School Bus for Kids in Ghana

When she was only 24 years old, Lila Macqueen Djaba started Lila’s Childcare Foundation to provide a free education to children living in the urban slums of Accra, Ghana. Over the past ten years she has worked with over 500 kids and has 150 current students. The Foundation is located next to a rock quarry where many of the students’ parents work. If it weren’t for Lila’s, many of these kids would be working themselves. Lila’s Childcare Foundation keeps them out of child labor conditions and on the road to secondary education and beyond.

The Foundation, though very successful, relies completely on donations and has many needs. As of now, Lila herself faces a three hour commute by public transport each way everyday. In addition, the rock quarry and school face the looming threat of being turned into a landfill by the indifferent municipality. If this happens, the Foundation will have to move and will no longer be walking distance from students’ homes. Lila is therefore hoping to buy a minibus to help transport teachers and students, and facilitate field trips. The most common model in Ghana costs around $9,300.

Nelson Mandela says “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” These kids are at a critical junction in their lives, faced with the route of child labor or of education. This cause gives them access to the path of education, and of changing the world. Any and all donations will be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Last year, Lila was a finalist of MTN's "Heroes of Change" Award for her philanthropic efforts. To learn more:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVR796vOpBo

http://www.modernghana.com/music/24846/3/heroes-of-change-amadu-mohammed-lila-djaba-on-this.html

Pictures: 

Lila as a featured speaker at a Women As Leaders convention. 



The rock quarry next to Lila's Foundation (where many of the students' parents work).