Girls’ Clubs: Why We’re Here

Mary Dufie, 14, is a Grade 7 pupil at Worakose Junior High School and a member of the WHW Girls’ Club in the Ashanti region’s Bosomtwe district. Mary (not her real name) is the only girl in her family, born between her two male siblings.

Mary’s parents operate a drinking bar where the top-selling drink is the locally brewed drink known as “Akpeteshie.” Unfortunately for Mary and her brothers, their parents have a great affinity for their product and are almost always busy and drunk, therefore paying little or no attention to their children’s daily needs. This has resulted in hunger and neglect and has led to Mary’s brothers’ abandoning school and idling about in the neighborhood.

Mary caught the attention of the WHW facilitator, who has reached out to others and is working to help the child continue with her education and not succumb to the pressure from her parents to stop schooling and assist them in their trade.

Mary and six other girls with similarly heartbreaking stories of parental neglect are currently being helped by WHW to put body and soul back together and to stay in school.