Osu Child Development Center

The last few days, we have been spending some time at the Osu Child Development Center. This is not the orphanage that we had originally planned on volunteering at; however it is where we ended up because we were told things “fell through” at the Teeshie Orphanage. It is the largest center of its type in the area and receives the most funding from donators. It is made up of approximately four or five classrooms, play areas, housing facilities, kitchens, administrator offices, etc., both in and outdoors. There we met two nice American girls from Oklahoma who are in Africa for the same reasons as us. They have been at the center for over three weeks now, and were able to show us around and share their classroom of children with us for a bit of time.

Apparently, our contact should have filled out paperwork and a letter of recommendation for us well before we had arrived, yet somehow did not know this. Things have changed quite a bit since he last worked with this center and did not know the new procedure. This again shows the differences in American and Ghanaian ways of life. We would have been in contact with the center prior to ones visit, known of the new procedures, and have had everything set before arrival. Because he did not, we were told that by the time we were cleared to volunteer, we would be leaving to come home. Fortunately, the two American girls helped us sneak into their classroom to help them for some time. With now four adults caring for over 15 children under the age of three, it is still difficult to share our love and attention with them all, as they all want and seek it so much. Here we basically play with and hold the children, simply to show them attention and love. They are more than appreciative.

A few of the children at this center are picked up by their parents at the day’s end; however the majority of them are orphans. Most of them are very ill, and unable to receive the appropriate medical attention they need. One girl in particular has been sick for over a week and it is questionable as to whether or not she will survive, especially not knowing what it she is ill with specifically. We suspect she has malaria or some sort of disease transmitted through a parasite.

All of the children are not yet potty trained, and unfortunately diapers are not available to them because of funding. Therefore, they relieve themselves as they please and wait for a volunteer or an Auntie (a female Ghanaian worker) to clean them. As you can imagine, this is both disturbing and heartbreaking.

Unfortunately, we are unable to take photographs at this center because they are strictly prohibited; however we snuck one of the sign outdoors (and got yelled at).