Challenging Heights

Challenging Heights is a grass-roots NGO in Ghana that working to end child trafficking reduce child slavery and promote children's rights.

About us

Challenging Heights was founded in 2005 by James Kofi Annan. After being trafficked and escaping modern slavery on Ghana's Lake Volta, James felt compelled to do something to help the thousands of other children still trapped on Lake Volta. We began as Child Rights Clubs in schools to educate child about their rights and how to stand up for them and have since grown into an organisation that not only rescues, rehabilitates and reintegrates survivors of modern slavery, but also works to address the root causes of trafficking through prevention and advocacy.

Why are we exciting?

We're ending child trafficking in Ghana's fishing industry. We've rescued more than 1,600 children from modern slavery on Ghana's Lake Volta and increase that number every year. We provide high-quality and comprehensive rehabilitation care at our recovery shelter, which has been rated #1 in the country by the US State Department. We watch these children continue on a path to success after reintegration through monitoring and assisting.

However, we know that ending trafficking included a concerted effort at the source and the root causes, which is why we have a broad prevention programme addressing the accessibility of education, women economic empowerment and youth empowerment.

Additionally, we know that we cannot do this alone, which why our advocacy programme works to bring about changes in laws, policies and practices at local, national and international levels. 

From our recent impact assessment, 76% of respondents in our community said they believe that trafficking has reduced over the last five years. We're making a direct difference in the communities where we work.

And the best bit? We are genuinely grassroots which makes us nimble, dynamic and rooted in the community. Working here is genuinely rewarding and is an experience you will never forget.