“It is always hard to study on an empty stomach” says Asaana, which she feels shortens her breath and sometimes when very hungry she has to look around for food. When she wakes up she sometimes gets breakfast, but not today. If it is a school day rather than the weekend, then she gets lunch, but mostly in the house they will eat in the morning or in the evening, though meals are not assured.
Asaana lives with her maternal grandparents in Lawra, whilst her brother lives with her paternal grandparents and her other brother and sister live with her parents down south in Kumasi. It is only her grandmother who provides for her welfare, by helping others to cultivate groundnuts, earning her a share of the harvest which she then sells to earn a living.
Asaana says that it is really hard for her grandmother to buy her provisions for school. She bought her school uniform and her health insurance but has a debt to the school for the cost of the watchman which all parents and carers contribute to. The school also gave her a school uniform which she keeps aside for when her own is too dirty or worn out.
She says that “I am fortunate to be taken care of by ATE and be fed my favourite school meal of banku!”
By Leela Shanti and Diedong Eric