Kisses For Koku

I'm part of a voluntary charity group within my work organisation and we collect donations of clothes, toys, shoes, books, food, sports equipment, sportswear etc. for distribution to charities, orphanages and foundations in various countries around the world. This video is regarding Koku (Kwaku) Wonder who is an 11 year old boy from a small village in the Volta region in Ghana. It's a very sad story that will hopefully have a happier ending due to the help and assistance of some amazing people including you. Koku has Lamellar Ichthyosis which is a rare genetic skin disorder that affects the outermost layer of the skin. There is no cure for Koku's condition, but it can be treated topically by skin barrier repair formulas containing ceramides or cholesterol, moisturizers with petrolatum or lanolin, and mild keratolytics. Koku has been put in touch with a Volunteer Medical Charity and he has been getting some support from local groups and individuals in Ghana. Our group of volunteers are trying to raise awareness on behalf of Koku. You too can help Koku as the money raised by this campaign will provide the much needed medical treatment which unfortunately he has not received to date. It will also help to provide food, clothing and the essentials that will help to give Koku and his family a better standard of living and a brighter future. Because of his appearance people have not been kind to Koku and he has been stigamatised, mistreated, rejected and shunned which has left him traumatized and feeling unloved. Koku was attacked by a man from his village who tried to kill him by hitting him on the head with a heavy stick as he was considered to be an evil spirit. Koku is alive today because he pretended to be dead during that attack. You can see the scar on his head in the video. Koku's Mother drowned 3 years ago while attempting to get water from a river. His Father has abandoned him. Koku now lives with his Grandmother, his Aunt and a sick Uncle who are his guardians. The attention that Koku is now receiving from various supporters is helping to raise his status amongst the village community where he lives, and hopefully this will assist in also desensitising them in their approach towards him. We have given donations of food, toys and clothes to Koku and his guardians, and they will use whatever is required and distribute the rest amongst the very needy families in his village community. Hopefully this might help in some small way to remove the social stigma attached with Koku and possibly elevate his status to one of being a provider and a giver within his community.  A group of volunteers met with Koku on our trip to Tema in January. This visit was facilitated by Deborah Eleazar a Trustee and Founder at Saint Nicholas's Charity School in Tema which is another amazing charity that we are supporting in Ghana. Deborah arranged for Koku and his Aunt to travel from his village by taxi as unfortunately people will not board public transport with him onboard. The journey from the Volta Region to Tema took Koku about 2 and a half hours. He visited the children and staff at Saint Nicholas's School which was an amazing and a very moving experience for him as you will see in the video, as he has not known much love and has been hidden away and shunned for most of his short life. The children were so kind and loving towards him, and when the time came for Koku to go home, he did not want to leave. I think it's time for Koku to stop hiding and to come out of the shadows and into the arms of love. We have set up this Go Fund Me Page called 'Kisses for Koku' as everybody deserves to kiss and be kissed and his condition is not contagious after all. Thank you for taking the time to read this post.