When Advocacy Opens Doors: Wakan Kwaku Receives Educational Support

Through the CLEAR Project, YEFL Ghana helped connect a 15-year-old learner with a mobility impairment in Nanumba North District to educational support, highlighting the impact of inclusive dialogue and community advocacy.

Kwaku is a mobility-impaired boy who received disability support for his education.

Wakan Kwaku, a Primary Five learner in Nanumba North District, faced challenges attending school because of his mobility impairment and his family’s financial difficulties. At times, he resorted to manual labour to raise money for school materials, while moving around the school environment remained difficult.

His father knew that social welfare support was available but struggled to access it because of transportation costs and the distance to the relevant offices.

From Advocacy to Action

Kwaku’s situation was identified through the advocacy efforts of the CLEAR Project’s field officer and the President of the Girls’ Caucus, Kasuwa. Initial efforts to secure assistance were unsuccessful.

In June 2026, YEFL Ghana organised an inclusive dialogue involving persons with disabilities, Fulbe community members and duty bearers. The engagement provided Kwaku and his family an opportunity to share their challenges directly with officials, including the District Director of Social Welfare.

Explaining his situation, Kwaku said: “Sometimes I skip school for manual labour to get material for school.” 

His father also highlighted his son’s need for a bicycle to improve his mobility, saying, “I wish he got a bicycle to support his movement.”

Educational Support Secured

Following the engagement, the Department of Social Welfare in Nanumba North District registered Kwaku for disability-related support. In July 2026, the family received GH₵2,000 to support his education.

During a monitoring visit in August 2026, his father explained that the money would be used to purchase school uniforms, books and other essential learning materials when school resumed in September.

Reflecting on the difficulties they faced in accessing support, he said: “It was difficult. There was no bike to go to the office for the process. I had to borrow bikes and sometimes had no money to fuel the bike. The process was difficult.”

Although the financial assistance was an important step, Kwaku still needs a bicycle to ease his movement and improve his access to school.

Lessons for Inclusive Education

Kwaku’s experience demonstrates how youth-led advocacy and inclusive dialogue can connect vulnerable people to public institutions and available support.

It also highlights the importance of involving affected persons directly and ensuring that duty bearers with the authority to act participate in community engagements.

Through the CLEAR Project, YEFL Ghana continues to promote community participation, youth advocacy and accountability.

CLEAR Project | EducationOutLoud | 2026

Documented by CLEAR Project Monitoring Team.