Winneba (C/R), March, 13 GNA - Challenging Heights, a non Government= al Organisation (NGO) based in the Central Region, last year gave educational supports to a total of 1,195 children in its district. The support was in the form of payment of their school fees, provision of school uniforms and the supply of learning materials and furniture. Some of the children were rescued from child labour along the Volta Lake while the rest "were simply vulnerable chidren".

Mr James Kofi Annan, Executive Director of the NGO said this at a day= 's Conference it organised for about 85 children selected from various primary schools in the Effutu municipality in Winneba on Saturday.

He said within the same period, the NGO also supported 77 women throug= h micro finance, adding that the women were given money to trade to enable them cater for their children.

According to him the NGO has realised that child participation is key, so they have formed child clubs in all the area of operation and held sensitisation programs in the various communities.

This year the NGO is ensuring child participation in all their programmes hence the need for the conference for the children to present a communiqu=E9 to the government on matters affecting child welfare, growth a= nd development to the government to address them.

He said when these are addressed the children will have peace and freedom to learn to become useful future citizens in the country. Mr Annan therefore hoped that the government will act on the issue the= y have presented through the Effutu Municipal Assembly. Mr Kofi Kussachin the Effutu Municipal co-ordinating director assured the children that their petition will be forwarded to the appropriate quarters. The communiqu=E9 among other things appealed to the government to enfo= rce law banning children from child trafficking, child labour and child neglect= ..