The Vaccination Project

Our Mission

It has become our mission, as the volunteers at Cherubs Orphanage during 2009, to help vaccinate the children for Hepatitis B. This project came to our attention in the beginning of the year when one of the children was diagnosed with Hepatitis B. After the diagnosis, it became clear that the other children were at risk, as Hepatitis B can easily be spread in this type of environment. The children share food, eating utensils, and even toothbrushes.

Our first step was to screen every child, to determine whether any other children were already infected, and luckily, none were. This means that all of the children at Cherubs need the Hepatitis B vaccination, in order to prevent the spread of the disease.


The Story
Richmond is a twelve year old boy at Cherubs Orphanage who has been recently diagnosed with Hepatitis B. He came to Cherubs a couple of years ago, after losing both parents. He was the youngest of nine children, and was forced to resort to unwholesome labor to survive. Cherubs took Richmond into their care, and he has been thriving ever since.

Richmond is one of the older boys at the orphanage, and is caring and friendly towards everyone. He is a great role model for the younger children, and they look up to him as an older brother. He has a wonderful personality, and is really fun to be around. He is docile and shy around adults, but among his peers he is a regular playful, happy, laughing boy.

Our story with Richmond began in early February, when we were asked to bring him to the hospital. He had not been feeling well all week, and the housemothers suspected he had Malaria. After being tested, his blood showed signs of Malaria, along with something else. Richmond was sent to a larger hospital to receive a more thorough blood test to determine what the diagnosis was.

After a week of waiting, the doctor diagnosed Richmond with Hepatitis B. This came as a shock to us all, and Richmond was scared, as he struggled to comprehend what was wrong with him. We explained to the housemothers what Hepatitis B was, and how it can be contracted. It was clear that all of the children had come into direct contact, and were at risk for contracting the disease.

Our first plan of action was to treat Richmond and get him healthy. This consisted of changing his diet to include more glucose and less oil, and taking lots of vitamins to boost his immune system. Next, we knew that all of the children needed to be tested to determine if anyone else had Hepatitis B, and who would need a vaccination. Our main goal was to eliminate any stigma surrounding Richmond and his disease. We did not want him to be treated any differently, by the children or the staff.

The screenings for Hepatitis B took place a few weeks later, and was paid for solely by two volunteers from a different organization. The results showed that no one else was positive for Hepatitis B; which means that vaccinations are necessary for everyone.


How You Can Help

We are asking for sponsors for each child at Cherubs Orphanage. The Hepatitis B vaccination consists of three shots, spaced one month apart. Due to very limited resources, we are asking for any support to make this project possible.

In Ghana, the total cost for the vaccination, including all three shots, is $180. We need to begin the vaccinations as soon as possible, to maintain the validity of the screenings. The sooner the vaccinations start, the sooner we prevent the spread of Hepatitis B altogether.

We ask that you help in any way you can. If you can sponsor a child, through part, or all of the vaccination, you can make an enormous difference in their life. We invite you to meet all of the amazing children at Cherubs Orphanage, by reading the profiles we’ve created. If you’d like to sponsor a specific child, please let us know which one; otherwise, you can make a general donation to the Vaccination Project.

All of the donations received will be collected by our families, and then placed in our personal bank accounts. We will then withdraw the money here in Ghana, and pay for the vaccinations personally. We ensure you that your money will be safe, and all donations will go directly to the hospital administering the vaccinations.


Details

Along with your donation, please include your name, address and email address, and also which child you wish to sponsor.

We would like to thank you for taking the time to read about our project, and for any support you can give the children of Cherubs Orphanage.

Meet The Children

Kwadwo Asafo-Adjei
(Junior)
22/2/1999

Junior is 9 years old. He was one of five children who were being cared for by an old woman who voluntarily adopted his biological mother, who was also an orphan. The old woman was seriously ill, and Cherubs Orphanage was Junior’s only option.

Junior is very outgoing among the other children. He is very mature for his age, and is close with the older boys. He loves to play football at the park, or in front of the orphanage, and really loves to dance. He is also naturally gifted at drumming, and is always making music.





Isaac Ofori
11/6/2001

Background Information: Unknown

Isaac is a very shy and quiet boy, but really likes one on one time with the volunteers. He loves to be held and watch the other children. He uses his imagination to entertain himself, and makes toys out of sardine tins. His best friend is Samuel, and they are always playing in their own little world.







Kwaku Agyei
7/9/1996

Kwaku is twelve years old. Kwaku’s birth mother is mentally ill, and doesn’t know his father, as she was raped. She could not care for Kwaku anymore, so Cherubs took him in.

Kwaku is very athletic, and his favorite activity is playing football. He enjoys school, and studies hard for all his subjects, especially English. The other boys look up to Kwaku, and he is very helpful with the household chores.






