Healing minds
Jo Hopkins’ dream since childhood was to go to Africa to help others. In 2006 this dream led her to travel to Ho, Ghana-West Africa and volunteer at the SWODC orphanage. She instantly fell in love with the children there and wanted to help in any way possible. Most of these vulnerable children had never received any type of education and it was clear they would never escape their impoverished circumstances.
We have:
- Graduated 6 students from the “original SWODC crew”, added 4 additional students in past 8 years, and most importantly in the difficult Ghana society all of these students were provided enough stability through the love of Mama Jo that the majority are in the process of blossoming into self-reliant young adults.
- Invested in three businesses, and we are in the process of making them self sustaining. These businesses are: A paper distribution and copy center, farm ground, and a tailoring shop.
HISTORY/TRANSITION OF EDUCATION MODALITY IN GHANA
Jo fell in love with the original kids at SWODC and we have been intimately involved with them emotionally, mentally, physically and spiritually. We plan to see ALL of these students to the point that they are self-reliant. Each student has different needs and capacities. We plan to end our support of the original crew in the coming years.
As the original students graduate, our education modality will change. Scholarships will be granted based upon need and merit. We are well connected in the Volta Region in Ghana so it will be easy for us to source qualified students for our future scholarship program.
We will continue to leverage our experience there and Mama Jo’s love……Healing Minds. Helping children in need and providing shelter, food, clothing, and education to their betterment.
BUSINESS HISTORY – MISSION IN GHANA
We were lucky to attract Richard Dwamena as a father/manager. Our main business is a paper distribution center and copy center business in Ho – population 170,000. We have acquired two farm parcels (13.5 acres) outside of Ho, Ghana, West Africa – where we are located. We have improved these farm parcels and we have initiated production of farm products, i.e. corn maize, cassava, and some plantain. Lastly, we have acquired tailoring equipment and shop space as a few of our students are in this industry.
The concept and our mission is to make these strategic investments self-sustaining providing employment to our students and local residents with all of our profits going back into our mission there of Healing Minds. As of 2022 we have achieved profitability with the “Paper Depot” business and others are in infancy and have yet to achieve profit.
We are pleased with our success with our students there and we have laid a solid foundation in the business world with the idea of “teaching how to fish – not giving the fish”.
A letter from one of our students:
Hello Mama Josephine,
My life has nothing to account for if you are not on this planet. From the time you set your eyes on me, was the day of liberation from suffering. I wish someone, somewhere, could be like you, or take your footsteps to eradicate all form of pain from this world. Any time you come to Ghana, I find much greater happiness in life. Words cannot express how thankful I am to all that you are doing for me. May God richly bless you all of the days of your life. YOU ARE MY GREATEST TREASURE MAMA JOSEPHINE.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN GHANA WILL DONATE 100% OF NET PROFITS TO THE ONE BY ONE FOUNDATION!
Since becoming involved in Ghana, other opportunities have presented themselves which will allow Jo and Randy to help additional students, the local communities, and continue to fund the foundation's primary mission in Ghana. One such business opportunity is the ONE BY ONE CLOTHING STORE.
Jo and Randy have created a clothing store that will employ several of the past students, as well as local community members, to manufacture, market and sell their clothing. This will not only help bring jobs and purpose to many of the students and the community members.… the ONE BY ONE FOUNDATION will also benefit… as 100% of the net profits will be donated back to the ONE BY ONE FOUNDATION.
Check out the full clothing store at https://www.teepublic.com/user/onebyonefoundation. Also be sure to check out our authentic Ghana store here: https://onebyoneghanastore.com/.
Visit Ghana
Visit Ghana and have an emotional and spiritually rewarding experience that will change you forever. Download Additional Info below to see how the One by One Foundation can help arrange a stay, customized to your desires, though our friendly and experienced contacts in Ghana. These contacts will be there to make sure you will be safe and help take care of your every need while visiting. For cost of the trip, plus a small donation to our charity, the One by One Foundation can act as your “concierge service” allowing you an immersive and intimate experience, while also supporting our foundation to further our educational efforts in Ghana... and you can leave in as soon as 90 days!
We believe this will be an experience you will never forget. Our hope is that the experience will change your life, the way it has ours, and you will go back again and again. Our students love to have visitors and have become quite the ambassadors for our program. They will make sure your stay is comfortable, entertaining and filled with joy and love that you will cherish forever.
Meet our students
Gloria Ampofo
Village: Sokode-Bagble
History: Gloria and her sister Edem and brother Emma were brought to an orphanage in 2003. They had no one to care for them after their father tragically shot their mother and himself over a quarrel about fish for dinner.
Education: Gloria has received her certificate at Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarding. She is currently working for KFC in Ho.
Patience Enyonam Tsorme
Village: Ho-Dome
History: Patience and her sister Peace were brought to an orphanage in 2003 by a family member after losing their mother to breast cancer and their father to intestinal problems.
Education: Patience is studying Basic Education at the Evangelical Presbyterian University in Ghana to become a teacher.
Regina Ama Selase Addo (Sela)
Village: Ho-Dome
History: Sela was brought to the group home by her grandmother who worked there but has passed away. She has received proper care from the foundation.
Education: Sela is studying to become a corporate secretary at the University Cape Coast (EPUC Campus-Ho).
Peace Kafui Ama Tsorme
Village: Ho-Dome
History: Peace and her sister Patience were brought to an orphanage in 2003 by a family member after losing their mother to breast cancer and their father to intestinal problems.
Education: Peace is studying to become a midwife at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho.
Edem Josephine Tekah
Village: Sokode-Bagble
History: Edem and her sister Gloria and brother Emma were brought to an orphanage in 2003. They had no one to care for them after their father tragically shot their mother and himself over a quarrel about fish for dinner.
