Assahoun, Togo, Ghana
A Togolese father sent his three year old daughter to work in Lome as a domestic servant and street vendor. She came from a broken family with a history of violence. The father left her with a woman in the northern suburbs. The young girl had to begin early to do the morning chores, and go out to sell produce on the street without eating breakfast. She ate only leftovers from the family's meals. The father visited occasionally to receive the four dollars a month the child was paid. As time went on the child was beaten more and more frequently. One day she set her produce down on the street and began to look for the way home. A kindly woman saw her crying on the street corner and connected her with an NGO who helped her. But upon returning home, she was beaten and abused by the family. The NGO was able to intervene and have a caring grandfather declared her legal guardian.