Charles Awele Anagbila's mother was one of the many young girls who travelled from the disadvantaged north to a bigger town in the south, Kumasi, to try to find work. She became one of the Kayayo girls carrying heavy loads on her head. She, as is so often the case, became pregnant, returning home a single mother.

After struggling to make a living in the north, his mother left Charles with his grandmother and returned to Kumasi with hopes of earning a better income to support him. Sadly not long after, she died, leaving Charles with only his grandmother.

I love my grandmother, though I wish my mother was still here. My grandmother is very old and can't work. I couldn't go to school. I had to support us both. I washed clothes, fetched water and did other small tasks for people to earn us a living.

My friend Jackson told me about Youth Alive. He had been to their community forum about Children's Rights. He introduced me to a field worker.

Youth Alive started supporting Charles in 2006 when he was 9 years old.

Right now, I'm in class four with the support from Youth Alive. I am working hard to make sure that I really do well at school. When I grow up I want to become a teacher so that I can help suffering children like me and so that I can support my grandmother.  

Thank you Youth Alive for supporting people like me!