An orphanage to serve the needs of the people of Ardeyman-Otaden near Amasaman in the Ga West District has been inaugurated. Known as Kroners Handmaids Orphanage, the facility was funded by the Rotary Club of Otterndorf-Land in Germany, in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Accra, at about $700,000.
It consists of a 60-bed living quarters, a four-classroom block, a social centre, a pantry, recreational rooms, caregivers’ rooms and a convent for the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer (HDR) sisters.
The orphanage will cater for children of HIV/AIDS patients, the less privileged and vulnerable in society, as well as orphans and be managed by the HDR.
Present at the inauguration were the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur; the President of the Rotary Club of Accra, Mr Frank Gadzekpo; representatives from the various Catholic societies and the President of the Rotary Club Otterndorf, Germany, Mr Hans Peter Weber.
Holistic care
In a welcoming address, the Superior General of the HDR, Sister Matilda Sorkpor, expressed gratitude to the Rotarians from Otterndorf and Accra for making the HDR’s dream of having a home for less-privileged children a reality.
“We believe that God has helped us fulfil our hearts’ desire and realise our dream of bringing dispersed children, who are living with several foster families, under one umbrella,” she said.
She underscored the need to have children under the protective care of the sisters in the orphanage, adding that it would give the sisters the opportunity to provide holistic care for the children.
Enhance child independence
Speaking at the ceremony, Nana Oye commended the Rotary Club of Accra and its partners for the laudable initiative of providing a home for vulnerable children.
She said such partnerships should be emulated by all for development.
She charged the orphanage to function in a way that would enhance every child’s independence, as well as the children’s opportunity to make everyday choices, adding that the children should be included in all decisions that affected their lives.
Nana Oye urged the orphanage to contact the relevant institutions, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, whenever it encountered any challenge.
She said her ministry was setting up a complaints desk at the Department of Social Welfare to ensure that the appropriate standards for orphanages were adhered to.
Serving humanity
Mr Gadzekpo stated that the Rotary Club was committed to serving humanity and the less-privileged in society, hence its support towards the construction of the orphanage.
He expressed gratitude to the Catholic Church for providing the land on which the orphanage was built and the HDR for agreeing to manage the orphanage.
He said the collaboration between the Rotary Club of Accra and other organisations would continue, as it benefited the less privileged and the country as a whole.
He appealed to the government to assist the Rotary Club in its quest to bring more voluntary doctors to help hospitals with their expertise.
