By Sarah Bechek, BBF Development Coordinator

Growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I’ve always felt a deep desire to help others and contribute to meaningful change. This passion led me to pursue a degree in Public Health, where I discovered philanthropy and sustainable development. After graduating, I was able to turn my passion into action when I was hired as the development coordinator for BBF.

In August, I had the privilege of traveling to Ghana, West Africa, to witness firsthand the incredible work BBF is doing in partnership with Hope for Ghana. This trip was an eye-opening experience, filled with cultural immersion and inspiring moments of community transformation. From new educational initiatives to groundbreaking medical outreach, the impact of BBF’s work on local communities in Ghana is inspiring and transformative.

My journey began when I landed at Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana. I received a warm welcome from Dr.  Steve Greene, President and Founder of Hope for Ghana, and Senyo Gbormittah, Vice President of Operations. From there, we traveled to Akatsi to celebrate the grand opening of a new computer lab and library donated by BBF. I was welcomed with a traditional Ghanaian ceremony that included young girls dressed in colorful Kente cloth, performing dances, while boys played rhythmically on drums. The elders of the village dressed me in traditional attire and introduced me as a Queen Mother to the community. This deeply symbolic gesture showed the respect and reverence that the people hold for visitors and their commitment to preserving their culture.

At the opening ceremony, I had the honor of cutting the ribbon to officially open the library and computer lab. Thanks to BBF’s support, the village of Wlitey now has access to six new computers, preloaded with educational software, as well as textbooks and storybooks for the children. It was a joy to see the excitement and gratitude from the children and their families.

Later that evening, we visited Sesime, where BBF has donated a similar library and computer lab the previous year. In addition to providing six computers with over 50 software learning programs, BBF has also supplied over 2,000 books to the library. The children in Sesime had previously been attending “school” underneath a tree, but thanks to BBF’s efforts, they now have a safe, well-lit environment to learn. Solar panels funded by BBF also provide electricity to the building, making it one of the only structures in the village with power. This energy not only supports the school but is also used for community gatherings, including church services.

The following day, we headed to the northern region, stopping at Maureen’s School of Hope. Here, BBF had funded a solar-powered library, computer lab, and a water borehole with a reverse osmosis purification machine—providing clean water to both students and surrounding villages. The impact of these initiatives was immediately apparent, as the community now has access to resources that are critical to their development.

In the village of Glisiya, I attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Hope for Ghana’s fifth new school. The village elders spoke with heartfelt gratitude, thanking Hope for Ghana and BBF Global Relief for our ongoing support. Sharing BBF hats and shirts with the children was a truly special moment and their enthusiasm was overwhelming. Their faces lit up with bright smiles as they eagerly gathered around.

One of the last stops of the trip was visiting the Bono East region, where Hope for Ghana’s mobile medical outreach initiative was in full swing. Dr. Greene unveiled a third tricycle that will bring medical services to remote villages. The community hosted a ceremony where they provided free health consultations, screenings, medications, and even distributed 500 national health insurance cards to those in need. BBF provided a pharmaceutical donation, which was used for some of the most underserved villages.

My trip to Ghana was an incredible experience that highlighted the power of collaboration, community engagement, and sustainable development. Witnessing firsthand the life-changing work of BBF Global Relief and Hope for Ghana was inspiring and humbling. It was an honor to be part of this journey and see the profound impact we are making in these communities.