Apam (C/R), Nov 19, GNA - An 11-member team from the Compassion International's headquarters in the United Kingdom is in the country to assess the impact of their sponsorship on children in Ghana. Compassion is a child-centred Christian non-governmental organization (NGO), which seeks the development of the child from poor homes through sponsorship.

The NGO seeks sponsorship from the United Kingdom, Canada, United States of America, New Zealand, Australia and other parts of the world, for the children to be trained in spiritual development, physical cognitive and socio-emotional development and also to build them up to become responsible future leaders.

In Ghana, the Compassion International has 107 child development projects from which the visitors would inspect the Mount Zion Child Development Centre at Apam in the Central Region, Madina in Greater Accra and Kpong in the Eastern Region. The team would also inaugurate a child development centre at Gomoa Mprumem near Apam on November 20, to coincide with this year's International Children's Day. The day was set aside by the United Nations General Assembly in 1954.

At a mini-durbar organized by Mount Zion Child Development Centre, at Apam for the visitors, the Reverend Twumasi Ampofo, a member of the Church Partner Committee, urged the visitors to enjoy the Ghanaian hospitality by feeling free to visit anywhere which could be of interest to them. Rev Ampofo, who is the Chaplain of Apam Senior High School, urged them to feel free to point out their administrative lapses if any, to help them to manage the centre efficiently. Mr Ian Hamitton, the leader of the team, commended the children for their smart turn-out and a good performance displayed. He was grateful to the parents of the sponsored children for their support for the project. He said the support had encouraged Compassion to do more in the training of the children to become responsible leaders in future. Mr Lesslie Isaac, a member of the team said children were donation from God, therefore, any good thing or kindness shown to a child was a thing done for God and urged parents to take good care of children. Mr Edward Nyamekye, Partnership Facilitator for the Apam and Winneba Projects, said what the visitors had seen from the performance of the children showed that the monies sent were being put to good use. He assured the visitors that the centres would continue to use the resources judiciously.

Mr Eric Koomson, Apam Mt Zion Child Development Centre Coordinator, said the project started on the March 15, 2008 with 200 children. Eighty children were added in October 2009. He said the centre had seven CPC members who serve as Board of Governors, four full-time workers, five volunteer cooks, 10 volunteer teachers, one volunteer sanitary worker and one night watchman. He said as a result of the food they served the malnourishment and anaemia in children had ended. He said the children were being taught batik, tie and dye making to serve as employable skills. Mr George Koomson, Chairman of the CPC Board, said children were like clay on the potter's wheel. "If attention is paid to them and moulded well, they come out as nice and useful vessels that could be used to store water for future use and urged parents to take good care of their children.