This Saturday, having bounced back from malaria to the point where I was finally feeling well enough to make the journey over to Bolga for some fun, I met up with some volunteer friends who were organising a football match for some children who stay at a place called Mama Laadi's.

It's a children's home / orphanage run by an NGO called Afrikids, and is a safe haven for many children who have been abandoned, neglected or for some reason left with no parents or extended family to look after them. I'd heard a lot about the place, as many volunteers here have been involved with them, going to see the children once or twice a week, helping them with their homework, playing games, providing care and support and having lots of fun too, and had talked about what a lovely place it was, and what interesting and wonderful characters they met there. It's true that many children are vulnerable here in Ghana, but for those left without any family support in a place where family extends into the community and beyond it's a whole other picture. One of the strongest Ghanaian motto's I have come across is "it takes a community to raise a child", so to know there are children here that have inevitably looked in many directions for love and support and haven't been able to find it, is really sad.

Luckily, places like Mama Laadi's operate a support system where the children can have a safe place to stay whilst receiving the care and support they need to access and stay in education, build their self esteem and improve their previously limited chances in life. My friends had been spending some time with some of the children there, and one afternoon one of the boys got all excited and asked Helen if she could organise a football match for them. Keen as custard he was, football is HUGE here in Ghana (sure I've mentioned that so many times before) and the boys absolutely love to play. Luckily Helen's boyfriend coaches a football team at a local school, so a few phone-calls later and a date was set.

It was pulled together so well by Helen and Ellie; we were picked up by the BIG yellow school bus, lent as a gift for the day after lots of sweet talking at the local girls boarding school to whom it belonged, there was enough water, snacks and fizzy drinks for the children, accumulated from the leftovers at recent workshops and events, and there was a heap of food ready to be cooked kindly donated by volunteer friends. When we got to Mama Laadi's to pick up the children, the vibe was just fantastic; the children all super excited singing and chanting about playing football and actually being part of a team going to a competition, some of the girls stumbling all over themselves to come and cheer the boys on, others staying behind to help prepare the feast of food for later.

It was a gorgeous sunny day, a few clouds for shade so not too hot, and we happened to pitch up where a political rally started to take place s we were provided with music and entertainment for the afternoon too - perfect! The kids all loved the game and had a great time, Mama Laadi's team winning a close 2-1.

On the way back, the teams were so excited they practically deafened us with their singing and chanting, and all the kids at Mama Laadi's were running about all over the place to greet and congratulate them when we got back. It was really nice to meet so many of the children, each with their own wonderful character. Pretty, a young girl about 7 years old, latched onto me straight away, and for the rest of the afternoon could be found wearing my sun-glasses, taking pictures with my camera, and swinging off my skirt in giddy excitement. I also met and spent some time with Peter, a severely developmentally delayed young boy with a big heart and such a warm friendly smile. I learnt that he was found abandoned in an awful state at about 2 years old, it's just heartbreaking.

The food was dished out, yummy jollof rice for everyone, and the children came tumbling out of the house onto where we were sitting with fizzy bottles of pop spraying all over the place shouting 'champagne champagne!!'. I sat with some of the girls at the back of the house, and they told e about what life is like there, how they love to go to school, and they enjoy coming home to such a big family. One of the volunteer staff showed me around the building, which has dorms for boys and gilrs, washing areas, a small school room, a huge dining hall, a meeting room and a kitchen. It is all fantastically decorated with cartoon paintings and gorgeous pictures of the kids about the place, all be it a little faded and falling apart in places. But it's not so much about the building than the people who run it, I've no idea how Mama Laadi manages to look after and care for all 45 children, but somehow with some help she does it, and does a fantastic job too.

When it was time to leave we said our goodbyes, peeled the smaller children from our ankles and hips, and agreed to see them again soon. Helen and Ellie have promised a girl's day next time so I think a picnic at Via Dam may be on the cards, can't wait!

With love from Ghana,

Em

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