2026 Story of hope from Ghana

Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas, in countries like Ghana.

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2026 Story of hope from Ghana

One thousand days: From conception to a child’s second birthday, every day is vital for their development. But in rural Ghana, poverty prevents access to essential health and nutrition services, causing children to miss critical milestones. This can lead to serious health issues, academic struggles and limited job opportunities in adulthood.

To address this, Catholic Relief Services teamed up with the Sisters of Charity of St. Anne on a project in Walewale, Ghana, to help children up to 3 years old live happy and healthy lives by improving early childhood development.

Sister Yvonne Koudjonou, community leader and account officer, poses for a picture at Our Lady of Rocio Clinic in Walewale, Ghana. Sister Yvonne was instrumental in meeting with the local chiefs and elders to enhance the clinic space.

The project began more than four years ago when the sisters met with the chiefs and elders of the community about establishing a space at the Our Lady of Rocio Clinic to provide mothers and children with health education services and early childhood development activities. Today, the space teaches caregivers new ways to support their families, offers mental health services for moms, empowers communities through savings groups and strengthens families to build a brighter future together.

Check out the simple recipe from Ghana called “Red Red”.

As part of the project, community volunteers were trained in skills like making early learning toys and starting savings and lending groups. Some of the toys the mothers learned to make include sensory shakers crafted from plastic bottles and stones or buttons, and fabric balls from scraps around the home.

Sister Yvonne says that a sensory shaker is like music for a child.

“It helps the child develop mentally and build muscle strength,” she adds.

Sister Yvonne Koudjonou, community leader and account officer, poses for a picture at Our Lady of Rocio Clinic in Walewale, Ghana. Sister Yvonne was instrumental in meeting with the local chiefs and elders to enhance the clinic space. Lemke, Rebekah /CRS

Georgina was one of the first volunteers and is now a lead mother in her community who trains female neighbors in what she has learned. A mother of three, Georgina brings two of her children to the space to learn how to make simple, inexpensive toys that engage children’s senses and stimulate learning and development. She says that her children are seeing the benefits.

“They teach them how to count: one, two, three. ABCs,” Georgina says. “Compared to those in the house that I live with [who don’t attend the space], they are very smart indeed.”

Sister Yvonne emphasizes, however, that early childhood development cannot stop at the walls of the center. Mothers must make play spaces at home for their children and volunteers must teach new mothers what they’ve learned so that this knowledge will spread and other children can thrive.

“This program has helped us change our lives and our children,” Georgina says.

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We are the official overseas relief and development agency of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, dedicated to serving those in need across the globe. As part of Caritas Internationalis, we collaborate with a global network of charities to bring hope and relief to the world’s most vulnerable populations.

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