| | Greetings Family and Friends, | |
We hope you had a great summer filled with relaxation and adventure!
Amidst middle school graduation and our summer travels, The Elpis Children’s Foundation has been bustling with activity, and we couldn't be more excited to share our accomplishments with you!
Thanks to your amazing support, compared to 2024, we awarded more adoption grants in 2025! This means even more loving families can welcome children into their home. We also have a growing list of families for 2026 eagerly waiting to make their dreams come true.
This edition also celebrates the remarkable staff dedicated to taking care of the babies at Village of Hope's (VOH) Babies' Home as well as our menstrual cup pilot program in Ghana, which is helping keep young girls in school.
We hope the heartwarming adoption stories inspire hope and joy, and the update about Village of Hope's Babies' Home fills you with hope. Join us on this incredible journey as we continue to uplift vulnerable children and families – your support makes all the difference!
With heartfelt gratitude,
Alfred, Virginia, and Sophia
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OUR MISSION
To encourage and support Black families in pursuing private adoption in the United States and financially support nonprofit organizations that serve orphaned, needy, and abandoned children in the Republic of Ghana
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Village of Hope (VOH) Babies' Home, Gomoa Fetteh, Ghana
Saving Baby Nhyiraba: Three days and nights at the hospital
submitted by Fred Asare, Managing Director of VOH
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Pictured above Tracy Adu, social worker (left), hands over Nana Yaw Nhyiraba to caregiver Faustina Kusi (right) on his first day at the Village of Hope. | Pictured above, Nana Yaw Nhyiraba before the "flushing" procedure and below Nana Yaw Nhyiraba recovering at the hospital after the "flushing" procedure. | |
Elpis Children's Foundation supports the operations of VOH babies' home. Thank you for your donations. We cannot do it without your support!
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Nana Yaw Nhyiraba was just three weeks old when he was rescued and brought to the babies’ home at Village of Hope. Everything seemed normal until one night, his caregiver noticed some blood in his stool. She immediately reported it to her supervisor. Nana Yaw Nhyiraba was sent to the Hope Christian Hospital, the medical facility on VOH campus. The medical personnel on duty determined that Nana Yaw needed to immediately see a specialist pediatrician at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the largest hospital in Ghana.
As such, Michael Mbir (a driver), Juliana Acquah (a caregiver) and Matilda Adu-Poku (the supervisor of the Babies’ Homes), took Nana Yaw to the Korle-Bu Hospital. After a two-hour drive, they arrived at the Hospital at about 11:00pm. They were told that Nana Yaw’s intestines had been badly twisted and that he may need surgery to correct the anomaly. However, before the surgery, the pediatric surgeon decided to "flush" the intestines to see if the problem could be corrected. If that failed, then, surgery was inevitable.
The team that took Nana Yaw to the hospital had to be on hand to provide what was needed for the procedure. They had to go from pharmacy to pharmacy to purchase whatever medications and medical consumables that were required; or they had to pay cash to the hospital for it to be made available for Nana Yaw’s treatment. We thank God that the “flushing” worked and so Nana Yaw did not have to undergo any surgery. He stayed at the hospital for three days and nights before being discharged and brought home.
This means that the team that took him to the hospital had to spend three unplanned days and nights at the hospital. While the caregiver and supervisor spent their time in the corridors and waiting areas at the pediatric building, the driver had to be waiting in the car, ready to move whenever it became necessary to go out in search of medication or medical supplies for Nana Yaw. Even though they spent three nights at the hospital, they were not concerned about the sleepless nights and uncomfortable circumstances at the hospital. All they were concerned about was that Nana Yaw Nhyiraba’s health would improve and that he would return to the Village of Hope in good health. Not once did any of them utter a word of complaint when we communicated with them over the phone during the period that they were at the hospital. Nana Yaw Nhyiraba recovered at the hospital after the "flushing" procedure.
