Akwaaba
(Welcome)
Welcome to the Sankofa Foundation, where we give hope meaning.
The Sankofa Foundation is a non-profit organization that supports the village of Iture in Ghana by providing access to education, health care, community development, and sustainability through African tours and philanthropy.
The Sankofa Foundation
The Sankofa Foundation believes in sustainability and empowerment that lasts for generations. Currently, The Sankofa Foundation is supporting the village of Iture in Ghana—a vibrant but underserved community where over 200 school-aged children reside. Despite their eagerness to learn, there is no school within the village. Many children walk long distances to receive an education—some traveling up to 10 kilometers (over 6 miles) each way.
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To support these young scholars, The Sankofa Foundation provides critical transportation resources and ensures they are equipped with school supplies such as backpacks, notebooks, shoes, pens, pencils, and school uniforms—basic tools that help open doors to opportunity.
In addition to the transportation and school supply initiative, we are proud to be supporting the completion of the village’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Center—a project that had been stalled due to lack of funding. With over 98% of the village’s youth never having used a computer before, this center will offer life-changing access to digital literacy and skills development.
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Beyond education, we are deeply committed to vocational empowerment. The Sankofa Foundation is launching apprenticeship programs in masonry and clothing-making to provide practical skills that lead to long-term independence and economic stability. By training community members in trades that are both needed and sustainable, we are helping to create pathways to self-sufficiency and pride in one’s craft.
As the African proverb says: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you feed him and his family for a lifetime. This is the heart of our mission—investing in people, honoring heritage, and building a future grounded in knowledge, dignity, and hope.
Our Story
The Inspiration to Give Back
Like many people, I went to Ghana to visit and learn more about my roots, to hear the stories of the transatlantic trade slave from the perspective of the hunted rather than the hunter, and to give back to Ghana. The more I learned, the more I realized what I did not know. The more I heard, the more I was humbled. The more I gave, the more I realized I was falling short compared to what I gained.
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Ghana gave me the experience of walking down the street free of racism for the first time in my life. Something I had NEVER felt before. Ghana gave me the stories of the struggle and tragedies of our ancestors that gave me the determination to never to give up nor complain. Ghana reminded me that we are Kings and Queens and we deserve to be treated as such. And most importantly, Ghana embraced me as family and welcomed me home.
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Upon returning to America, I reached out to our tour guide and expressed my desire to give back and asked for help in identifying a school, village, or organization needing assistance. I was overjoyed when I heard the village of Iture, which is the same village that welcomed me home and granted me a new name (Papa Kweku Ababio. “The Good Man Who Came Back Home”), needed support.
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Soon after The Sankofa Foundation was established. In just a few months The Sankofa Foundation has been able to help over 50 kids go to school for the very first time. In addition, a Social Support Program for the aged and physically challenged has been established. However, there is much more to be done. There are still kids unschooled, elders who need support, and a need for vocational training and community development.
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I truly believe that the world owes Africa and The Sankofa Foundation helps repay a debt we all owe by providing access to education, health care, community development, environmental justice, and sustainability.
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100% OF ALL DONATIONS GO TO THE VILLAGE OF ITURE
Dion C. Jordan AKA Papa Kweku Ababio. “The Good Man Who Came Back Home”.
AREA OF OPERATIONS: ITURE- ELMINA
Iture is a village on the Atlantic Coast Ocean of Ghana of Elmina, a village west of Cape Coast. The Iture village is entwined with Elmina due to its proximity. Elmina is an ancient town in modern-day Ghana with its history dating back to the arrival of the first European-Portuguese.
Founded by Kweku Etruom, a hunter and later farmer who arrived there in search of food in the late 14th century, Iture has become home to many Diasporan Africans. Shortly, upon the arrival of Kweku Etruom and his followers they began tilling the land, hence the name Etruom, now corrupted as Iture, meaning ‘a garden’.
Currently, the village is made up of four adjoining communities: Abakam, Iture, CP, and Nyeaye. Iture has approximately 5,300 inhabitants, forming part of Elmina’s population of 53,576 as of 2022. The economy of this enclave is based on tourism, fishing, and salt production.
The village celebrate the Bakatue festival an annual festival, a celebration of the Benya lagoon, and the local fishing culture, held on the first Tuesday of July each year. ‘Bakatue’ means "the opening of the lagoon" or the "draining of the Lagoon". It is celebrated to commemorate the founding of the town, Elmina by the Europeans. It is also celebrated to invoke the deity, Nana Benya's continuous protection of the state and its people.
A few of the beautiful children of the Villiage of Iture and the King
The Vision
To make education, healthcare, and well-being accessible to some of Ghana’s most vulnerable villages, by partnering with communities to develop sustainable supports to improve community conditions.
The Mission
The Sankofa Foundation partners with local leaders in helping villages in Ghana get access to education, health care, community development, environmental justice, and sustainability. By creating better access to education, nutrition, and healthcare for some of Ghana’s most vulnerable children and their communities, in hopes improve their lives and build a better future
The Opportunity
The Sankofa Foundation gives an opportunity to pay back a debt to Africa the world owes. We could never replace or restore all that has been taken from Africa, however we can all give back so Africa has an opportunity to move forward.
The Problem
In many areas of Africa, there is a lack of resources and access to essential human services such as education, healthcare, and community development. These challenges are even more severe in smaller villages.
In the village of Iture, Ghana, home to over 200 school-age children, there is no local school, and families face significant barriers to education. Although public school is free, students are still responsible for the cost of uniforms, fees, and supplies—expenses that many cannot afford. Additionally, 98% of the youth in this village have never used a computer or experienced modern technology, limiting their opportunities in an increasingly digital world.
Healthcare access is equally challenging. With an average life expectancy of just 65 years, many elderly and disabled residents struggle to receive the medical attention they need. These conditions reflect the pressing need for sustainable solutions that can improve quality of life and create pathways to education, health, and opportunity for rural communities.
The Solution
Offering a hand up, not handouts: We believe scholarships empower students to continue to have an active role in their education. We have found sponsorship can lead to dependency on charitable giving, whereas scholarship can lead to empowerment, confidence, and self-sufficiency. Likewise, the Sankofa believes in “Get to Give Back”. The spirit of Sankofa is to give back. We encourage all recipients who receive support from the Sankofa Foundation to find ways to pay it forward and help others.
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"Nothing for us, without us". TSF must take the time to learn the culture, customs, and history of the community to be a better partner, collaborator, and supporter of that community. We also believe that the community knows what is best for their community, so TSF assistance comes with “no strings” attached, only support.
The Sankofa Foundation believes in community development and sustainability. The Sankofa Foundation is helping to complete their village Information and Communication Technology (ICT) center which was stalled due to lack of funds. In addition, The Sankofa Foundation will help create opportunities for members of the community to learn a vocation. Following the African Proverb: Give a man to fish and you can feed him for a day, but if you teach him how to fish you can feed him and his family for a lifetime
How We Measure Success
Education
All students in the village of Iture have access and opportunity to education. This includes students having an increased graduation rate
Health Care
Over time increase life expectancy and health support for all in the village of Iture. Currently, the life expectancy in Ghana is 64.8 years of age.
Community
Development
Open a new Information and Communication Technology center by 2026.
Sustainablity
By 2026, Vocational & Educational programs created to provide job opportunities and community development for community members of the village of Iture.
