I recently got a message from someone (let’s call her Ama) that really made me stop and think. Ama, who is Ghanaian but grew up in Germany (name of country changed ), shared her dream of helping vulnerable children in Ghana. She bought plots of land in Ghana with plans to build an orphanage and adopt nine children to raise in a loving home.
But after coming across one of my articles, Ama said she had a “massive paradigm shift.” As a mom herself, she started to think about what it really means for a child to be separated from their family. Her question to me was so heartfelt: “What’s the best way to help underprivileged children in Ghana?”
This is such an important question, and I truly admire Ama’s willingness to pause and rethink her plans for the sake of the children she wants to help.
It Really Does Take a Village
Ama’s story reminds us that children thrive best in families, not institutions. No matter how well-meaning an orphanage might be, it can’t replace the love, connection, and sense of belonging that comes from being in a family.
The truth is, most of the children in orphanages aren’t orphans. They often have parents or extended family members who, because of poverty, feel they can’t take care of them.
That’s where we can make a real difference. Instead of focusing on orphanages, we can empower families—both parents and relatives—to step in and care for their children.
When we remove financial burdens and give families the tools they need, relatives who might have otherwise stepped back can rise to the challenge. Most families want to take care of their own; they just need the support to do so.
Solving the poverty barrier is a major step toward ensuring children grow up in safe, loving homes surrounded by family.
So, What’s the Best Way to Help?
Here are a few things Ama—and all of us—can consider to make the most meaningful impact:
1. Empower Families First
• Help parents and relatives with financial support, education, or vocational training.
• Partner with organizations that promote foster care or kinship care, where extended family members or trusted friends step in to care for children.
2. Build Resources for the Community
• Ama could use her land to create a center that helps families directly—offering parenting workshops, counseling, or skills training for parents.
• Programs like this can strengthen communities and make it easier for families to stay together.
3. Temporary Family-Like Care
• If children do need temporary care, it’s important to make it feel like home, not an institution. The goal should always be to reunite them with their family or find loving foster care.
4. Shift Perspectives
• Sometimes, all it takes is education and awareness. Let’s show communities that with the right support, they can care for their own children and keep them connected to their roots.
The Bigger Picture
Ama’s openness to rethink her approach is such an inspiration. It’s a reminder that helping children isn’t about creating a big institution; it’s about ensuring they grow up in loving homes, surrounded by people who care about them.
If we all come together communities, families, and those with the means to help we can build a brighter future for Ghana’s children. Whether it’s keeping families together, empowering relatives to step up, or creating resources to support them, we can give children the chance to thrive in a loving environment.
To Ama and everyone else looking for ways to make a difference: your heart is in the right place. Together, let’s focus on solutions that truly put children first. It really does take a village, and every step we take in the right direction matters.
I have been surfing online more than 3 hours today yet I never found any interesting article like yours It is pretty worth enough for me In my opinion if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did the web will be much more useful than ever before
Thank you