Mission
Liberate Me is our Anti-child trafficking and forced labor project which ensures children are rescued, rehabilitated, and given educational opportunity to rebuild their life. Survivors will either be fully sponsored or be in our case management program and are provided with counseling, family mentoring and relocation, food aid, school costs, clothing and health items, and regular surveying to understand the needs of the child
“In Ghana, Ada is widely recognized as a hub for trafficking children to other communities, where they are exploited for labor. Families of these children are often deceived or given partial information upon which traffickers take their children. Typically, there’s an exchange of money or goods involved, sometimes even on a contractual basis. VRF acknowledges that child trafficking and forced labor contribute significantly to underdevelopment in coastal and riverine communities. Addressing this cyclical problem requires substantial rehabilitation efforts to ensure the safe return of these children without lasting trauma or the risk of further trafficking.
Method
Our process begins by collaborating with local communities to educate and transform mindsets. We engage with locals to learn about instances of child forced labor, slavery, and trafficking. Subsequently, we investigate reports and, when needed, intervene to rehabilitate survivors. Finally, we reintegrate survivors with their families and communities, offering them a pathway to realize their dreams.
Education
We partner with local communities to educate about the causes and harm of child trafficking, forced labor and abuse. Our curriculum is comprehensive and includes legal advice, human rights training, stories, trauma and emotions education, and sexual and reproductive health education. We understand our communities and work with them to reveal an alternate pathway to collective development.
Investigation
Volta Resilient works with local partners including schools, leaders, and families to learn about cases of trafficking and abuse. Community members may report to our 24/7 hotline, which is available to all ages, which will trigger an investigation from our staff.
Intervention
Our staff are trained with our safeguarding policy and work diligently and discretely with local community member to identify the issues reported. When we find that a reported case is true then we will work with the office of social welfare, community members, and the family being reported to implement an intervention. Often this means working with the family and community to return the child for rehabilitation.
Rehabilitation
After intervention the child will be brought to the Volta Resilient Foundation shelter for rehabilitation where they will be provided health care, psychological counseling, mentorship, basic education, life planning, SRH training, emotions and trauma training, legal and human rights education, and all other needs
Reintegration
After Rehabilitation every child will receive the materials they need to enter or re-enter school with the promise to continue mentorship, and school fees support through their basic education. In some cases older returned youth may elect to be placed in our apprenticeship program.
