STARS Foundation

Meet Abraham

Abraham has found his talent fixing electrical gadgets – he wishes to become an Electrical Engineer when he is older

Abraham is thirteen years old and lives with his mother, a middle-aged widow, at Kulpelka. He used to work at the mines in Kejetia and Obuasi from 8.00am to 7.00pm, because his mother could not support him in school. Through his work, Abraham brought in the majority of the family’s income, so he was rarely able to attend school.

Abraham was identified by Afrikids through their New Beginnings project, which supports children who have worked in hazardous forms of labour, lived or worked on the street, been displaced from their homes, or who are at home but in serious danger of dropping out of education due to poverty. The project approached his mother asked her if it could withdraw Abraham from the mines and support him through school. She was hesitant at first, because withdrawing Abraham from the mines would have meant that she would have to find for a way of sustaining the home without his wage. However, through counselling Afrikids was able to convince her that it was for the good of both herself and her son, and with time they won her over.

Since he was removed from the mines, Abraham has stayed in school and his performance has improved drastically. In addition, he seems to have discovered a talent: he goes round after school collecting bits of electrical gadgets and fixing them. His mother has confessed that on numerous occasions they have had lights at home due to her son’s innovations and ingenuity. She is now so proud of her son and tells anyone who has time to spare about her son’s latest invention. Abraham wishes to become an Electrical Engineer when he grows up and his mother has vowed to stand by her son so he can attain his full potential in life.