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FAQs
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If you have any questions that are not answered here, please contact us.
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What does Nyame Adom mean?
Is Nyame Adom Foundation of America affiliated with a religious organization?
What religion are the children taught?
What caused these children to become orphans?
How much of the funds raised go to Ghana and how much of the funds go to staff etc.?
How do you ensure the funds are spent properly?
Why Ghana?
What are the children's ages and backgrounds?
Why doesn't NAFofA accept goods instead of just cash?
Can I visit the foundation in Ghana?
Can I volunteer at the orphanage?
Why are all the children's heads shaved?
What grades are the children in school?
What does Nyame Adom mean?
Nyame Adom is Twi for "By the Grace of God" or "By God's Grace". It was chosen as our name because we believe it is Nyame Adom that we are able to provide for these orphans in Ghana.
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Is Nyame Adom Foundation of America affiliated with a religious organization?
No.
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What religion are the children taught?
We believe in continuing with the religion of the children's parents. We also believe in respecting the wishes of the child's extended family. Therefore we shall encourage the children to maintain their religious beliefs. In Ghana over 65% of the population are Christians and approximately 15% are Muslims with the remainder practicing other faiths. All of our children came to us as Christians and we shall encourage them to follow their faith. We believe this is important for the child's psycological development and in their maintaining ties with their extended families. Grandma and the two elder sisters are also Christians.
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What caused these children to become orphans?
Most of our children's parents have died from AIDS. However, there has was also a mother who died due to complications after the birth of her child.
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How much of the funds raised go to Ghana and how much of the funds go to staff etc.?
Over 95% of all funds raised by NAFofA are sent to Ghana. NAFofA is staffed entirely by volunteers. The NAFofA board of directors receives NO salary for being board members. The funds that are spent pay the expenses related to the website, office supplies, telephones, etc.
Nyame Adom Foundation Ghana does have paid staff members the Executive Director, Grandma Emelia, 2 elder sisters and 3 teachers for the after school programs. These salaries go directly to the people who care for the children and the teachers in the after school programs.
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How do you ensure the funds are spent properly?
NAFofA oversees all spending in Ghana. The Executive Director in Ghana provides an expense report on a monthly basis showing how funds were spent along with a projected need for the upcoming month. If there are any items that seem excessive, NAFofA checks on the current prices with friends and family still in Ghana. For any major expenditures, the Executive Director sends pictures of the items purchased. NAFofA board members review the expense report and projections and then determine the amount of funding to be sent. The funds are sent into an account that requires the Executive Director's signature and a second signer who is either the President or Vice-President of the Ghanaian Board of Directors. In addition to this, NAFofA board members and/or representatives visit Ghana to audit the accounts; verify the children's well being; and verify any major items purchased are being used by the home. To date there have been three visits by NAFofA board members to audit NAF Ghana. All of these visits verified the funds sent by NAFofA are being used properly. (The travel expenses related to these visits are paid by the NAFofA board members themselves. No donations to NAFofA have been used to pay for the travel to Ghana.)
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Why Ghana?
Ghana is one of many African countries with AIDS orphans. It is where two of our board members have visited and where a third board member was born. Since we can't help everyone, we feel we can be most productive in a place where we know people and have friends and family who can help us.
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What are the children's ages and backgrounds?
Our children come from small villages in the Brong-Ahafo Region and Eastern Region. We also have a child from the capital of Ghana, Accra. The oldest was born in 1993 and the youngest was born in 2004.
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Why doesn't NAFofA accept goods instead of just cash?
NAFofA can not afford to send donated items to Ghana. From the United States it costs over $200 to send 70 pounds. By sending cash, the Executive Director grandmother and head teacher can purchase items much more economically. They can also ensure they are getting the right sizes and quantities. If you have something you would like to send yourself to Ghana you may contact us through email or at the phone number below. If it is something that can be used and you are willing to pay the postage, we will give you the address of where to send the items.
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Can I visit the foundation in Ghana?
We would love to have visitors to Ghana. Our Executive Director will gladly bring you on a tour of the orphanage and any other projects that are in progress. Please click on the contact us link and let us know when you will be in Ghana so we can arrange a visit.
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Can I volunteer at the orphanage?
Yes, following a screening process. You will need to provide your own transportation to Ghana; travel or medical insurance (if desired); a fee of $250 for processing and logistics; $200 a month during your stay to cover your room and board at the orphanage; and all your own personal items (clothes, music, books etc.). You may volunteer for up to 6 months. If you are interested use the contact us link and send us an email. Be sure to include your desired travel dates. We will provide you with further information at that time.
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Why are all the children's heads shaved?
In Ghana when children attend school they keep their heads shaved until after graduating from Junior Secondary School (grade 9). This is done for both boys and girls in almost all schools.
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What grades are the children in school?
Our children are in second grade all the way up to the seventh grade (see the Meet The Children page for the specifics). ALL of our children have repeated at least one grade. The village school they attended previously was very behind their current school. Additionally most of the children did not do very well academically when their young lives were falling apart. With their current school and the extra classes we expect them to not repeat a grade again.
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