Originally named “Tamale Street Children’s Project”, Youth Alive was a sub-programme of Action Aid Ghana in 1995. The former was formed to address the growing problem of children running away from their poverty-stricken homes to the capital city, Tamale in search of greener pastures only to end up on the streets.

Youth Alive Ghana was established in 2002. It has been involved in tackling the social problem of the youth who migrate from their rural areas in search of non-existent jobs and end up on the street for survival. The NGO seeks to change this trend by giving street and needy children/youth a second chance at normal growth and development. Since it was established, the organization has expanded from helping vulnerable children, in areas of education, disability, microfinance and livelihoods, to include health, governance and advocacy.

Given the immense benefits that education has on development, all children must be allowed to enjoy the right to education. Youth Alive sponsors beneficiaries in school by providing school fees, exam fees, textbooks and school furniture. This notwithstanding, the organization provides the opportunity to the families of beneficiaries to pay the smaller fees where they are able; for instance, school uniforms, PTA levies and food. This helps to collaborate with the families, not replacing them, and also to encourage parents/guardians to take responsibility for their wards.

However, in the situation where families are unable to afford such fees, Youth Alive supports them with some or all. After completing secondary school, beneficiaries are allowed to choose between learning a trade or continuing to tertiary education. Youth Alive Ghana believes that education allows the vulnerable to break out of the cycle of poverty, giving them the chance to build their future and also support their wider families.

While some families are happy to see their street children in school, others are not because their children provide financial support for the home.  In such an instance, the organization gives such families an amount of money monthly so that their wards can stay in school.

In 2012, Youth Alive started a new programme dubbed the ‘Youth in Governance’. This programme is aimed at preparing the youth, through capacity building, to participate actively in decision-making at all levels, on issues that affect their development.

Also, Youth Alive’s 24-hour “Tizaa” drop-in centres have libraries, computers and study rooms that students are allowed to use. The centres offer the children a conducive environment for learning.  The children also develop good relationship skills with the field workers who regularly visit the schools to offer support and monitor progress.

Youth Alive Ghana works by promoting active participation and the building of relationships with children, their parents, guardians, and local communities to alleviate the plight of the street and vulnerable children in the country.  

REFERENCE

Information from https://youthaliveghana1.wordpress.com/about-us/, https://orgs.tigweb.org/youth-alive-tamale-ghana, and http://www.africatamtam.com/ou.php?ut=1266 was used in this story