There is no right “skill” needed to help change the life of a child or a mother. What ever you have to offer is what we can use.
L – LEADERSHIP
Leadership is not defined by age. Leaders help others do the right thing. We have seen teens become strong leaders by offering to read a book with a child in Ghana. Owen, seven years old, decided to lead his community to purchase malaria nets for the children in a village in Ghana. At age 75, Cynthia decided to go and teach crocheting to teens in Ghana and then lead her church women to sewing dresses and dolls. If you have a skill, we can use it.
O – OFFERING
The first step is to offer what you have. In 2016, Ellen Baffour-Arhin, a nurse-practitioner and first generation American of Ghanaian descent, offered to teach Ghanaian about diabetes. Deborah Albert, a college student in London, offered to be trained as a Water Mama trainer and help women learn how to use a water filter. Bryan Woolston and Tanya Younger, both professional photographers, have traveled to Ghana to take photos. Others bring handyman skills and construction know-how. Make us an offer we can’t refuse.
V – VALUE
Value is in the eye of the beholder. A pencil may cost 50 cents, however, that same pencil in Ghana is worth a whole year of school. Ridley, a 4th grader, wanted to know if her Brownie troop could be of help. The 18 girls collected 120 pair of scissors, 360 pencils, 240 pencil sharpeners and a thousand pencil top erasers, then put together filled pencil cases for two different reading ramps in Ghana. We value whatever skill you may have to offer.
E – EVERYONE
Everyone benefits from mission service. You may not want to serve in Ghana but offer help here in the U.S. Can you write a grant? Or have clerical skills? Are you proficient in QuickBooks or maybe you want to run a fundraiser? Can you offer one day to travel to Washington, D.C., and host our booth at a Combined Federal Campaign? Mission service is not always leaving the country. Offering your leadership skills brings value to everyone, including yourself.
