James Kofi Annan, Survivor of Child Slavery in Ghana

James Kofi Annan, a survivor of child slavery in Ghana, will make a presentation on protecting the rights of children in his native land at The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. 

The Founder and Executive Director of Challenging Heights in Ghana, James will give a free talk Wednesday, April 25, 2012 at 6 p.m. in the Alton Auditorium (A-Wing of the Galloway campus) sponsored by Africana Studies, International Studies and the Social Work program at Stockton.

James is uniquely qualified for his role as an anti-trafficking advocate.  He survived seven years in slave labor as a fisherman in more than 20 villages along Lake Volta in Ghana, before he managed to escape at age 13. His organization, Challenging Heights, works to protect and empower the lives of young people and communities affected by child trafficking and exploitation. 

The group’s mission encompasses a network of child-centered programs targeting areas where children are often sold, while driving rescue, rehabilitation education and prevention efforts. The group’s Challenging Heights School accommodates 600 students and directly supports 1,400 children and their parents.

The group’s efforts have reduced child trafficking in the region and increased enrollment and retention rates at local schools. For more information on the event, contact Gene.Cranmer@Stockton.edu. 

For more information on Challenging Heights, visit the organization’s website, www.ChallengingHeights.org.