February 2012

Caring for the
"Throw-Aways"

Stepping in for Ghana’s Rejected Children

How do you deal with a disabled child? In Ghana, the solution is often to lock the child in a room and throw food to him through a window. In some countries, what we know as mental disabilities are often seen as unacceptable nuisances. Mentally disabled children are considered “nothings” or “throw-aways.” Schools will not educate them and medical clinics will not care for them or give them medicine.

In Ghana we met a mentally disabled boy named Isaac. His story gave us hope. When we first saw Isaac, he was in school eating lunch and wearing a nice new uniform. Isaac is a student at the Ransom Foundation Academy, part of the Ransom Foundation International Ministry. It is no surprise to find “unwanted” children like Isaac at this school once you learn about its founder, Maxwell.

Maxwell is the tenth-born child in his family. In Ghana, the tenth-born child in a family is considered cursed. Anyone inside or outside the family who helps the tenth-born is thought to be cursed too. Usually tenth- born children are rejected or even killed. Fortunately, Maxwell’s parents did not follow the culture and continued to care for him. With a desire to help “nothings” like himself experience the grace and love of God, Maxwell started Ransom Foundation International six years ago.

Maxwell gushed with excitement about Ransom’s partnership with CHF: “I’m humbled to be with you. And I thank God you have come into my life, actually, because I started with nobody. Nobody believed in me, and nobody thought I could do what I am doing here today. But I think you have the courage, and the confidence, and the strength to say, ‘okay, let’s begin to work with this person.’”

Isaac has a special place in Maxwell’s heart; you can see it when he visits him at the school. With a big grin, Maxwell grabs Isaac to take their picture together. Love abounds and smiles are contagious. Maxwell believes Isaac and other mentally disabled children should be cared for, educated, and most importantly, shown the love of God.