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Madamfo Ghana e.V. Recognized by UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Network – Working Together for a Sustainable Future

Madamfo Ghana e.V. has officially been recognized as an Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) actor and is now featured on the German UNESCO Commission’s ESD Actors Map.

This recognition is a special acknowledgment of our work. For more than two decades, we have been committed to promoting education, equal opportunities and sustainable development in Ghana.

Whether through building schools and clean water systems, operating our Children’s Home, empowering girls and women, or developing our innovative bamboo project, our goal has always been to enable people to shape their own future.

For us, education means far more than learning in a classroom. It creates opportunities, strengthens personal responsibility and empowers people to build a sustainable future for themselves and their communities. This belief shapes our work every day and reflects the core principles of Education for Sustainable Development.

Being included on the UNESCO ESD Actors Map highlights the values that have guided Madamfo Ghana for many years. At the same time, it inspires us to continue developing sustainable solutions and creating lasting opportunities for future generations.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us on this journey and look forward to continuing this important work together.

🌍 Learn more about our work:
https://madamfo-ghana.de/

Discover What We Achieved Together

The first half of 2026 has been filled with inspiring progress and meaningful milestones. Our new infosheet takes you through the projects we’ve completed, the lives we’ve touched, and the exciting initiatives that lie ahead.

We invite you to have a look and see what your support makes possible.

It was a great pleasure to be invited as the second female guest in the ECUEM podcast series “Hidden Champs.”

In an open and personal conversation, I look back on my journey, from my early years in Ghana to the founding of Madamfo Ghana and the vision behind Bambility. It is not only about projects, but above all about the people, encounters, and experiences that have shaped this path.

For many years, Madamfo Ghana has been working together with its partners to promote sustainable development in the areas of education, water, health, and future opportunities. From this long-standing work, Bambility was also born, an initiative that combines sustainable solutions with the potential of bamboo, aiming to create new opportunities for both people and the environment.

In the podcast, we also talk about personal turning points, challenges, and the question of how an idea can become a life’s mission. It is an honest conversation about courage, trust, and the belief that sustainable change always begins with people.

A heartfelt thank you to Maria Patoulios and the entire ECUEM team for the invitation and the inspiring conversation.

🎙️ You can listen to the full podcast episode here:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7bgEtJZBuVdH8yyNNxeTtq?si=ZRBSYsA2RS-lV-v-GLseeA

This podcast episode is more than a reflection on past projects. It is an invitation to get to know the journey behind Madamfo Ghana and to take a look at the vision that continues to drive our work today – empowering people and creating sustainable future opportunities together.

When Protection Becomes New Hope

Every month brings new challenges to the Madamfo Children’s Home in Ho, but also many small and great successes. Behind every report are children who need safety, care, and the opportunity for a brighter future. June was once again marked by meaningful progress and many touching moments.

Reuniting Families with Care and Compassion

For some children, a better future does not necessarily mean growing up permanently in the children’s home. Whenever it is safe and in the child’s best interest, we work closely with the Ghanaian authorities to reunite children with their families.

In June, another important step was taken in Mawu’s family reunification process. Together with the Department of Social Welfare and the organisation IJM, our team visited his home community to confirm his place of origin and assess the conditions for a possible reunification. These processes require patience, careful planning, and close cooperation, but they are always guided by what is best for the child.

Learning Goes Beyond the Classroom

Although regular school lessons were temporarily interrupted due to sports activities and teacher training sessions, learning continued at the children’s home. Library visits, computer lessons, and exciting science activities kept the children curious, engaged, and eager to learn throughout the month.

A Safe Home Needs Constant Care

Work also continued to improve the children’s home itself. During the replacement of the kindergarten roof, it became apparent that large sections of the old wooden roof structure had been damaged by moisture and had to be completely replaced. At the same time, the shelter’s solar lighting system was expanded, providing better visibility and greater safety around the compound after dark.

Behind every improvement are children who can laugh, learn, and simply enjoy being children again. Your trust and support make this possible. Thank you for being part of this important work and for giving the children at the Madamfo Children’s Home in Ho hope and a brighter future.

What grows faster than maize and could help restore Ghana’s ecosystem?

Bamboo.

Victor and Bettina share what has happened during the first six months of 2026, and how an expert from Guatemala, twelve new carpenters and a great deal of courage are helping to protect forests, provide communities with clean drinking water and create better opportunities for schools and families.

🎙️ The latest episode of Herzenssache is now online!

Tune in and discover why this dream has already become a reality.

