Summer 2015
In This Issue:
5 For Freedom Senyo Student Advocacy
Rescued Brothers
5 For Freedom Campaign
August is a third grader living in Ghana's capital, Accra. When he found out there were child laborers in Ghana, he was in disbelief that enslaved children were working on Lake Volta. August felt compelled to do something about it, and with his classmates at Lincoln Community School, he made this wonderful video to help RTBF launch the 5 For Freedom Campaign.
The campaign is quick and easy: donate $5 and share the campaign with 5 people to multiply the impact of your contribution. With your help, the 5 For Freedom campaign can be a success: Senyo can receive the surgery he desperately needs and RTBF's work can continue. Every small donation can add up to make a big impact. Together we can make a difference.
The hand symbolizes our 5 For Freedom campaign as we lend a hand to uplift humanity. We welcome supporters to send in drawings or pictures of their hands like the ones in August's video and on the right. We have already received a few international donations, and with your assistance, the impact will increase exponentially. Please share the 5 For Freedom campaign with your friends at home and around the world!
We love receiving your 5 For Freedom hand prints and messages. Keep them coming so we can share them!
With our donors' support, RTBF rescues, protects and rebuilds the lives of trafficked children, helps families become self-sustaining, and works to permanently change the conditions that contribute to human trafficking. Our success is demonstrated by villagers who now report traffickers when they arrive in their communities and by fishermen who no longer traffick and enslave children. Some fishermen now help advocate against child trafficking! Education empowers, protects, and leads to fundamental change. Their success is your success.
Senyo
Senyo, the young boy featured in our newsletter last fall, was rescued last year and has been under the medical care of doctors at the FOCOS (Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine) Hospital in Accra. He was diagnosed with spinal tuberculosis and kyphosis (excessive outward curvature of the spine) due to a crippling injury while working on Lake Volta that crushed five vertebrae. Senyo's spinal TB has been successfully treated and we continue to raise funds for his life saving spine reconstruction surgery.
FOCOS Hospital
The FOCOS Hospital is one of the only specialty hospitals in Africa. The hospital is particularly exceptional because of its founder, Dr. Oheneba Boachie-Adjei.
A Ghana native, Dr. Boachie-Adjei is a world renowned surgeon and expert in the treatment of spine deformities; scoliosis, kyphosis and spine reconstruction. Coming from a poor family, through hard work and dedication he became an acclaimed spine reconstruction surgeon, building a career in New York and training surgeons around the world. He retired to Ghana to train the next generation of surgeons at the FOCOS Hospital. Dr. Boachie-Adjei's success demonstrates the impact one person can have when they are free to pursue their goals, and we are grateful that he can help children rescued by RTBF.
Student Advocacy
Thanks to the Walt Whitman High School General Student Organization in Huntington, New York, who raised money by selling over 100 bracelets and t-shirts to sponsor a rescued boy and raise awareness of child trafficking!
If your school would like to get involved, please contact us. We are always eager to support student leadership and volunteering.
Rescued brothers
RTBF lacked funds to conduct a full rescue mission this year, but we successfully rescued Senyo's older brothers, Yao (left) and Kafu, who were also trafficked to Lake Volta. Since their father is deceased and their mother is mentally ill and unable to care for them, RTBF is supporting them at a shelter in Accra and they are doing well in school. They are eager to be reunited with their little brother and we look forward to sharing photos of their future reunion.
In order for RTBF to maintain its success and continue its programs, we need financial support. The 5 For Freedom campaign will raise awareness and funds to help Senyo and many more enslaved children like him.
Our achievements have been possible thanks to generous donors who support children's freedom, restoring their self worth, and providing access to an education, skills training and health care. Please help us continue our important mission - we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your loyal support and involvement with RTBF. Thank you!
AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Right To Be Free every time you shop, at no cost to you. Amazon's foundation will donate a portion of your purchase to Right To Be Free whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. It's the same Amazon you know - same products, same prices, same service; but now your purchases can help save a child's life. You use the same account on Amazon.com and AmazonSmile. Your shopping cart, Wish List, and other account settings remain the same. Please make Right To Be Free's AmazonSmileyour link for Amazon shopping, so every time you place an order, you will be helping an enslaved child.
