Regions: Africa   Asia   Latin America


Name of Organization: Children Research for Action & Development Agency (CRADA)

Country: Ghana

Project Title: "Integrated Community Response To Reduce Child Labor Through Public Awareness And Education"

Project Timeframe: 18 months

Location of Project: 4 districts in the Ashanti Region

Budget Amount: $43,712

NGO contact and website:
"Starlets" 91 Avenue (Opposite Central Ahamadiyya Mosque)
Kumasi, Ghana
Phone 233-(0)-51-80428 or (0) 20-8220151
Email: streetchildren_initiative@yahoo.com or Crada70@hotmail.com

Project's Primary Objective: Raise awareness of the importance of education for all children, and mobilize a wide array of actors to improve and expand education infrastructures.

Description of Organization: As a child development-oriented, research-based, local non-governmental, non-profit organization, Child Research for Action and Development Agency (CRADA) has, for the past five years, been working extensively in the country as a partner in development. CRADA's activities are geared towards improving the lives of people, especially children and women in underserved communities. CRADA is of the belief that a peaceful society does not necessarily only mean absence of conflict, but social justice and equality. CRADA acknowledges participatory approaches to development.

CRADA has its head office in Kumasi (Ashanti Region) and a newly established branch office in Cape Coast (Central Region), where there is nearly almost a complete absence of structures to protect and prevent children from hazardous and exploitative labour. Committed to improving the world for and with children, CRADA works with local government authorities, community-based organizations, the private sector, families, civil society organizations, NGOs, and individuals to ensure that the ideals and principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child become a reality. CRADA is working with communities and local groups to encourage appropriate local initiatives to address the phenomena of Streetism, Child Sexual Abuse, Child Trafficking, Child Labour, Child Prostitution, Children Orphaned by HIV/AIDS, Violence against children and women. CRADA believes that children are also members of society and are thinking individuals who are capable of expressing themselves

Description of Project funded by CIRCLE: There is a growing concern about the use of children's time and energy, particularly in activities that are injurious to their health, education and development. The Government of Ghana has recognized this plight of children and a number of initiatives, over the years, have been developed to protect children against these threats to their development.

With more children being employed as labourers in fishing, farming and mining communities, and others working on the city streets to augment family income due to guardians/parents inability to make ends meet, these children are deprived of their chance for an education - for a better life. Virtually all of Ghana's child labourers are condemned to lifelong poverty. This indicates that there is a clear need for advocacy and related preventive measures to create awareness about the hazards of CL and the importance of education for all children.

Project Targets (Common Indicators):
Enrollment: 100 children
Persistence: 95%
Transition: No transition to other non-CIRCLE funded programs
Completion: 95%