Lilian Sarpong
(Afua)
6/12/1996

Lilian is 11 years old. Her mother is a drug addict, and her father could not support her and her siblings. He left the family, and Lilian’s care was entrusted to the orphanage.

Lilian is generally a playful and helpful girl, although she has recently struggled with chronic Malaria and hasn’t been able to attend school.








Mary Nimako
18/5/1998


Mary’s parents are deceased, and she was forced to work at a local restaurant to earn her food and shelter. She didn’t have any other known family members, and had no means of obtaining an education or a future without the orphanage.

Mary is a quiet girl, and often shy. She is very helpful with the washing and cooking, and helps the house mothers a great deal. She enjoys school, and skipping rope at the park.







Peter Ackah (Junior)
&
Peter Ackah (Senior)
21/4/1999



Peter and Peter are twins, whose parents are deceased. A relative was caring for them both, but due to unemployment, couldn’t provide sufficient care. They were forced to live on the street, and city authorities arranged their placement at Cherubs Orphanage.

The twins are very playful and happy boys. They are good at football, and like to draw. They get along very well with the other boys and are always ready to help the house mothers.



Samuel Nimako
11/4/2002

Samuel’s parents died several years ago. His relatives believed that Samuel had something to do with his parent’s deaths based on spiritual beliefs and refused to care for him. Until coming to Cherub’s, he lived off food scraps from his family and neighbors.
Samuel is very affectionate and loves to be held by the volunteers. He is very quiet and sweet, and loves to play with the other toddlers. His favorite toy is a sardine tin that he fills with rocks and tows around the park on a string. He also enjoys playing hair dresser with the volunteers.




Samuel Addo
2/5/1994

Both of Samuel’s parents are deceased. He was left in the care of his grandmother, but she became incapacitated and could no longer take care of him. He was found in the streets abandoned and beaten, and forced to work for his survival.

Samuel is the most affectionate of all the children. He is very helpful and friendly to everyone. He’s sensitive and like an older brother to the other children. He is very studious and enjoys learning English and teaching the volunteers his native language, Twi.



Sidorf Kusi
19/9/2005

Sidorf’s father died during his mother’s pregnancy. His mother was fourteen, and abandoned him shortly after his birth and cannot be traced.

Sidorf is the youngest boy at the orphanage. He is extremely well behaved and always happy and playful. He loves being cuddled and playing with the volunteers. The girls of his age group love to interact with him and take care of him.





Albert Owusu
(Adams)
13/5/1995

Adams’ parents are deceased. He was forced to live on the street and eventually abandoned school, resorting to hard labor for survival.

Adams is very athletic. He is talented at dancing and gymnastics. He’s a sweet boy who helps out with the more difficult household chores such as chopping wood and heavy lifting. He does well in school and studies hard, and often helps the other children with their English.







Abena Birago
(Sista)
6/12/2002

Sista is fatherless, and her mother is mentally abnormal. She was brought to the orphanage for care.

Sista is full of energy and very playful. She loves attention and is a leader among the younger children. She is always smiling and laughing, and is constantly climbing on everything and everyone. She enjoys school and showing off her schoolwork.






Abigail Adu
(Mamiayaa)
22/5/1996

Background information: Unknown

Abigail is the second eldest girl at Cherubs. She is very gentle and easygoing. She is very helpful to the other children and takes on many chores around the house. She likes to sew, and jumping rope when given a break from her chores.






Agnes Adu
(Akua)
22/5/1994

Background Information: Unknown

Agnes is the eldest girl at Cherubs. She is constantly at work cooking and cleaning, and is very much like a mother to the other children at the orphanage. She likes sewing doll clothes for her teddy bear and entertaining the toddlers. She’s very sweet and shy, but is very friendly to everyone.






Gladys Ankomah
(Atta)
6/11/1995

Gladys’ parents died in a motor accident several years ago. An aunt took in Gladys and her siblings, but she sexually abused the children. Gladys was removed to the orphanage by extended family members.

Gladys is very quiet, but can also be very playful with the other girls. She is very helpful and does many chores for the house mothers. She has strong faith and is very devout. She has a peaceful personality and is enjoyable to be around.





Emmanuel Azem
22/5/2001

Background Information: Unknown

Emmanuel is a quiet boy, who is always smiling. He likes to play football with the older boys at the park. He is very helpful with the younger children, and the household chores.






Gabriel Adu
(A.J.)
23/8/2003

A.J.’s parents are deceased. His father died when he was a baby, and his mother died when he was just five months old leaving eight children. His extended family couldn’t care for him, so he was sent to Cherub’s.

A.J loves to dance and entertains the other children with his moves. At the park, he likes to collect flowers and put them in the volunteers’ hair. He likes being cuddled and held spun around by the volunteers.