Their kind and altruistic nature, and their positive and uplifting attitude have been a great encouragement to all. We give thanks to God for such servant-hearted saints who sacrifice daily for the wellbeing of the babies and children entrusted into their care.
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ANGELS OF HOPE
THE CAREGIVERS AT THE VOH BABIES’ HOMES OFFER LOVING CARE AROUND THE CLOCK
| | Above is Stella Owusuaa (Caregiver) | Village of Hope, is really blessed to have 10 compassionate guardian angels dedicated to caring for the babies in the Babies' Homes. They create a loving environment in the two Babies' Homes located on VOH's campus at Gomoa Fetteh. The number of these precious little ones in their care fluctuates, reflecting the ongoing efforts to rescue children in need and the joy of seeing them adopted into loving families. Each day, these guardian angels work tirelessly to ensure that every baby feels safe, cherished, and supported. | | Above is Elizabeth Nkrumah (Caregiver) | VOH currently has 17 babies in the two homes. There are 8 caregivers who take care of the babies around the clock every single day. Their work is overseen by a supervisor. Their work is so engaging that often, they do not even have time to cook for themselves. As a result, VOH engaged a cook to prepare their meals. This supports them in their continued effort to meet the demands in caring for the babies. The incredible dedication and love exhibited by these ten amazing women is nothing short of inspiring. | | Above is Getrude Painrsil (Caregiver) | Their work, though extremely demanding and sensitive, is approached with unwavering commitment and warmth, as they tend to the needs of these vulnerable children. These women truly embody the spirit of compassion, acting as God’s angels on a mission to bring life and hope to those who need it most. Please keep them in your prayers, recognizing the vital role they play in nurturing the future of these precious little ones. | | Above is Juliana Acquah (Caregiver) | Above is Faustina Kusi (Caregiver) | | Above is Mercy Bentum (Caregiver) | Above is Theresa Doe (Caregiver) | | Above is Patience Effum (Caregiver) | Above is Matilda Adu-Poku (Supervisor) | Above is Patience Bapa (Cook) | | Funding Period Poverty in Ghana | |
Etornam Sey, founder of Inspire Today recounts her partnership with The Elpis Children's Foundation in addressing Period Poverty among school aged teens in Ghana | | |
In partnership with Inspire Today, and CouldYou?, The Elpis Children’s Foundation donated 500 menstrual cups and 4,000 sanitary pads to school girls on International Day of the Girl Child in Ghana in 2024. Each menstrual cup can be used by girls for over 10 years, a game changer in keeping girls in school.
Initial results from this partnership showed that while many of the girls were receptive to using menstrual cups, some had reservations or preferences for other menstrual hygiene products and continued education and community engagement are essential to promoting acceptance and uptake.
Our takeaway from this pilot was the importance of using the school nurses in distributing the cups and educating and training the girls and their parents in using the cups.
| | | | An Adoption Story: An Interview with the Fenners | | Pictured above are the Fenners, their adopted baby and birth mother | |
1. Please share why you decided to consider adoption as a means of growing your family?.
Initially, we decided to adopt because I, Adrienne, have health issues, and it was the safest way to grow our family. However, as we entered the world of adoption, we learned more about the plight of Black adoption. We quickly discovered that Black adoptions are needed now more than ever.
My husband and I had always wanted a little boy to add to our family, but we soon became especially excited about loving a little Black boy as we learned that our first choice is often the last choice for others in adoption. We looked forward to telling him, we always chose you first—far above everyone else in this world. Little Black boys deserve to hear that.
2. Please describe how you felt when you brought your child home?
Honestly, it was a bit overwhelming. We have an open adoption, and to put it lightly, God blessed us in every way imaginable. We were honored to be present in the delivery room, and holding our little King for the first time was one of the greatest God moments of our lives and a dream come true.
Our son was born out of state in Arizona, and it took over three weeks before we were able to leave and return to Georgia. Finally coming home with our baby was such a relief. After arriving on August 4th, we felt like we were halfway there. However, our family was in the midst of major, unexpected home repairs, and it took another month before we could move back into our house.
