Have you ever been so poor that the only option you had left was to sell your own child to the local fisherman with the promise that they would live a good life and provide enough money for you to feed the rest of your family?
This is the reality of many mothers around the coast of Ghana and Còte d’Ivoire. Instead of providing a better life for their children, they often fall victim to abuse. Many are only served one meal a day and forced to work long hours. Many parents don’t want to have their child back because they cant provide for them while others see them as a source of income and sell them right back.
City of Refuge is an organization that started in 2006 by Johnbull and Stacy Omorefe in hope to save as many children as they could from human trafficking. They set out to prevent, intervene, and restore the children who were sold. The first step in doing this was to empower the mothers of these children. By providing education and training to these women, they are able to take away the vulnerability these women will feel economically. Seven Continents is a workshop in the CORM village that provides this training.
When the organization was founded, they still lived in the states. It was becoming too difficult to save children who were all the way in Africa. Four years had passed and God spoke to them and they began looking for some land. Daddy Johnbull decided to fly to Ghana having full faith that God would provide the land. He found his way to Doryumu that was governed by eight local chiefs. In order for Daddy Johnbull to gain the land, he needed to have ALL eight chiefs agree, which at this point had never happened before. Not only did they agree to give him land, but they agreed to 10 more acres than they originally wanted too. By the grace of God, Daddy Johnbull walked away that day with 20 acres to start breaking ground.
Six years later, CORM is established and is their own children village. It has a volunteer house, a guesthouse, a home for the Omorefe family, apartments for staff members, a boys home, a girls home, home for seven continents mothers, workshop, office building, and Faith Roots International Academy for the children in the CORM village and the children in the local community. They also have a few unfinished buildings that are waiting for more funds to be completed. These include: a church, a prayer room, and a cafeteria (which is being used currently as the church).
The second I stepped onto the little yellow school us that picked us up, I knew I found a place I could love. Since being here my heart has been so full. This organization is everything I didn’t even know I needed. We were asked to assist the teachers at the local school and also help with a Sunday School event. I work with Sir Richard in P5 where we have 19 students who call me Auntie/Madame Stephanie. I assist him with lessons, grading, and on Thursdays I lead poetry and songs. Every morning we are welcomed by hugs, high fives, and shy smiles. The love and joy these children show on a daily basis is inspiring.
*Schedule:
5:30am- Morning Devotionals
7AM- Breakfast
8AM-3PM- School
3PM-5:30- Free time spent playing with the children
5:30- Dinner
7PM-8PM- Homework help
8PM-9PM- Team Time
*Wednesday: Bible Study at 6:30
**Friday: Movie night with CORM at 7PM
We currently have two weeks left here and my heart is already hurting. I never thought I would fall in love with a place so quickly and find something that will become a huge passion of mine. I don’t know what the Lord has in store for me these next nine months or even after this journey, but I do know He has me covered.
