One of the main barriers to families staying together – which is also crucial to the success of a child as they grow up – is access to quality education. Though primary and junior high school education are free in Ghana, many families cannot afford the costs associated with sending their children to school, which includes transport, textbooks, pencils, uniforms, and other associated fees. If a child does successfully complete primary and junior high school, many families cannot afford to continue their child’s education through senior high school, which is not free in Ghana.

OAfrica supports impoverished families to pay for their children’s education in order to ensure that families can stay together and to provide greater opportunities for success of the child. Educational support has proven to be the cornerstone of prevention of child abandonment to orphanages. In addition, increased education levels promote other positive life impacts, including improved health, higher wages and economic growth, democracy and political stability.

Children are sponsored from primary school to tertiary education or vocational programs and apprenticeships. Those with learning disabilities or who have been delayed in their education receive extra classes and tutoring or receive extensive career counseling to identify professions that meet both their qualifications and their interests.