One year ago, this young woman was going to be exchanged with another woman to be brides for their brothers. Thanks to the work of the Foundation Beyond Belief's Humanist Service Corps (HSC) and our partners, the father was convinced that letting her attend school was better for her and the family. Today she is in public school, and the father is continuing to encourage education in his family and community.

More information about the HSC can be found on our website including details about the current team, the current project, how you can support the HSC, or even how to sponsor a volunteer. If you'd like to keep up to date on the latest HSC news, sign up for their newsletter here and follow them on Facebook.

Mpaga Wumbei, an alleged witch, is part of the Humanist Service Corp's (HSC) agriculture project. She has been working with HSC volunteer, Lukeman Domba, to learn better farming and business techniques. Mpaga's son is learning how to use local materials to fence his mother's henna garden. This is what he said, "This has been something in my wish list for a long time, to fence this garden like we used to do when I was a child, just to show my appreciation to my mum. This garden supported all of us in the family, and you are making it too easy for me, thank you."  

This is just to give you a little glimpse into life in Ghana's Northern Region. This video was taken at a suna. In English, the locals call it an "outdooring," or naming ceremony. A week after a child is born, the parents introduce it to the community, and community members celebrate with the family. Gifts that can be used in the home, such as firewood, are given to the woman, and money is given to the man. This suna was for the new child of one of the leaders of the Kukuo Youth Association, with whom the Humanist Service Corps has been working closely to coordinate business and agriculture training for the community. Kukuo is one of the sanctuary communities for women accused of witchcraft, including many of the women who appear in this video.