El-Roi Good News Club brings festive joy to vulnerable children in Tema
The El-Roi Good News Club, a non-governmental organisation dedicated to child development and welfare, has hosted a special end-of-year party for children in the slum community of Tema Community Three in the Greater Accra Region as part of its annual outreach activities.
The event was aimed at promoting good morals, mentorship, education and the holistic well-being of children, particularly those from vulnerable communities.
The founder of El-Roi Good News Club, Mrs Deborah Asempa Antwi, said the programme formed part of the club’s broader mission to protect children from social vices and provide them with opportunities for a better future.
Mrs Antwi explained that the initiative began about ten years ago after she became concerned about the frequent sight of young children roaming the streets in the area.
She said many of the children appeared barefoot, poorly clothed and unsupervised, raising serious concerns about their safety and welfare.
From a modest beginning, when she decided to engage just three children during one of her regular visits, the intervention gradually expanded as more children joined and attendance increased over time.
“As attendance grew, we were forced to relocate several times due to complaints from shop owners who were uncomfortable with the children gathering near their premises. Eventually, the meetings settled under a neem tree in a nearby open space, which has since become our regular meeting point,” she said.
Mrs Antwi noted that further engagement with the children revealed challenges beyond spiritual guidance, including lack of school enrolment, inadequate nutrition and limited access to proper clothing.
“In response, I reached out to friends, family members and community volunteers for donations of food, clothing, footwear and learning materials, which helped expand the scope of the project,” she added.
She said the initiative currently engages about 1,000 children, who meet every Sunday for structured activities such as basic literacy lessons, arts and crafts, Bible studies and play-based learning. Simple science and robotics activities have also been introduced to stimulate critical thinking and creativity.
She indicated that through continuous engagement with parents and guardians, a number of children who were previously out of school have since been enrolled in public schools.
“One notable outcome is the success of a former participant who has completed tertiary education at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and is currently studying in Italy on a full scholarship,” she said.
Mrs Antwi commended the Sentuo Group for supporting this year’s celebration and appealed to corporate institutions in Tema to come on board and support the initiative, which seeks to restore dignity and give children a sense of belonging.
The Financial Secretary of the club, Mrs Afua Holdbrook Smith, said the organisation combines spiritual teaching with practical educational support, including assistance with school fees.
She added that the club’s approach emphasises parental responsibility, offering full support only when families genuinely cannot afford the costs, while encouraging shared responsibility where possible.
As part of the event, the children took part in activities such as face painting, Bible study and various games, while gospel artiste Cwesi Oteng also entertained them.
