Maltiti Child Foundation
Increasing access to Education in Northern Ghana 
Aim: Increasing long term access to education for extremely poor school children.
Background : In 2003 1.27 million children were engaged in child labour. Of these, 1.03 million children were under 13 years old. Instead of going to school, children are involved in activities such as domestic work, farming, stone breaking or, even worse, prostitution and drug peddling. They often have to work in physically dangerous environments. The scheme will allow 50 at-risk children access to schools and will help their families by providing a sustainable income.
The Programme: The scheme funded by Tzedek will allow 50 at-risk children access to school and will help their families by providing a sustainable income. To this end, Maltiti have adopted a threefold strategy. Firstly, they mobilise awareness and support for child education through community forums and publicity campaigns that use mediums such as travelling drama groups. Secondly, they are concerned with improving the educational resources available by means of after school clubs, children’s clubs, the provision of educational materials and the improvement of school premises. Finally, they hope to give the project an element of sustainability by providing the children’s families with goats, the offspring of which can be sold to provide money for school fees.
Partners: MCF is a young, energetic grassroots organisation with strong support from the local community. Already, residents have erected a shed to be used as a community school and have secured a voluntary teacher. Maltiti has good links with local government and with NGOs and campaigning organisations such as the Northern Ghana Network for Development and the Coalition on Child Rights.
Outcome: 50 children regularly going to school, attending additional after school classes and contributing towards their own education through the goat rearing project. MCF regards this as a pilot and plans to take it to more children in surrounding villages once it has been proven successful.
Evaluation:
MCF has been consistent in providing the regular feedback required by Tzedek. In addition, Peter Ndonwie, Tzedek’s Overseas Coordinator, has made regular field visits to the organisation. All indications are that they have already made significant progress in mobilising community support, improving their educational capacity and generating awareness among parents and children of the opportunities education can bring.
We are still seeking funds for this project: make a donation.
