Over the years, like so many others, I witnessed on TV human suffering in Africa. I wanted to do something that was meaningful but did not know what to do or how to do it. In 1993, I was introduced to Sankofa International, Inc.,(Sankofa) a non-profit organization with a mission to help Africa’s needy become self-sustaining. For the first time in my life, I was directly connected in a way whereby I could make a positive impact on people suffering in Africa.
In 1997, I was ordained a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Part of the training included the writing of a proposal to help move God’s Kingdom forward. My proposal was related to helping Africa’s needy. The proposal was supported by one of the Church Bishops (Mid-Atlantic II District), who had, at one time, been responsible for Church activities in Ghana, West Africa.
In 2004, I traveled to Ghana with Sankofa and spent most of my time in rural villages. My mind was absorbed with what I had seen on TV for many years, my God inspired desire to make a positive difference in Africa, and the fact that l was there to see it with my own eyes, touch the people with my own hands, and more. However, I was still not clear on exactly what to do to make that positive difference.
After this trip, I had the opportunity to discuss with Sankofa’s President and CEO my vision of farm animals and related activities to help feed the people, train the people, and more to help them become self-sustaining. It would be years later, 2014 to be exact, for this vision to manifest itself in the natural, when I was informed by the same President and CEO that Sankofa had launched an organic animal and poultry farm in Ghana.
In 2015, my seventh trip to Ghana, I visited the farm for the first time. Now, I was able to see exactly how my efforts would help the needy. Because of my vision many years ago, Sankofa named the first pig pen in my honor. I give God all the praise and glory because I now know His calling on my life and I get to witness its manifestation on a daily basis, through Sankofa.