In September, we were thrilled to finally be back home with our new baby boy. It has been an emotional roller coaster, but we thank God for seeing us through. We are even more committed to this journey of adoption and to this love. We know that God is faithful.
3. How helpful was receiving a grant from The Elpis Children’s Foundation to your adoption process?
The check from Elpis could not have been more timely. As mentioned previously, we were living out of state for three weeks, which meant flights, hotel, rental cars, and food. In addition, a month and a half before his due date, we flew out to meet our son’s wonderful birth mother in person for a weekend. That also included airfare for three—my husband, our nine-year-old daughter, and me—plus lodging and meals for both our family and the birth mother.
This has been a very expensive season for us, but we are beyond grateful. We are so in love with our baby boy, and we would do it all over again if it led us to him.
We have shared information about this grant with others going through the adoption journey in hopes that it will bless them as well. Thank you again.
Peace and blessings.
Jason & Adrienne Fenner
| | 2025 ADOPTION GRANT CYCLE | | |
We are overjoyed to announce that we have awarded 5 (five) adoption grants for the 2025 grant cycle! These grants represent a beacon of hope for families as they eagerly anticipate the joy of growing their families. It's a testament to the power of your donations, which helps turn dreams into reality.
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from our adoption grantee families in our next issue! We are excited to share their unique journeys filled with love, hope, and resilience that showcase the heartwarming connections formed through adoption. So, stay tuned as we celebrate our remarkable families and the joy they bring to the lives of vulnerable children
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
You can help us award more adoption grants by clicking below to donate
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Pictured above are the Newmans at their adoption finalization | |
We were thrilled to receive an update below from the Newman family, one of three families awarded an adoption grant from The Elpis Children’s Foundation in 2024.
"Dear Alfred and Virgina,
We are overjoyed to share that on June 23, 2025, we officially finalized our adoption!
It was such a beautiful and emotional day, made even more special by having our loved ones with us. Family traveled from near and far to witness this final step, and we are so grateful for the love and support that surrounded us.
Our hearts are full. We couldn’t be happier or more blessed to begin this next chapter together as a forever family.
Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and presence have meant the world."
With full hearts,
The Newman Family
| 2026 Adoption Grant Cycle will open in June. | | U.S. Private Adoption Facts: Process of Adoption Finalization | |
After a child is placed with a family, the court with jurisdiction over the child retains that jurisdiction until the adoption is legalized.
A caseworker will visit you and your child at least once each 30 days between placement and legalization. The purpose of these visits is to assess with you how things are going and observe that you have and are using the resources required to provide for your child’s needs for safety, permanency, and well-being after the adoption is legalized and post-placement supervision ends.
The caseworker provides written progress reports to the court that include information about these visits, making recommendations about your readiness, and your child’s, for legalization to occur. The time from placement to legalization varies according to the circumstances of each adoptive placement, but generally legalization will take place between three and nine months after placement.
Adoptions are legally binding agreements, and it’s very rare an adoption is challenged in court by a child’s birth relative. In many states, you will need an attorney to legalize your adoption. Adoption agencies will be able to answer specific questions you have about legally finalizing an adoption, including who pays the costs, as each state and tribe has its unique practices.
Court finalization Practices vary widely: from the issuance of a decree of adoption with no appearance in court by the child or family all the way to a birthday party-like celebration in the courtroom with balloons, cameras, and lots of guests all dressed up for the joyous occasion. In a way, the legalization of an adoption is like a birth because it’s the day your child becomes yours forever.
| | | | The Elpis Children’s Foundation’s amazing community truly embodies the spirit of spreading joy and hope. Let’s keep this positive momentum going—together. Your donations help us in transforming lives just like the Newman family. Thank you for your unwavering support. The need is great but there is hope. 100% of your donations go directly to support families and children. | | | | |
