Channel One TV and Citi FM will today Monday, April 6, 2026, expand the long-running Easter outreach initiative to include rehabilitation centres, and prison facilities as part of efforts to address deeper social challenges affecting families.
The annual Easter Orphan Project, a flagship intervention under the Citi FM Foundation, is mobilising multiple teams across the country today to deliver donations, engage beneficiaries, and assess critical needs at selected institutions.
Speaking on Breakfast Daily Weekend, the Head of Programmes Production at Channel One TV, Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey, said the project, which has been running for over two decades, has evolved from a donation drive into a sustained social intervention focused on long-term impact.
She explained that the initiative has, over the years, maintained a strong partnership with the Baptist School Complex (BASCO) in the Suhum area, where support has gone beyond seasonal donations.
“We believe in sustainability; so it is never just about hopping from one orphanage to another. We adopted the Baptist School Complex, BASCO, which is in Suhum area. And over the years we’ve done so many things with them, it is not just about donations. We’ve put up buildings, Girls’ dormitory, a TVET centre, where now many are learning to sew and other things. So over the years we’ve worked with BASCO. But we are even expanding our efforts a little more this year,” she said.
She disclosed that, as part of today’s activities, four teams from Channel One TV and Citi FM are visiting different locations, including BASCO, where they are spending time with the children, making donations, and assessing additional needs for follow-up support throughout the year.
In a significant shift, this year’s intervention also includes visits to rehabilitation centres such as Chosen Rehab in the Abofu area and Iris Place in Haatso, reflecting a broader approach to social protection.
Apiorkor Seyiram Ashong-Abbey said the inclusion of rehabilitation facilities is informed by growing concerns over the prevalence of addiction and its impact on families and child welfare.
“Why Rehabilitation? We’re realizing that there are a lot of people who are dealing with a plethora of addictions; alcohol, hard drugs, pornography and all sorts of addictions, which are affecting the quality of life of the adults, and it is more rampant than we think. So we are working on it from a different lens that let’s not even wait for the children to become orphans; let’s help the parents to find themselves in these spaces, the guardians and make sure that they’re fit to take care of our children. And also saw that their children, can also see that it is possible to bounce back from a situation like that,” she explained.
The expanded focus, she noted, is aimed at breaking cycles of vulnerability by supporting not only children in care but also addressing underlying issues within families.
Over the years, the Easter Orphan Project has become a cornerstone of the Citi FM Foundation’s social impact work, contributing to infrastructure development, skills training, and welfare support for vulnerable groups.
This year’s activities are expected to further deepen that impact, combining immediate relief with long-term interventions designed to strengthen families and communities.
