Growing up I was instilled with the ethics of hard-work, earning everything and not having anything given to me. This started when I was nine or ten-years-old when I ran the cash register at my parent’s restaurant.

After being in Accra for four weeks, I see the same work ethic and hustle that is needed to survive day-to-day.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit the Madina Market with Joan Hicks, who is also studying abroad through the University of Oregon. Joan is majoring in psychology with an emphasis on child development and cross-cultural analysis of mental health. While she was examining her surroundings: writing down notes, asking questions in regards to child development and mental health – I noticed that many children are working in the market.

Kayaye is the term Ghanaians use for little girls that walk around markets to make money. The girls could make their earnings from either transporting other people’s goods or simply selling items they’ve acquired.

From my understanding, the little girl who traveled to Accra came from the rural northern region. Since the economy is not flourishing in the country-side region, some have no choice but to travel to make money for themselves or their families.

The streets were filled with vendors who sold various items ranging from food to home antiques. The smell of the market was filled with a strong stench of fish. It didn’t bother me, having grown up making sushi from 13 years-old.

Before going to the Madina Market, we visited the Judicial Service and Joan spoke with Susie and her co-workers in the Social Welfare Department. A couple of keynotes I remembered from sitting in the back and listening:

• Some kids would rather choose to be in the streets earning money than go to school because they’ve been doing it all their lives.
• The support within the public-school funding and private-school funding are vastly different.
• If you are not working then you are lazy.
• “It all points to poverty,” says Susie.

Susie and her co-workers are trying their hardest to help these kids to go to school, so they can have more opportunities in the future.

I am not entirely sure how and where the proper resources or funding can be found, but I do believe Susie has the kids in her best interest. Just from listening to her, she spoke highly of wanting a brighter future for the kids. She doesn’t want them to have a future of being on the streets and selling items that may or may not make them money to eat. I like knowing that there are people like Susie in Ghana, making it her mission to help the kids of tomorrow.