Hagar Boatemaa
(Haga)
23/4/2003

Haga’s mother is mentally ill, and father couldn’t be located as her mother was raped. No family members could take responsibility for her care, so she was placed at Cherub’s Orphanage.

Haga is a wild child. She’s full of energy and very fun to be around. She loves to climb on people and play games with the other children, but can also be cuddly and affectionate. She loves bubbles and is always giggling, and always running off somewhere.




Isaac Ankomah
13/3/1993

Isaac was only seven years old when his parents were killed in a motor accident. His grandmother took him in but she was very old and became incapacitated and could no longer care for him. His family decided to place him in the care of the orphanage.

Isaac is the oldest boy at Cherub’s Orphanage. He enjoys football and is already a very talented drummer. The other boys look up to him as a leader and he is a great role model for all the younger children. He is very helpful with all the chores, especially chopping wood and preparing breakfast every morning. He has a very quiet and sweet personality, and is very intelligent.



Isaac Apau
(Ebenezer)
3/1/2003

Isaac’s parents died when he was two years old and no family member offered to care for him. Eventually he was taken in by a man and his wife, but after her death, he could no longer stay and was given up to the orphanage.

Isaac is one of a kind. He is constantly creating new toys and games for himself and never stops playing. He loves spending one on one time with the volunteers and gets along with the other children but often plays alone. His imagination is impressive and he uses it in everything he does.



Alfred Sam
(Ekau)
DOB: Unknown

Alfred came to Cherubs Orphanage in November of 2008.

Alfred is a very helpful boy. He is one of the older boys, and often helps with the younger children. He enjoys playing football at the park. He has bonded with the older boys quickly, after arriving last November. He is a quiet, gentle spirited boy, and a bit of a ladies man.



Patience Sey
(Abena)
11/6/2006

Background Information: Unknown

Abena is the youngest child at the orphanage, and is mutually cared for by everyone. She is very quiet, but loves to play with the older girls and laugh. She enjoys going to the park to play skipping rope, picking flowers and playing with bubbles. She is constantly asking the volunteers what different things are, and is learning English quickly. She is definitely a three year old.





Isaac Yeboah
27/6/1998

Isaac’s parents died in a motor accident when he was seven years old. The old woman who was taking care of him also died, and his only option was to come to Cherubs Orphanage.

Isaac is a very sweet boy, and is always helping the house mothers around the orphanage. Among his chores are helping to bathe the toddlers each morning. He enjoys playing football, and playing with the other kids. He is very artistic and really loves to draw. He enjoys school, and is very good at English.





Constance Nimako
(Amma)
DOB: Unknown

Background Information: Unknown

Amma is a very sweet and good natured child. She is always calm, and well-behaved. She is one of the youngest girls, but spends a lot of time playing with the boys. She likes to play games at the park, and to play with dolls.







Christina Owusu
(Christie)
11/6/1998

Background Information: Unknown

Christie is very helpful around the orphanage, and gets up early to help wash dishes and cook every morning. She really likes to take pictures and wants to be a news lady when she grows up.




David Obeng
22/5/1995

Background Information: Unknown

David is one of the older boys, and a leader among them, especially on the football field. He is often team captain, and helps organize the games. He is very friendly, and helpful with chores. He enjoys drumming, and reading and learning English.




Abena Abebreseh
(Akua)
22/5/2000

Background Information: Unknown

Akua has a quiet personality, but gets along well with both the younger and older children. She likes one on one time with the volunteers, and is content to just sit quietly on their laps. She loves to draw, and to play with bubbles at the park.






Emmanuel Arhin
(Zackie)
22/5/1998

Emmanuel comes from the Western region of Ghana. His parents died a natural death, and a neighbor in his community placed him at Cherubs Orphanage.

Emmanuel is a quiet boy. He enjoys making paper airplanes out of scratch paper, and playing with them outside. He also loves to play football with the older boys, and is always smiling. He is very helpful with the volunteers and children, and often helps them with their tasks.






Samuel Boakye
22/5/1998

Background Information: Unknown

Samuel is sometimes shy, but gets along with all of the children at Cherubs. He is a leader among the younger children, but usually plays with the older boys. He enjoys playing football at the park, and studying for school.






Abena Serwaa
11/4/1999

Background Information: Unknown

Abena is a charismatic girl. She loves to be in the spotlight, and is often the leader among her peers. She is responsible for the youngest girl at the orphanage, and acts like a mother for her. She is silly and outgoing, and enjoys playing with all the children.





Albert Frimpong
27/6/2000

Background Information: Unknown

Albert is a shy boy, but opens up to new people quickly. He gets along well with the older boys, and enjoys playing football with them at the park. He loves to dance and listen to music with the volunteers. He enjoys drawing, and working on his school work in the afternoons.