The Sovereign Global Missions Organization (SGM) is a not-for-profit organization that works with in the city of Accra and it's surrounding communities. Reverend Erik Annan and his wife, Felicia, help run this organization and were our contacts while planning our trip to Ghana and while in country.
The SGM has worked with children on who live on the streets, are orphaned, or live in the slums in and around the Accra region for the last 10 years. Over the last 6 years, the SGM has partnered with VCU's Social Work department to find, purchase, & clear land for the site to their new child care center. They have also laid foundation and raised the buildings that, when completed, will become the site of a new school where these children can live and learn what they need to in order to stay on track with their peers.
Erik is the man standing in the picture by himself. The pictures of the buildings are of the SGM childcare center. The library shown will house many of the books we have donated to the center.
Our group took two services days on our trip to support the SGM and painted as much of a first coat of the inside and outside of the classrooms as we could. We had the help of two master painters that would offer suggestions, advice, and an upbeat tune to work to. It was hard work, extremely hot and by far the dirtiest two days of the entire trip.
Although I was tired, sweaty, and feeling my skin burn, those two days of painting were strangely therapeutic for me. As mentioned before, I was still adjusting to everything and being able to zone out and quietly paint was strangely helpful. We were also able to see a difference when we left and though there was still work to be done, the place was starting to look nice. I was glad to have had a lasting impact on the community.
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