Our Beginnings

HISTORY OF DREAM ON

Dream On was established by Jennifer Millett-Barrett after she joined a grassroots effort to build a children’s home and two schoolhouses in Ghana in 2007.  Little did Jennifer know, her journey of empowering children through education, clean water, and community health programs would take an unexpected turn to rescuing children from violent and oppressive abuse.

Jennifer discovered the heartbreaking truth that children had become victims of defilement, physical abuse, and child labor at the very children’s home she had helped to create. Additionally, some of the children were not orphans and lived at the home because their parents could not afford basic school necessities for their children. Jennifer also learned that other such operations existed in Ghana.

As Jennifer spent more time in the community, she realized that extreme poverty is one of the root causes of children becoming victims of human trafficking, sexual exploitation, child labor, family separation, and institutionalization. Jennifer became determined to rescue and restore health to the children who had been victimized.

Dream On adopted the three-prong approach — prevention, protection, and prosecution — that was formulated by the United Nations and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.  Dream On’s prevention programs have consisted of a wide variety of efforts to reduce disease, educate children, initiate community health programs, and empower women.

The protection of victims is a central program at Dream On. The Department of Social Welfare in Ghana enacted the Child Care Reform Initiative in 2007, which led to the closure of many children’s homes across Ghana.  With our ongoing efforts to rescue children from abuse and limited options for safe rehabilitative homes, Dream On expanded its efforts to provide protective programs and created the Dream On Residential Home. For seventeen years, Dream On has persevered in the face of corruption and fought for the rights of children in a country where there is a dearth of protective services.

The prosecution of criminals is vital, not only to achieve justice on behalf of the victims, but for governments to publicly condemn criminal acts and deter the abuse and trafficking of children and women. As part of its prosecution efforts, Dream On collaborates with its partners on investigations, legal cases, and witness protection.

Dream On acknowledges a fourth “P” in its action plan that has been critical to its success — partnerships. Dream On collaborates with government institutions and agencies, tribal elders and chiefs, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to advocate for some of Ghana’s most vulnerable children. In a country where resources are limited and children are vulnerable to exploitation, Dream On provides a critical service in protecting victims and paving the way to a brighter future.

Dream On has an unwavering dedication to human rights and the belief that every person has a right to be free to follow his or her dream.  In fact, every child that Dream On representatives has come into contact with — no matter how dire the circumstances — has held onto a dream.  Dream On has given many children and women the freedom, opportunity, and support to pursue their dreams.

Whether the dream is accessing clean water from a well, an opportunity to attend school, being freed from modern-day slavery, or achieving victory in the courtroom, Dream On International empowers individuals and communities to rise above adversity and realize their dreams.

HiGHLIGHTS of DREAM ON Successes

For 17 years, Dream On has undertaken a number of exciting projects that have changed lives, shaped communities, and forged partnerships with government officials, tribal elders, and other private NGOs.  Below are highlights of some of our projects: