Forced Labor In Ghana, See My Previous Post

For those of you new to my blog, It is supposed to be about cutting children's hair, and if you read previous posts and future posts, you will see that it mostly is, but I also have a special interest in the problems with forced labor of children in Ghana, so check out an older post of mine, Child Slavery in Ghana and take some time to watch the video.

I PROMISE I will get back to the business of writing about haircuts and my store in my next entry!
But for now, If you want to know more about how I handle autistic children, scared children, or any children, just scroll down for posts about what actually goes on in my store.

I Am A Finalist In A Contest and I Need YOUR Help To Win!

Many of you already know that Someplace Special has been very active in helping children who are, or have been, slaves in Ghana. Well now something very special has happened to Someplace Special, and I need your help!

A couple of months ago, I entered a contest held by The Oriental Trading Company, a toy catalog that many of you have heard about. The challenge was to write an essay telling about a person or an organization that you believed could use a little more fun in their lives.

As it turns out, I have been notified that I am among 10 finalists picked from thousands of entries. At this point, I need all of you to go to this website, www.maketheworldmorefun.com and vote for me (one vote per computer). The children in Ghana will receive $10,000, half in cash, and half in product from Oriental Trading Company , If I win.

For more information about the situation that now exists in Ghana, please read my blog and watch the video I have posted in the June 10th entry. You may also check out the organizations that will get the money and distribute it to the children, the IOM and the US arm of the organization, USAIM.

Thanks so much, and please go and vote, you will be doing the children and the world a big favor! Only one vote per computer will be allowed!

This is the entry that put me in the top 10

In Ghana is a group of children that has lived their early years in slavery. Poor parents, overwhelmed by their child's needs, sell them to fisherman as apprentices, not realizing the children will become slaves as young as 5 years old. They dive into freezing water to untangle fishing nets and herd cattle. They are beaten often, eat little, and get no medical care. I have been dealing with an organization called the IOM (international organization for migration), which buys back these children and sends them to school. They try to give them a secure life, food, clothes, shelter, and an education.

When I found out about the children, the store I own had a party and donated money spent on art projects to the organization. My customers decorated gold cardboard crowns we bought from you, with all kinds of collage materials we bought from you, and made $500.00 for the organization. Then I thought they needed fun in their lives and ordered blow up vinyl animals and sport balls from you along with tootsie pops. The kids were thrilled. I see so many things I would like to send them in your catalog, but I just cannot afford to do all I want even though you have wonderfully fair prices. My business still makes very little profit. PLEASE HELP THESE KIDS HAVE FUN!!! They have had so little in their short lives. I pray you will show them that people really do care. Soon another group of children will be rescued. The IOM has to keep returning for more. Show them all you care!
Photos of the children are Courtesy of the IOM

Someplace Special Gives Back

I've been thinking a lot about the kids in Ghana who are used as slaves by the fishermen on the Volta river.

These kids at 5 years old are up at 6AM to help the fishermen get the nets ready, make sure that the nets are not ripped, and then plunge into the freezing water to unstick stuck nets and help catch the fish. When they are done fishing hours later, they herd the cattle.

Yes! Can you imagine, 5 year olds! And 6 and 7 and so on.They are hardly fed and never taken to doctors, and many are beaten regularly and they never go to school. They are truly slaves!

I cannot ignore this situation. Here I am working with your wonderful, beautiful, happy, kids and you all know that my goal with my customers is to make them as happy as possible during their haircuts. TV, toys and anything it takes. They deserve it!! I love it, and that is why I do it. But these other kids so far away in Ghana deserve it too! So do all children in the world, New York, Myanmar, everywhere. Even just the basics! They don't even have that.

These days I am in contact with some great people in Ghana who are helping these kids, and I am going to set up a fund. The Welcome fund, so named for the 12 year old boy that this store sponsors with the money made at our 5th birthday party. A very bright 12 year old named Welcome, who was BOUGHT BACK (yes, I said BOUGHT back! That is how the organization in Ghana gets the children to safety). Now he attends school and lives a free life.

I will be selling off my plastercraft items that we used to use at parties and paint for $5.00 for each plastercraft piece and 2 paint colors. That money will go to the IOM, The International Organization for Migration (slavery is considered forced migration). Please help me save another child.
Thanks everyone!
Suzanne
PS, as if this all wasn't enough, I will also have my little Kiva piggy bank out to collect pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters, to help people with micro loans around the world!