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Create Hope Ghana – Living Up to Its Name

It’s an exciting time at Forward Edge as we announce the launch of our brand new program, Create Hope Ghana, alongside our 40th anniversary celebration. We’re thrilled to witness the positive impact this program has already made on the lives of 75 children and their families residing in 10 different communities, thanks to the leadership of our dedicated Program Directors, Jonathan and Rhoda. Their commitment to providing food, education, spiritual guidance, and other essential support is a shining example of the compassionate and driven spirit that defines Forward Edge.

The impact of Create Hope Ghana is best demonstrated through the stories of the children and families who have benefited from it. We’d love to share with you just a few of these stories, and we hope they’ll provide a glimpse into the ways God is working through this program to create hope and change lives.

Special Care for Mohammed 

At just 14 years old, Mohammed was struggling with epilepsy and was being cared for solely by his unemployed mother because his father is elderly and unwell. This left Mohammed without access to critical medical treatment or education.

However, with the unwavering support of Create Hope Ghana, Mohammed’s life has been transformed for the better. The program was able to get him to the hospital and provide him with a treatment plan, which has given him the opportunity to manage his epilepsy and live a fuller life. Moreover, Jonathan and Rhoda went above and beyond to find a special needs teacher who could provide Mohammed with an education, which he had previously been denied. As a result, he now has access to essential educational resources, such as books, a backpack, and school uniforms, that he previously lacked.

Mohammad now has both the necessary medical care and educational opportunities to lead a better future than his family had previously thought possible.

A Home for Stephen

Despite facing poverty and uncertainty from a young age, Stephen’s struggles intensified when his father passed away and his grandfather kicked him and his mother out of their home. They became homeless with a newborn sister, and Christiana, Stephen’s mother, struggled to make ends meet by selling soft drinks and water. The family was barely able to afford rent, food, and school fees, a common reality for widows in Tamale who often lose their homes after their husbands pass away, and in many cases they lose their rights to their children too.

The family recently faced a perfect storm of financial challenges. With both their annual rent and school fees for Stephen and his sister due at the same time, they were at risk of eviction and the children dropping out of school. Create Hope Ghana came to their aid and provided the family with two years of rent and school fees, offering a glimmer of hope in a time of crisis. Thanks to the program’s unwavering support, Stephen and his sister were able to continue their education and build a brighter future. Create Hope Ghana’s compassion and dedication made all the difference in this family’s journey towards stability and success.

Life-giving water for communities 

According to Jonathan, Director of Create Hope Ghana, “Water is life. It is essential but is in short supply in many communities around Tamale. Some of these communities have no access to potable drinking water and only rely on local dam water for survival, which is not safe for drinking. ” Unfortunately, during the current drought, three communities in particular have been hit hard, causing a lack of water that is affecting daily life, including work and school attendance.

Thankfully, Create Hope Ghana has taken action to provide safe drinking water for these communities. Each week, the program delivers 16,640 liters of water to each community, making a huge difference for children and families struggling with the water shortage. 

Living up to its name

These stories are only a fraction of the positive influence of Create Hope Ghana. Their impact is truly remarkable, and it’s no wonder that their name has become synonymous with hope and transformation. By enriching the lives of countless individuals and families, Create Hope Ghana is an outstanding example of how a dedicated program can make a world of difference.

Picture of Nancy Hellmann

Nancy Hellmann

Nancy's relationship with Forward Edge began after Hurricane Katrina when her church served in the ninth ward of New Orleans. She has completed mission trips to Haiti three times, Uganda twice, Nicaragua once, and Oaxaca four times. After her first trip to Oaxaca, she became a child sponsor and loves going every year to visit the children she sponsors. In August 2022, she joined the staff of Forward Edge at the international headquarters. 
Bible Story

Whose Bible?

It started with a simple nudge—a last-minute feeling that I was forgetting something important. Rushing through the airport, I couldn’t shake the urge to buy a Bible. I didn’t know why, or who it was for, but I trusted the feeling. A week later, in a small village in Ghana, that Bible found its way into the hands of Talata, a girl who had never heard of Jesus. This is the story of how God’s quiet whispers and a small act of obedience became part of something much bigger than we could have imagined.

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Relationships are everything. And it’s not just those in the U.S. reaching out to other countries; it’s the entire Global Church engaging with and learning from each other. As an organization, we seek to foster and steward those vital relationships. Recently, the director of our Uganda children’s program, Bonny Lugayizi,

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7 Keys to Effective Mission Trips

For over 35 years, Forward Edge has mobilized more than 20,000 individuals on nearly 1,600 mission teams to many parts of the U.S. and 34 countries. Over this time, we’ve learned tried-and-true principles that allow short-term teams to help without causing harm. 1. Support programs that are directed, designed, and

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christian

Prayer and Provision in Cuba

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Transform a Child's Life Through Sponsorship

Hola (hello), my name is Santiago Ivan

  • location

    Mexico

  • 9 yrs. old

    01-22-2017

Entered the program: October 2025

Santiago lives with his parents and his younger sister, Daniela (also in the program) in a small one-room house with a kitchen and a bathroom. 

Santiago was born with Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) and he is unable to walk, speak, or feed himself. His mother must devote most of her time and attention to his care. Santiago’s parents met when they were in middle school. His father was in the United States when Santiago was born in 2017 but then came back to their village. Santiago is not officially registered as his son. Santiago's father works in construction and struggles with alcoholism and violence. It is a very difficult situation.


Sponsorship Level What's this?

Three $38 sponsorships are needed to cover the complete holistic care of one child. Cover one, two, or three sponsorships.