Emmanuel Update.

Sweet Emmanuel, smiling after a day full of school and playing outdoors.

Participants in the Emmanuel Project, created by volunteer Josh Farrar, were able to raise enough money to sponsor Touch A Life child, Emmanuel Degbe, for an entire year. They achieved this goal in just a few short weeks, collaborating to raise $1,800 to pay for Emmanuel's food, shelter, clothing, education and medical needs for the next year. We are so grateful to these people for uniting to sponsor this sweet boy.

While on a recent trip to Ghana, consultant Emily George was able to get an update on how Emmanuel is doing. She wrote the following in an e-mail:

• Emmanuel continues to grow in leaps and bounds, but still does not grow weary of being held, cuddled and carried around like the adorable five-year-old that he is. He is reading and writing English very well. Emmanuel loves to play football (soccer) with his friends when he gets home from school. He most recently stated that he wants to be a soldier when he grows up.

To those of you who participated in the Emmanuel Project, you can take ownership in the development of this incredible boy's life. Because of your financial contribution, Emmanuel will undoubtedly become a leader within his community. 

Emmanuel acting out his dream of becoming a soldier.

Emmanuel and Emily.

The Emmanuel Project.

Touch A Life supporter and volunteer Josh Farrar has started a campaign to raise money to sponsor Emmanuel Degbe's food, shelter, clothing and education for one year.

Emmanuel is only four years old. Soon after he was born, Emmanuel's parents died and he was taken into custody by his uncle. Unfortunately, his uncle didn't provide proper care for him and decided to sell him to a fisherman on Lake Volta. Emmanuel worked for 14-16 hours a day with children his age. The conditions they worked under were dangerous, and their living quarters were unfathomable. His daily responsibilities included swimming to retrieve heavy fishing nets and bailing water from leaky boats, amongst other chores. It's likely that his master beat him.

Farrar wrote the following on the Facebook page for The Emmanuel Project:

• One need do no more than look at before and after photos of Emmanuel to see that he has thrived since being rescued by Touch A Life. Now, he sleeps in comfortable, warm quarters. Now, he goes to school regularly and eats warm meals. Now, he is loved by a houseparent and his new brothers and sisters, also freed slaves. Now, Emmanuel has a life.

Visit our Donate Page to contribute to The Emmanuel Project, or contact Director of Project Development, Rachel Johnson (rachelj.tal@gmail.com), to find out how you can start a program like this on your own.