… supports Heart of the Father orphanage (JoshKridan’s Children’s Home)
The Children of the Heart of the Father Outreach – Joshkridan’s Children’s Home – at old Ningo in the Ningo-Prampram District, numbering close to 60, including other children in the vicinity, were visited on December 10, 2022 by the club as part of fulfilling one of their global causes –hunger.
This is the second time in 12 months that the club is supporting this orphanage. The club members did not only donate food items, clothes, books, shoes and other household items to the orphanage, but also fed the children with hot meals and drinks, and also interacted with them, giving them hope and advise that they could be whatever they want to be in future if they stay focused and believe in their dream and not make their current predicament a hindrance to their dreams.
Hearts of the Father Outreach was founded by Libby and John Moritz out of a personal tragedy. The orphanage helps orphans and abandoned children. They currently have two homes, one in Ghana (Old Ningo) and the other in Southern India (Tamil Nadu). The goal is to raise these children in a family type setting, where they receive love, support and mentoring from a father and mother who have a heart for God and a heart for children.
These children are provided with basic physical needs such as food, shelter and education. More importantly, the children receive the spiritual foundation necessary for them to become socially and morally responsible, creative adults who can impact their world positively.
Lions Clubs International is the largest humanitarian service organisation in the world, with its mission statement to empower Lions Clubs, volunteers and partners to improve health and well-being, strengthen communities, and support those in need through humanitarian services and grants that impact lives globally, and encourage peace and international understanding.
For this activity, The Tema Community 25 Lion’s Club raised over GH¢17,000 in cash, and received supplies – clothes, shoes, books and toys – to present to these children. The club, through its membership network, was able to raise these funds and secure these items from club members and also other donors.
The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, made an immense contribution to the initiative with some bags of rice, oil and other essential food supplies. Other donors were Kasapreko Ghana Limited, Royal crown packaging, and Voltron Ghana Limited.
According to the President of the Tema Community 25 Lion’s Club, Lion Victor Kafui Agbenu, the donation was centred on Hunger, which is one of the five global causes of the Lions Clubs International. The other global causes which the club centres its activities on are Vision, Environment, Diabetes and Childhood Cancer. Lions Clubs around the world organise activities on these five thematic areas; however, their activities are not only focused on these 5 global causes. Lions Clubs undertake other activities affecting their communities.
The Chairman of the Heart of the Father Outreach, Pastor York, welcomed the Lions warmly and commenced the event with an opening prayer. He further read out a speech to express the deepest gratitude from the founders of the children’s home – Libby and John Moritz, who are based in the United States.
The children offered the Lions a recurring cheer to express their happiness and gratitude to these selfless men and women of the international humanitarian service club. The Lions, noted for exhibiting such acts of kindness, believe that the less-fortunate should not be left out of the festive season, and undertake this project annually as one of their numerous ways to give back to society.
In an interview with Pastor Richard Asafoah, the caretaker of the home, he confirmed that the home faced a shortage in supplies during the latter part of this year and were contemplating on how to meet the fundamental needs of the children. He revealed that the donation was organised at a ‘strategic time’. “I am highly amazed with the quantity of goods and provisions they brought to our children today; and trust me, it’s going to go a long way,” he affirmed.
The children put on an exhilarating talent show for the Lions, and this was very captivating, to say the least. Shortly after, they were treated to a warm meal and an engaging tete-a-tete with the Lions.
“It’s not about status or social class; it’s really offering yourself to be of service to others,” words reiterated by the Club Secretary and Chair of the club’s Hunger Committee, Lion Dr. Ralph Tettey-Amlalo, as a statement of the club’s open doors at all times for new members.
One may be wondering what the ‘LIONS’ mean; L stands for Liberty, I stands for Intelligence, O stands for Our, N stands for Nation’s, and S stands for safety. Liberty Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety (LIONS). At the end, the donations were received and acknowledged by Pastor Richard Asafoah while a certificate of appreciation was presented to the club, and received by the Tema Community 25 Lions Club President, Lion Victor Kafui Agbenu.
