‘A man’s gift opens doors for him and brings him before great men – Proverbs 18:16.’
That this biblical verse will be fulfilled in the life of 9-year-old British child of Ghanaian descent, Sarah Kittoe, at this young age was the last thing on the minds of her parents.
The Mayor of Croydon in London, Jason Perry and his entourage were at the launch of little Sarah’s three books on Saturday; and Sarah’s mum, Nozipho Kittoe told TechGh24 that she was brought to tears for the fact that her child’s gift has brought the entire family the honour of ‘rubbing shoulders’ with such a high-profile personality as the Mayor of Croydon.
“It was a surreal moment for me. Even watching my little girl signing autographs made me cry,” she said.
At age 7, Sarah wrote and illustrated three books – Linsey and the Blue Fox; The Friend Club (three stories in one book) and a colouring book for toddlers. All three were launched at an event where she also signed autographs for her friends who bought copies.
She attracted the attention of the Mayor and of a charity, chaired by Prince William of England, CentrePoint, because she has selected that charity and the Methodist Church to support them in their work for the vulnerable in society.
At the launch, Jason Perry lauded the parents of Sarah for the feat their little daughter has chalked, saying that: “What Sarah has done reflects the kind of good parenting she is getting”.
The Mayor also asked Sarah’s parents to arrange with his office for him to visit Sarah’s church in the near future because he believes the training the child is getting from church has contributed to shaping her into a child with a big heart for humanity.
Sarah’s dad, Albert Kwamena Kittoe, told TechGh24 that though the Mayor praised him and his wife for bringing Sarah up well, “we are even beside ourselves for the kind of smartness, maturity and care for humanity that Sarah is exhibiting at her age”.
He said even after the books launch, Sarah asked that all the money that was realised from the launch sales should be shared among the two charities she has chosen to support.
“She even said that going forward, 20 percent of all proceeds from the book should be shared among the two charities, and she also wants to donate some books, diapers and wipes to the kids of needy parents who are cared for by the Methodist church every Wednesday,” he added.
Albert Kittoe said several media houses and organisations in Ghana have showed interest in Sarah already, but he plans to bring Sarah and the entire to Ghana next year, adding that: “We need to manage her development so she can also find time to enjoy her childhood.”
