Ghana: real lives

School didn't used to be a high priority in Gumani, a community near the city of Tamale, Ghana. It couldn't be as most residents in Gumani, located in Ghana's dry northern region, are just barely able to make a living through subsistence farming or by working as street vendors. There's no money for school expenses - in fact, less than half of school-age children in this part of Ghana actually make it into the classroom.

The good news is that things are changing. School enrolment in Gumani has dramatically increased thanks to a sponsorship program supported by ChildFund Australia's affiliate organisation in Ghana and local partner, Markaz Al-Bishara.

The Gumani program provides funding for over 1,400 sponsored children to receive schooling. Children who are having particular difficulty receive extra after-school instruction, and there's financial support for older students taking vocational training. The program has also invested in infrastructure, furniture and learning materials for the newly constructed school.

Healthy children learn well, so the Gumani program also includes healthcare and nutrition. Children receive supplements and regular health check-ups, with follow-up treatment and prescriptions if necessary. Any children who are diagnosed as malnourished receive special support in terms of nutrition.

The program is also helping to install sanitary facilities in the neighbourhood, and is providing health education on topics such as family planning and HIV and AIDS. Equally important is the micro-enterprise development component, which provides small loans to families of sponsored children.

The loans are often used to buy animals for breeding, cultivation or production, or to set up stands to sell snacks or produce. The resulting increase in income can help families move towards self-sufficiency.