Wellness Wednesday 2023 - Record Breaking Attendance
In 2023, the popularity of Wellness Wednesday among children living in street situations has grown significantly from an average of 15 attendees to a record 47 attendees.
Once we've connected with children in street situations, they begin the healing process. During their first year, we bring them to our Norviwo Centre, a safe space to enable them to focus on their new journey to transformation.
"Let's Heal"
At Future of Africa's Norviwo Center (Norviwo), we begin to transition street residents between the ages of 13-15 into a 1-year program focused on restoring their physical, emotional, and mental health. We trace and reunite street residents with their families to facilitate reconciliation and mending broken relationships. Our goal is to improve the well-being of Norviwo residents and providing extensive care through our Norviwo Extended Family Support (NEFS). Our NEFS are high school students, university students, and professionals who offer their friendship, mentorship, job-shadowing, employment, and network.
Your donations enable Future of Africa staff and volunteers at Norviwo to create a safe space for children in street situations.
Make A Donation Become A VolunteerAfter we've identified committed street residents through our Midzo Program, we then work to transition them into a mindset of healing and hope. At Norviwo they participate in a thorough health screening at our partner clinic, assessments from trained clinical psychologists and social workers to create a detailed profile and care plan. For a street resident to be eligible for Mihaya, they must meet the following requirements:
Norviwo residents who successfully complete Miahaya are then enrolled in our Miasrornu Program, allowing them to attend and board at our partner schools and vocational training centres. Future of Africa is currently developing a plan for an alternative technical education program for street residents.
FOA receives on average 10 requests from street residents to leave the streets every month. We have transitioned 34 into Miahaya, traced 100% of their families, and enrolled 14 in our Miasrornu program. 100% of street residents who ran back to the streets return to FOA for multiple second chances.
Every moment a child is off the streets and in the classroom is another moment for the Future of Africa.
In 2023, the popularity of Wellness Wednesday among children living in street situations has grown significantly from an average of 15 attendees to a record 47 attendees.
Millicent spent two months living on the streets of Accra after being abandoned by her friend. After meeting representatives of Future of Africa, she was rescued from the street, reunited with her family, and provided opportunities to improve her well being.
Sarina reflects on the memorable interactions she had with street children living in Accra.