Faith That Fights for the Vulnerable

Inside Ghana’s Community Watchdog Movement

In dozens of Ghanaian villages, the fight against child trafficking and gender-based violence no longer begins in government offices or NGO boardrooms—it begins in the heart of the community itself.

Through its Community Watchdog Movement, the Christian Council of Ghana, supported by Global Ministries and One Great Hour of Sharing, is empowering local leaders to take ownership of protecting their children.

“Whatever we do is community-driven,” said Joyce Le Castine, Director of Programs and Advocacy. “There’s ownership. We have trained facilitators who hold conversations about trafficking and gender-based violence, helping people seek redress when needed.”

These conversations have grown into a movement. “It’s become a kind of community watchdog,” Joyce explained. “Trafficking has reduced drastically. In some places, it’s almost nonexistent. People raise alarms when strangers come.”

Teachers, nurses, traditional leaders, and even children have joined the effort, creating what Joyce calls a “community-based approach” to justice. “You can’t fight for the person without the person,” she said firmly.

So far, the Council’s work has reached 36 communities—places once marked by exploitation that are now building cultures of protection and dignity. “In the area of behavior change,” Joyce noted, “it takes about three years of consistent engagement. If you stop, people revert. So we want to continue with anti-trafficking in the same districts, ensuring the message becomes internalized.”

Behind the statistics are stories of transformation—parents choosing education over child labor, community elders confronting traffickers, and young people learning that their voices matter. “Faith is what gives us the courage to continue,” Joyce said. “We are fighting for the vulnerable and being the voice of the voiceless. That is where faith becomes action.”

Every time a church gives to One Great Hour of Sharing, this faith-based action grows stronger. Through Global Ministries, those gifts equip partners like the Christian Council of Ghana to train new community facilitators, hold dialogues, and build sustainable systems of care. It’s the church living out its calling—standing with the oppressed and ensuring that every child is safe, seen, and free.