBF will continue to support them at the shelter and fund their education.
Right To Be Free Club Advocates with Art
Lincoln Community School's Right To Be Free Club has been busy hosting a series of art workshops, funded by a generous grant from the school's Lincoln Loyalty Fund. The art workshops promote anti-child trafficking and bring in local artists to work with students. Last week, artist Tjaša Rener, originally from Slovenia, worked with students to create mosaics using locally made beads. Participants made small mosaics to take home and collaborated on a large mosaic to be sold at an exhibition at the Alliance Française in April.
Workshop participants create their individual mosaics.
Colorful artisan beads pressed into wet cement capture the children's creativity.
Left: Eric and artist Tjaša Rener (wearing glasses), work on the large mosaic. Right: The children chose the Adinkra symbol "Nyame Dua" (translated God's Tree), a symbol of God's presence and protection, as the design for the large mosaic.
Lincoln Community School's RTBF Club is a shining example of our youth working to advocate for children their own age, who are victims of human trafficking. If you are interested in starting a RTBF Club at your school, please send inquiries to info@righttobefree.org.
Millions of children go to school every day. But in many parts of the world, including remote areas along Lake Volta in Ghana, children are trafficked and enslaved. Right To Be Free continues to work tirelessly to rescue and rehabilitate these children so they can have an education. However, we cannot do this work alone. We rely on the generosity and compassion of donors to saves lives and help build futures for children like Senyo. When you donate to RTBF, 100% of every dollar goes directly to help these children. Please join us. Together we can transform the lives of enslaved children.
Every child has the Right To Be Free.
Your gift can save a life.
All operating costs are funded internally, so 100% of every donation directly supports victims of child trafficking.
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