You can find us on our YouTube channel @madamfoghana or wherever you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Herzenssache – Bamboo, Trees and a Dream That Keeps Growing – Part 2

Supporting Girls and Improving Their Home

One of the highlights of May was the distribution of hygiene kits to the girls at the shelter. Thanks to a generous donation, the girls received essential menstrual hygiene products that will help them manage their monthly hygiene needs with confidence and dignity.

Access to these products is often a challenge for many young girls in Ghana. By providing this support, we help ensure that the girls can continue participating fully in school and daily activities without unnecessary barriers.

Another important focus during the month was the improvement of the shelter facilities. Renovation works on damaged ceiling sections made significant progress and are now nearing completion. In addition, electrical repairs were carried out to improve safety and create a more comfortable living environment for the children.

The wellbeing of the children remained a top priority throughout the month. Several children required medical attention for various health concerns, but all received the necessary treatment and are recovering well. We are also proud of Veronica and Victoria, who successfully completed their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and are now eagerly awaiting their results.

Currently, 20 children are living at Ho Children’s Shelter. Thanks to the continued support of our donors and friends, they receive not only a safe home, but also education, healthcare, guidance, and the opportunity to build a brighter future.

We sincerely thank everyone who continues to stand alongside these children and make this work possible. 💙

We are very pleased!

Our bamboo project was featured in the Westfalenpost (Saturday, 30 May 2026) under the title:

“Bamboo gives people a future”

We are proud that our vision and the work of our team are receiving recognition.

With this project, we aim to do far more than simply process bamboo:
We are creating jobs, sharing knowledge, promoting local value creation, and opening up new future opportunities for people.

A heartfelt thank you to all supporters, partners, and team members who are walking this path with us.

This article motivates us to continue on our chosen path and to gradually expand the bamboo value chain in Ghana step by step.

May 2026

Elijah came to our children’s home in Ho in June 2025. Despite his very young age, he had already experienced severe physical abuse that left visible marks on both his body and his development. Serious burns on his arms, hands, torso, and buttocks, as well as a fractured upper arm, severely limited his mobility and daily activities.

Simple things that most children take for granted, such as grasping objects, eating, or playing, were very difficult for him. It quickly became clear that Elijah needed not only safety and care, but also medical treatment, therapy, and continuous support in order to develop in a healthy way.

Today, Elijah is making wonderful progress step by step. Thanks to successful surgery and regular physiotherapy, he is now able to open his hands much more comfortably and can hold objects such as pencils with far greater ease. His speech is also improving steadily, and he is becoming more confident in communicating with the other children.

With his cheerful personality, Elijah brings joy to everyday life at the children’s home. He especially loves playing football with the other children. He also enjoys imaginative play and loves using a toy stethoscope to “check” the heartbeats of his friends. His curiosity and openness show every day just how much potential he has.

We are very happy about Elijah’s progress and grateful that we are able to accompany him on his journey.

May 2026

April brought many emotional, but above all encouraging moments to the children’s home in Ho, Ghana. Thanks to the continuous support of our donors and sponsors, the children continue to grow up in a safe environment, attend school and gradually build new perspectives for their future.

We are especially grateful that the overall health situation of the children remained stable throughout the month. One child suffered from a severe stomach infection and required medical treatment. Thanks to quick medical support, the child recovered well and was soon able to return to daily life at the children’s home.

Although schools were closed for the holidays in April, learning continued actively at the children’s home. The caregivers organized tutoring sessions, educational activities and shared movie afternoons to keep the children mentally engaged and motivated during the break.

At the same time, many recreational activities strengthened the children’s sense of community. Team games, music activities and small competitions were especially popular and created many joyful moments where the children could simply enjoy being children.

One particularly encouraging example of personal development is Abraham. After completing his school education in vehicle engineering, he has now started practical vocational training at a local auto repair workshop. There, he is gaining valuable experience and working step by step toward an independent future. His supervisors describe him as committed, eager to learn and reliable.

Important progress was also made regarding the shelter infrastructure. Roofing maintenance works were successfully completed, and new solar poles and solar installations are now helping to create a safer and more sustainable living environment for the children.

However, ceiling repairs are still urgently needed in some parts of the facility.

April also brought emotional moments. Three children were successfully reunified with their families after receiving care and protection at the shelter. At the same time, ld baby boy Elijah (1) who had been abandoned by his family was admitted and is now receiving care, protection, and emotional support within the shelter.

Daily life at Ho Children’s Shelter continues to show how important stable care, education, medical support, and emotional guidance are for vulnerable children. Every small step forward is only possible because of the continued support and compassion of people who stand alongside these children.