“I learned to give, not because I have plenty - but because I know how it feels to have nothing.”
Francis Kwame Agbemafle, Founder & Executive Director, VIMA Orphanage.
Norvi wo, Miawoe Zor!
That’s the Ghanian language Ewe for “Hello friends, Welcome!” Welcome to VIMA Children’s Home! A place for love, joy, and opportunity for the children of Ghana!
My name is Francis Kwame Agbemafle, I am native to Ghana and founded VIMA (Volunteers for International Medical Aid) in 2009 with the vision to empower children, mostly orphaned, in disadvantaged communities in Ghana. Using a community based approach that focuses heavily on education and practical skills, I had the goal to create a home that would provide children with the opportunity to break free from the cycle of poverty that is so prevalent in this region.
About me - I, like so many children around the world, was greatly affected by the harsh realities of poverty as a child. I lost my father at an early age of six. In an environment where it is hard even for children with living parents, losing my father so early was like losing all hope. I was raised in the extremely poor community of Amedzofe. I watched my mother struggle daily to provide food, clothing, and education for me and my siblings. All of this made me realize that this community and the orphaned children of Ghana need advocates who can enact change in a real way.
I remember receiving my first pair of donated shoes. They came from a German Presbyterian Missionary visiting my village when I was just a boy. I kept those shoes for as long as I could, and when the shoes did not fit me anymore, I began to cut holes in the toe to make them fit. For a child with nothing, those shoes brought me dignity, self-esteem, and a reason to go to school each day. Education was, without a doubt, my greatest asset. It was education that allowed me to get out of poverty, to become a nurse in the United States, and raise a family of my own.
Today, I am on a mission to pay it forward! At VIMA Children’s Home, we are working hard to bring hope to the orphaned. We have had many successes along the way, but I know our time is now to make our biggest impact yet!
At VIMA we like to say, “Let every child DREAM” and I hope you feel inspired to help us make that a reality!