WHO WE ARE

OUR STORY

Ghana Christian Family Foundation developed out of a vision of Peter Cardinal Turkson (The First Cardinal of Ghana, West Africa) to help prepare a generation of children in Ghana, who will help transform families, churches, and the society at large. In 2005, the Cardinal, who was then the Archbishop of Cape Coast, formed the Cardinal's Foundation for Distance Learning (CaFDiL) to help realize this vision. One of the people, who has been helping with this vision is Fr. Richmond Dzekoe, a priest from the Archdiocese of Cape Coast. 

In 2007, Fr. Richmond came to Iowa State University, Ames, IA, to pursue a doctorate in Applied Linguistics & Technology to help achieve the goals of CaFDiL. While a student in Ames, Fr. Richmond served in the local parishes: St. Cecilia, St. Thomas Aquinas Parish and Student Center, and St. Peter & Paul near Gilbert, IA. It didn't take long for the parishioners to appreciate the young priest's enthusiasm and love for God and His people. Many families "adopted" Fr. Richmond as a member of their own family. Over time, Fr. Richmond shared his background of Ghanaian culture and his first-hand knowledge of the blessings as well as the struggles and needs of families in Ghana. In 2009, a group of families in Ames started to meet regularly with Fr. Richmond to learn more about CaFDiL and brainstorm ways of helping achieve its objectives. These families formed a board and incorporated as a non-profit 501(3)c organization. Five couples, Mr. & Mrs. Mark and Margy Hanson, Mr. & Mrs. John and Carol Nelson, Mr. & Mrs. John and Jill Sankovitch, Mr. & Mrs. Pat and Mindy Stahr, and Mr. & Mrs. Ed and Cyndi Volcko formed the original board of what was known as the Cardinal Turkson Foundation, USA. Cardinal Turkson personally inaugurated the Board in Dubuque, IA, on March 18, 2016.
 
From 2011, the Board with limited resources has undertaken many projects to accompany families, such as providing scholarships to gifted but needy students, scholarships for seminarians, educational materials (TV's, DVD's, textbooks, etc.), and teacher training workshops for schools. We have also provided after-school tutoring for children who need help with homework, supported families who need help paying for healthcare for children, and those who need help starting small self-help projects to support their families financially. We have also partnered with other organizations, such as Project Hope, Ghana, to provide resources, such as drinking water (wells) for rural communities. These projects have produced very positive impacts on families and communities at large. With this measure of success, the Board became increasingly dedicated to providing a broader and more sustainable avenue for assistance. With that goal in mind, in Fall 2019, the Board began the process of rebranding to capture the broader mission of transforming families through Christ's love. Hence our new name: Ghana Christian Family Foundation.