HOME OF HOPE FOR GIRLS
Spring 2022 Newsletter
Dear Friend,
We hope that this finds you and yours well. Perhaps, like us, you’re glad to have passed the winter and be welcoming spring again. Here is a little news from us since our last newsletter...
 Without doubt the most exciting and important thing that has happened in 2022 is that Mam Khanyi was awarded the Global Citizen Award. This is an incredible honor and will make a big difference in raising the profile of Home of Hope. To accept the award she travelled to a lavish ceremony in Ghana. The audience of over 20,000 people included the President of Ghana, many other heads of state, and an assembly of academics, activists and celebrities.
These are her words for the occasion:
For me, it’s about being a voice for the voiceless. The women and girls I fight for have faced harsh dangers and dehumanization and protecting them has always been my number one priority.
In twenty two years, Home of Hope has faced many challenges – like being silenced and lack of financial support. It is crucial we have an open civic space that allows us to exercise our human right to express ourselves.
Women and girls in Africa deserve to live without fear and live up to their full potential, and we need governments to respond to their needs and aspirations. Please join us in this fight - in South Africa, here in Ghana and all across Africa.
Mam Khanyi’s hope is to use the momentum of this international recognition to gain more support for Home of Hope. Winning this important award makes it clear to companies, donors and the world at large that the work being done here is of immense value. Have a look at Mam Khanyi accepting her award, click HERE:
 Reading Club turns one – hip hip hooray!
We know that reading is a fundamental component in a child’s life, as the author Garrison Keillor put it ‘A book is a gift you can open again and again’. The Friday afternoon Reading Club celebrated its first birthday in September. Its members include volunteers from all walks of life – teachers, managing directors, project managers, retired nurses, and book-lovers with big love in their hearts. As well as very focused reading there have been theatrical performances about the books, and art to portray the books. It’s great fun but most importantly this initiative has resulted in a noticeable improvement in the children’s English grades and their self-confidence has grown in leaps and bounds.
 Talent Show
The Reading Club hosted a talent show where each girl expressed herself though song, poetry, dancing and drama. It turned out to be both surprising and inspiring. The best thing about it was seeing how the girls were inspired to work together, rehearsing, choosing music and costumes. Then they performed on the little stage using microphones so it was a great learning experience. The standard was so high that it was very hard to choose a single winner, in the end it was decided that every child that participated deserved a prize.
Homework volunteers
Academic work remains a challenge because the girls have had a rocky start with less schooling than their peers and they often have a lot of catching up to do. We’re grateful that our tutors in our homework tutoring program still have the same level of commitment to them as when they first came on board two years ago. The program has developed to include online tuition, so the girls have become comfortable with virtual platforms for learning (Zoom).
The experience, expertise and patience of the tutors has shown real results. The girls have more confidence tackling academic work, better communication in English and a greater ability to work independently.
Every little helps
There have been some great strides ahead (new bunk beds, repairing of the geysers, purchase of school uniforms) this year has also proven very difficult in terms of keeping the houses running and paying staff. Home of Hope needs assistance for these ongoing costs. Please click HERE to donate directly.
- Diesel for the school bus
- School uniforms / registration fees / tertiary fees
- Wages for the caregivers, driver
- Gas for cooking.
- Electricity and Water
- Administration salaries / stipends
That’s it from us for now, except to say THANK YOU for being part of the team and supporting us. Stay in touch, stay well and stay safe,
Love from all at Home of Hope for Girls
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