Our History: Making it happen
In 2007, 3 University of Windsor law students, Gagan Sagan, Shannon Kinch, and Nicole Andreakos sat together in their residence and mused about, how, even in this early stage of their lives, they could make an impact, give back, and genuinely improve the lives of those who hadn’t experienced the same opportunities in life as themselves.
After researching volunteer opportunities overseas, they agreed on Africa, specifically Ghana, and by the end of May, they found themselves in Accra, the capitol of Ghana. Within a short time,they were volunteering at an orphanage, working with street children, and exploring how they could make things happen.
While at the orphanage they met Kwame and Helena Asamoah, a couple who have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of disadvantaged children in Ghana. Shortly after, Kwame, Gagan, Shannon and Nicole founded “Our Children Africa”. Their goal: To empower children in Ghana through education and leadership development to remove the barriers which prevent them from escaping the cycle of poverty and reaching their full potential.
That same year, with assistance from Shannon’s parents, Richard and Anne Kinch, they began work on a small primary school in the village of Bwase (opened in 2008) and started sowing the seeds for the introduction of “Every Child’s Path”, a primary literacy and math program in the region of Akropong developed by Anne Kinch. This program has continued to grow and over the next 8 years Reproductive Health Education Workshops were underway and the Ponacka Ghana Leadership Development Program was in full swing.
Progress continues to be made on all fronts as a result of the many friends and contributors to “Our Children Africa”