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ACCRA GHANA

Supporting Children in Ghana through School and Sports

A Rewarding Return

Kofi Johnson grew up in an orphanage in Accra Ghana and was adopted to a family in Utah when he was 15. He goes back to Ghana to give back to the orphanage he grew up in and provide sports training and soccer clinics to the community. His service trips include donating basic and much needed supplies to the orphanage, teaching soccer clinics and sports training for the community. Kofi’s dream is to expand the opportunities at the orphanage to include trade skills and scholarship opportunities.

Thank You Friends

Thanks to my friends who supported me going back to Ghana. When I’m there, I have no doubt that this is the important work of my life. I wish I could transport you all there with me so you could experience the joy of giving to these communities and the difference we make together.  I was in Ghana for two weeks and we raised over $22,625 together. We fed almost 522 kids on the streets with donations of $2000 worth of food to two orphanages. We hosted basketball clinics with the inner city team we support – A special thanks to the BYU Mens Basketball team who donated jerseys, shorts, shirts, balls and pumps. 

 

A Favorite Moment: When we were in Accra there’s a neighborhood called Saraha that is very poor. Most parents are in the city working, so there are tons of older kids who take care of their younger siblings. We parked our truck, and handed out food to the children. We were swarmed by people. It was humbling and one of my favorite moments of the trip.

Thank you for your support. 
Make sure you follow me at @kofij11 for live updates!

-Kofi Johnson

 

Because I grew up in the system and at these schools, I can relate to the kids and how much these means to them. – Kofi

2022 Trip Update

Kofi returned to Graceful Grace school in early 2022 to continue adding essential updates to the school of his childhood. This year, he focused on building an on-site health clinic for the 420 students and teachers. Before the renovations, if a student was feeling unwell or needed first aid, they had to go into the city. Now with the health services on site, they can receive care in a comfortable environment with a qualified nurse. Thanks to donations, Kofi was able to supply a first aid station, bunk beds and linens. As always, Kofi prioritized hiring local Accra-based workers for the construction and finish work to help local businesses.  Thank you to all the donors who supported this trip financially or with in-kind donations.
Kofi with a student from Graceful Grace
Bunk Beds built for the new health clinic
First Aid supplies for students stocked by donations

Hope through Sports

Each year, Kofi receives donations from local soccer clubs and basketball teams. He takes jerseys, shirts, and balls with him to donate to an inner-city team he supports. This team is close to Kofi’s heart, as its from the neighborhood he grew up in. They enter community tournaments to (hopefully) win prize money. This money is what they use to feed their families.  Soccer and basketball has been essential to Kofi’s life, and providing coaching and gear to this team is a bright spot in the trip each year. The team organizes community clinics and clean-ups throughout the year.

2021 Trip Report

Kofi returned to Graceful Grace school for almost four weeks in early 2021 to upgrade the facilities. He raised over $26,000 from family and friends to remodel the 13 classrooms, upgrade the playground and kitchen, and update the desks and chairs. Kofi employed local craftspeople who worked tirelessly to have the upgrade complete before school came back into session. The  students and teachers were overjoyed with the changes when they came back. A good education is a building block for the family and this community. By investing into these students and their families, the entire community will be improved. For the future, Kofi plans to return this fall for an extended trip  to assist the school leadership meet their organizational and leadership goals for the school.  
300 Students received new classroom facilities and supplies through generous donors.
Playground Upgrades
Freshly painted playplace and playground equipment built by local craftsman were enjoyed by students on the first day back.
Graceful Grace School
Remodel in progress at the Graceful Grace School.

volunteer opportunities

Kofi Johnson is passionate about giving meaningful volunteer opportunities to students while making a sustainable impact to his home country of Ghana. If you’d like to donate directly to Kofi for in-kind donations or sports equipment, please contact him at [email protected].

Tifie Humanitarian is the Fiscal Sponsor of Going Back to Give Back. 100% donations made to Going Back to Give back, go directly to this project.

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GET INVOLVED

To donate to this project, click on Donate, and choose the “Going Back to Give Back” from the drop down menu. 100% of your donation will go to the Kofi’s projects in Ghana. To donate in-kind donation to Kofi that includes clothing, soccer balls, sports equipments, luggage or airline miles, please contact Kofi directly at [email protected].

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