The chief medical officer of IntraDiagnostics in Colorado Springs, Dr. Kenneth B. Kurica founded Finding Refuge, with his wife Marty and daughter Stephanie. This occurred during a Semester at Sea Program with the Univrsity of Virginia acedemic program as they circumnavigated the world. Finding Refuge is an anti-slavery organization focused on child slavery in Ghana. With the support of community members like Dr. Kenneth B. Kurica, Finding Refuge seeks to end child slavery in the Lake Volta region.
Total liberation of a child slave by Finding Refuge includes several components beyond the mere retrieval of the child from the Lake Volta region. These children receive the help they need to take back their lives and find happiness.
The total financial outlay for a rescue is typically about $1,000. The initial rescue process costs about $500, and includes multiple trips to the region, the coverage of any medical bills for untreated injuries and illnesses, and new clothing for the child. The remaining $500 goes toward a broad base of support including meals, any additional necessary medical care, and schooling.
Often, children who have been enslaved are far behind their peers academically. Much of the schooling paid for by Finding Refuge takes place at the Faith Roots International Academy, a school created by Finding Refuge members geared to address these deficits. At this school, students can catch up with their own cohort and learn English, gaining parity with the public education system before returning to a normal life.
