THE HISTORY OF CAS

2012
The Department of Social Welfare, Ricerca, Said and CAS published the Census report on street children.
In October, CAS published results of social survey reports which explain why children are in the street.
 
2011
CAS started with the sewing trade at Hopeland. Hopeland became a training centre for the children.  

2010
The DSW together with SAID and CAS conducted a census and headcount of the out of school children in the Greater Accra Region. This was financed by Ricerca E cooperazione.
The DSW together with SAID and CAS organised a social welfare district meeting on the out of school children issues. 

2009
CAS completed its research on street children and published its findings in a report.


2008
An Italian NGO Ricerca Cooperazione (RC) and the Department of Social Welfare together with some NGO’s CAS and S.AID prepared to set up a new data base on children in the street which could be kept up to date by the DSW.


2007
Another external evaluation of CAS work with assistance from some of the members Cambridge Partnership for organizational Transformation – UK.
In-depth social investigation on selected children CAS/University College of Education –Winneba. Special Attention Project (SAP preparation and start-off plans concluded).
CAS' history gives proof of the close working relations between different NGO's. CAS still works closely together with many people and organizations, in order to help street children in the most effective way.

2006
CAS Health Education Manual completed and printed.
Re-organization of “Preparation Committee” to hold weekly case conferences on children earmarked for sponsorship and referral to other departments to continue preparation process.
Drastic change in Hopeland activities and programmes to focus on welfare of the children and change the farm to a Demonstration Farm.

2005
A new group of street children emerged - Second Generation street children or children born to street parents. Internal research and mini pilot on children who need “special attention” at Hopeland.
Re-structuring of CAS activities and programmes to meet the new demands of the new group of street children.

2004
CAS started piloting the Health Education at the “meeting points”, the centre and the mini refuges. Research on existing CAS intervention (the Sponsorship scheme) was carried out to ascertain the reason why some of the children drop out and return to the street but continue to visit the centre.

2003
In April 2003 CAS celebrated 10 years of existence. As part of the celebrations, CAS together with the Consortium for Street Children UK organized an international forum on street children in October 2003 and produced on “Civil Society Forum for Anglophone Francophone West Africa on Protecting and Promoting the Rights of Street Children”.

2002
Research in literacy education started and research in vocational/technical education was completed. Also, the Heads of Departments were trained to keep the administration on computers. The book "The Ghanaian Street Child” was compiled and approved by the Board of Advisors.

2001
More children started to attend the street corner education classes, and a computer centre was established for the children at the Drop in Centre.

2000
CAS started extensive research in Health Education for street children. Also, the Heads and assistants of the departments were trained in capacity building.

1999
CAS and S.AID conducted a follow-up Evaluation with assistance from Cambridge Partnership for Organizational Transformation U.K. With financial assistance from UNICEF, CAS conducted research into the background of street children and produce the report titled THE EXODUS – The Growing Migration of Street Children to the Urban Areas.
On the 17th of June, CAS moved into the new House of Refuge at Lartebiokorshie.

1998
Fr. Patrick Shanahan established a fundraising Non Governmental Organization (NGO) Street Child Africa in the U.K.

1997
CAS continued its programmes and activities to help street children. Many new programmes to educate the children were introduced. CAS handed over the management of the crèches to S.AID.

1996
CAS and S.AID's work was officially evaluated. The evaluation report came out with some suggestions to improve work of both organizations. The Salvation Army started a Health Programme that target street people including street children and took over the running of the clinic in the House of Refuge. CAS built two mini-Refuges in town, which serve as additional contact points and educational places for street children. Both CAS and S.AID combined effort in running the mini refuges.

1995
In 1995 CAS took over a Farm in Ashaiman from the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, to serve as a Training Centre for street children. The sponsorship scheme started in the same year. The first street children were educated in schools and different workshops. Fan milk Company asked CAS to educate their vendors. CAS started to run a literacy programme for them. In this same year CAS started the Baby Care Programme at Konkomba Market. Creches were established, which serve as a day-care centre for children of poor working street girls - usually working as porters or kayayee.

1994
In 1994 RESPONSE started a Refuge to assist pregnant street girls. As members of Response' board CAS' directors were in charge of the running of this Refuge. Out of this Refuge another Ghanaian NGO was born, called Street Girls AID (S.AID).

1993
The 1992 results of the research called for action. Catholic Action for Street Children
(CAS) Drop-in-centre was established to serve as a day centre for street children in the same year. CAS' Directors assisted in establishing the first Ghanaian umbrella organization called RESPONSE.


1992
Catholic Action for Street children (CAS) was established and officially approved in 1993. CAS is a Ghanaian local N.G.O. which helps children who live in the streets of Accra.
In the same year, first ever research on street children by University of Ghana and research in vocational and technical education by CAS was conducted.