It is our crystal anniversary—fifteen years of impacting the lives of disadvantaged people. Indeed, we have salient reasons to celebrate this milestone.
Commemorating this achievement gives us the pleasure of reflecting on our journey and looking back on where it all started and where we are heading.
Our Story
As many of you know, our story is a deep one. It commenced with one woman being bereaved. She lost her daughter, son, and husband all in the space of two years. During that period, Mrs. Esime Djentuh, our founder, became increasingly saddened and horrified at the plight of a lone world.
At this phase of her life, she was troubled by the untold hardship that greeted the underprivileged children in Kpando who could barely afford twice a meal. Most children could not afford three square meals or a balanced and healthy meal within a day.
As a professional fashion designer and philanthropist who had shared her benevolence with the disadvantaged all her life, she wrote to the Social Welfare Department seeking to start an orphanage—Ryvanz-Mia Childcare was born.
Looking back, fifteen years after the orphanage’s inception, the journey has been a roller-coaster ride. We have had our highs and lows.
Achievements
As we look forward to incredible years ahead, we must highlight Ryvanz-Mia Childcare’s remarkable accomplishments since its inception.
Here are some:
- Building of computer laboratory and library.
- Re-fencing of the orphanage.
- Eight foster care children are completing SHS, one finished university with national service, and another is training to become a journalist at the Ghana Institute of Journalism.
- Mini-shop was built to sell products to support the home.
- Securing a partnership with foreign orphanage homes.
- Attracting over 100+ volunteers from around the world to visit the house.
- Completing the Kitchen project.
- We acquired six plots of land to begin the construction of a classroom and the dormitory for the home.
- Construction and mechanization of boreholes to serve the house.
- A piggery and poultry farm with about 100 birds.
- 17-acre farmland for plantation.
Sorrow
One of the lowest points in our fifteen-year journey is the sudden demise of a sickle cell child in the home. We woke up to learn that he had fallen ill and was rushed to the hospital. But, unlike previous times, when he was admitted when he was rushed to the hospital, this time around, the doctors who attended to him offered medication and discharged him right away.
Later that fateful day, he was retaken to the hospital following a severe sickness, and that was the last chapter of his life on earth; he kicked the bucket. The late foster child joined the home at age eight and passed away six years later at Ryvanz-Mia Childcare. The deceased’s twin brother is currently at college pursuing journalism at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).
Our Challenges
Notwithstanding our solid achievements, there are still challenges facing the home. Running faster care in our part of the world comes with its problems.
Unsurprisingly, Ryvanz-Mia Childcare is not immune to these setbacks. There have been hurdles impeding the progress of the home. Despite our continued efforts to provide an environment conducive to less privileged children and vulnerable communities, human wants are unlimited, as Alfred Marshall rightly said.
Human wants are countless and varied. As soon as one desire is satisfied, another lack takes its place. This endless circle of wishes continues throughout life. Ryvanz-Mia Childcare is in dire need of help.
We are faced with insufficient toilets and bath facilities for the children. Foster care is greeted with the problem of accommodation for our integrated children. Also, we seek employment opportunities for our elder kids who complete senior high school before furthering their education. Occasioned by the harsh economic implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently unable to pay stipends to our caregivers, which, in a way, is affecting the effective running of the home.
Our Future
We are grateful to God for the gift of life and abundance of Grace. We appreciate our sponsors and volunteers for all the tremendous support. Our foster care has matured into a renowned one through the involvement of each of them. But not for them; we would be nowhere near this milestone. Through donors’ contributions, the home has grown its impact, extending a helping hand to less privileged in the community.
Over the last fifteen years, our foster care has established itself as an essential pillar in the lives of disadvantaged people, with proven successes and testimonies. Attesting that RMC plays a pivotal role in the social impact of Kpando through the running of entrepreneurship and mentorship programs.
At RMC, we seek to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged people, provide a conducive environment for growth, and give quality education to poor future leaders. We aspire to grow to become a renowned organization that has children at heart, transcends beyond the borders of Kpando, and extends to other parts of the country to offer vulnerable children a helping hand in our bid to eradicate poverty and hunger.
Donation
Every dollar you donate our way goes a long way to impact lives positively. Donations allow us to support the children we help in Kpando continually. Our generous donors make the life-changing support we have offered for 15 years possible. With these massive impacts, imagine if we had several people donating to help our cause. Please help us give hope and help to orphans right here at home. Together, we can do extraordinary things.
If you’d like to donate, you can use the information below. Our sister organization is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization in the USA www.ryvanzmiacharity.org/donate
Thank you for supporting us in taking care of the children.