Education: Edem is studying to become a teacher at the University Cape Coast (EPUC Campus-Ho).
Evelyn Aku Welewu
Village: Sokode-Bagble
History: Both Evelyn's parents died of AIDS and she was brought to an orphanage in 2005. She was living with her 75 year old grandfather who could no longer care for her financially.
Education: Evelyn is a first year accounting student at the University of Professional Studies in Accra Ghana.
Sika Peace Ama Dotse
Village: Hodzo
History: Sika was brought to an orphanage in 2005 by her aging grandfather when he was unable to care for her and her mother suffered with mental illness, and her father was unknown.
Education: Sika is in her final year studying General Arts at Sunrise Christian High School in Ghana.
Rina Kubu-ria
Village: Nandom
History: Rina was brought to the group home by her uncle and receives proper care, clothing, food and shelter.
Education: She is currently studying Early Grade Education with St. Theresa College of Education in Ghana. Rina would also like to be a lecturer and journalist.
Patricia Aku Dogbe
Village: Ho-Dome
History: Patricia was brought to an orphanage in 2003. Her father had died her mother was unable to provide for her.
Education: Patricia studied catering and is currently on her industrial attachment.
Eunice Bapule
Village: Nandom
History: Eunice was brought to the group home by her uncle from Tamale in the Northern region of Ghana. Eunice receives proper care, clothing, food and shelter.
Education: Eunice is currently in junior high school at Kabore School Complex and would like to become a medical doctor.
Sylvia Ninbeen
Village: Nandom-Ketuo
History: Sylvia was brought to the group home by her uncle and is receiving proper care, clothing, food and shelter.
Education: Sylvia is in lower primary six at Kabore School Complex and hopes to be a military doctor in the future.
Miriam Mawumenyo
Village: Peki
History: Miriam was introduced to Jo and Randy during one of their annual visits to Ghana. At that time, she was not being properly taken care of by her father and is now receiving proper care, clothing, food, and shelter from the foundation.
Education: Miriam is in lower primary school and desires to be a nurse in the future.
Romeo Nunyuie
Village: Ho-Dome
History: Romeo's mother died when he was 3 and his father died when he was 5. He was brought to an orphanage in 2003.
Education: Romeo is currently learning to become a fashion designer and helps sew clothing for the Ghana Clothing Store.
Elikem Lobo
Village: Abutia Agorve
History: Elikem and his brother Sammy were brought to an orphanage in 2006. Their mother died from a snake bite and their father was shot and killed.
Education: Elikem has completed a Diploma Program in Information Communication Technology.
Emmanuel Asiam (Emma)
Village: Sokode Bagble
History: Emma and his sisters Edem and Gloria were brought to an orphanage in 2003. They had no one to care for them after their father tragically shot their mother and himself over a quarrel about fish for dinner.
Education: Emma is exceling in his studies of Engineering Physics at the Cape Coast University in Ghana and wants to become an Electrical Engineer.
Samuel dzakpa (sammy)
Village: Abutia Agorve
History: Sammy and his brother Elikem were brought to an orphanage in 2006. Their mother died from a snake bite and their father was shot and killed.
Education: Sammy has completed Unistar Football Academy and is currently studying Visual Arts at Sokode Senior High School.
Gideon Owuso
Village: Kumasi
History: Gideon lost his parents at 3 years old and was brought to the group home by his grandmother. He receives proper care, clothing, food and shelter.
Education: Gideon is in junior high school and wants to become a teacher.
Richard Deklu
Village: Ho-Dome
We are sad to announce that Richard passed away due to illness. He will be missed.
Meet our graduates
Priscilla Adekpuitor
Village: Ho-Dome
History: Priscilla's Mother died of heart disease and father died of old age.
Education: Priscilla has completed her education at Ho Technical University in Purchasing and Supply. She also did her National Service with the Ghana Cocoa Marketing Cooperation in the Accra region in Ghana.
Makafui Donkor
Village: Ho-Dome
History: Makafui's mother died immediately after childbirth and her father died when she was 1 year old. Her uncle cared for her until she was brought to an orphanage in 2003.
Education: Makafui has completed her education at the University of Cape Coast with a diploma in Basic Education. She is currently doing her National Service with the government of Ghana teaching at a community school.
Priscilla Akosia Agbenyega
Village: Sokode Bagble
History: Priscilla's mother and father both died from illnesses and she was brought to an orphanage by her grandfather in 2007 when he was unable to provide for her.
Education: Priscilla has completed her diploma in catering at Ho Technical University and received a certificate in cake making from the Maggie Sugar Craft Institute. She hopes to become a chef and operate her own restaurant.
Richard Kodzi
Village: Ho-Dodome-Kpeve
History: Richard did not have any family support so he came to the group home to help on a daily basis. He has received proper care, clothing, food and shelter and has been very helpful on the foundation's farm.
Education: Richard completed Ho Technical Vocation Institute studying Electricals and is currently participating in his industrial attachment with a local electrical company.
Noble Kofi Mawutor Keteku (Malto)
Village: Hodzo-ve
History: Malto was found by a unknown market woman at the age of 4 and was brought to an orphanage in 2003.
Education: Malto completed Kwame University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana in Agricultural Science. He is currently doing his National Service with the Government of Ghana and wants to become an Agricultural Science Tutor and farmer.
Wulasi Anku (Frank)
Village: Abutie-Kloe
History: Frank's father died when he was very young and his mother is very sick. He was cared from by a woman from his village. When she was no longer able to provide for him she brought him to an orphanage in 2006.
Education: Frank completed Ho Technical Vocation Institute where he studied construction. He is currently doing his industrial attachment with a construction company in Ho.