In 2013, a group of students from Osu's School of Social Work embarked on fieldwork as part of their diploma program, visiting rural areas where they observed extreme poverty and a range of pressing social challenges. These communities faced issues such as open defecation, lack of access to safe drinking water, high illiteracy rates, teenage pregnancy, and a cholera outbreak.

 

Driven to find sustainable solutions, the students actively participated in community awareness campaigns and connected local residents with available relief resources. They trained traditional leaders and other community stakeholders on how to leverage district assemblies for development initiatives. This effort led to the creation of the Vulnerable Aid Organization (VAO) in 2014, a registered Ghanaian NGO aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable groups, especially those with disabilities.

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VAO is dedicated to fostering a dynamic local democracy that supports transparent, effective service delivery. The organization works to bridge the development gap between rural and urban areas, promoting social well-being through sound infrastructure, development policies, and practices. Its mission is to empower individuals and communities, enabling them to meet their own needs and improve their quality of life.

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