BACKGROUND

Children are the most vulnerable demographic in the country, they are expected to have the best possible care and opportunities during their early years. This is because the future of every child depends on the facilities and opportunities that they get during their early years. These rights include protection from abuse and neglect, and the right to a safe and secure environment. They also protect children from exploitation and discrimination.

Unfortunately, many of these basic rights often get neglected in developing nations in including Ghana. Some children are isolated in unsafe homes, forced into early/child marriages, forced to work, physically and sexually abused. The situation has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

Visionary Buluk in collaboration with World Vision Ghana regularly use advocacy and sensitization as tools to educate school children, parents, caregivers, schools and the public focusing on strengthening the child protection system at the community level, thus empowering stakeholders to strengthen the protection of children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and other forms of violence.

Child marriages in the Builsa District area is unfortunately crawling back, mostly due to the pandemic and the economic collapse that ensued. This is after several years of huge gains made through interventions by NGOs and civil society while collaborating with Traditional Leaders in Buluk.

In this light, Visionary Buluk Organization in collaboration with World Vision Ghana organized a massive campaign against child marriages which was incorporated into the Feok festivities to maximize the impact of the campaign.

The Paramount Chief and warlord of the Builsa Traditional Area, Naab Azaksug Azantilow (a lead advocate against child marriages and rural urban migration) and the organizing Committee allowed the campaign to be incorporated with the feok as it was the biggest space for any campaign in the Builsa Traditional Area.

Campaign Activities During the Feok Festivities

March Against Child and Forced Marriages

Advocacy and Sensitization during Feok Youth Games

The feok youth games attracted huge crowds. PA systems were mounted at the stadium to educate and sensitize spectators against child and forced marriages. This was done before the start of any game, briefly during the game and during halftime. This was dubbed ‘campaign against child marriages in the builsa district area through youth sports’.

English and Buli Drama-like Recitals Against Child Marriages at Durbar Grounds

The Grand Durbar marks the climax of the feok festival. The durbar brings together Chiefs, dignitaries, war dancers, singing groups, civil society, people from across Ghana and the diaspora. Feok has become the most significant event in the Builsa area, giving the people a true sense of identity and solidarity.

Drama-Like poetry was performed by our girls group in both English and the Buli Dialect to advocate against Child marriages in the district. The brief performance by the girls was applauded by the dignitaries and the gathered crowed. Below are short videos of the recitals in Buli and English versions.

BULI VERSION