Widows & Teens Programs

A MODEL FOR HOPE

Ophelia and her eight children were discovered living in an abandoned construction site, their only shelter a concrete floor. With her husband recently deceased, Ophelia faced the daunting task of providing for her family alone, with no support or assistance.

When our Program Manager, Emmanuel, in Ghana, learned of their plight through a church member, he reached out to BLOOM for help. Thanks to generous donations, we were able to relocate them to a small home in a village. We enrolled all the school-age children in school, providing them with uniforms, books, and supplies.

Despite Ophelia’s lack of education, Emmanuel’s church provided her with second-hand clothes to clean and repair, which her older children sold at the local market. With Emmanuel’s guidance and mentorship, Ophelia devised a business plan to sell charcoal, a vital commodity in their community for heating and cooking.

Through hard work and determination, Ophelia expanded her business by learning to produce charcoal from locally sourced trees. With additional support, she cleared land, mastered the art of charcoal production, and significantly increased her profits. Today, she supports her family independently, covering their education, personal needs, and medical bills.

Ophelia’s journey from hardship to self-sufficiency is a testament to the transformative power of support and empowerment. Meeting her during our mission trip to Ghana in February 2022 was a profound experience for BLOOM’s founder, Le Ann Dakake. Seeing Ophelia’s smile and witnessing the positive impact on her family and village reaffirmed our commitment to assisting widows in need, as urged by James 1:27.