named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Back2School
Educational sponsorship program providing financial and academic support to children in underserved communities to ensure school enrollment and retention
Break the Cycle
Comprehensive support program for sponsored children that includes tutoring, mentoring, extracurricular activities, and social intervention to improve educational retention and holistic development
Community Digital Lab (CDL)
Digital workforce development initiative offering industry-aligned training in digital literacy, IT, cybersecurity, and networking through Cisco NetAcad, with a focus on preparing youth for careers in the digital economy
Hedzole Social Enterprise
Skills training and income-generation initiative creating economic empowerment opportunities for women and families
Leadership Development
Program focused on mentorship, innovation, and opportunity to cultivate the next generation of community leaders
activities · 10 groups
What they do
-
Child & Youth Meal Programs 1 activity
- Deliver daily meals and nutrition support to childrenProvides daily hot, nutritious meals and clean drinking water to over 100 children year-round through the Intervention Centre in Chorkor and other programs, including during school breaks; uses nutrition education to reduce disease and supports student wellness and family stability.
-
-
Vocational Sewing and Tailoring Training 1 activity
- Deliver vocational training for womenProvides six-week skill training programs for women in sewing, stitching, and fabric cutting to prepare them for careers as seamstresses and promote economic independence.
-
-
Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Engage volunteers and build leadership pipelinesRecruits and engages missionaries, volunteers, fellows, and partners from over 21 countries; supports long-term leadership development by enabling former participants and volunteers to become mentors, staff, instructors, and community leaders.
-
-
Summer Day Camp Programs 1 activity
- Facilitate youth leadership and innovation through camp programsOperates Camp Aklowah in Shai-Osudoku, Ghana and plans Camp Promise, a sleep-away camp, to serve children through sports, recreational activities, STEAM workshops, cultural exchange, service projects, and leadership development; uses 9 acres of land dedicated to the Aklowah Youth Leadership & Learning Center.
-
-
Integrated Community-Led Development Programs 1 activity
- Implement community outreach and integrated development programsConducts year-round, integrated programs in Ghana and other regions focused on education, mentorship, workforce readiness, and economic empowerment; has reached over 300,000 individuals through community-based initiatives over 25 years.
-
-
Digital Literacy Training and Technology Access 1 activity
- Operate digital literacy and workforce development programsRuns the Chorkor Digital Lab in Accra, Ghana as a flagship center for technology education, offering Cisco Networking Academy curriculum and other programs that expand access to digital literacy, industry-recognized certifications, and workforce readiness; has awarded approximately 1,000 digital certifications.
-
-
Individual Child Education Sponsorship 1 activity
- Provide educational sponsorships and comprehensive school supportOffers long-term educational sponsorships covering tuition, uniforms, meals, transportation, and health-related expenses for children in Ghana; has provided over 6,000 sponsorships since 2000 through programs like Back2School and currently supports over 110 students.
-
-
Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Provide mentorship, leadership, and character development programsOffers structured mentorship, leadership development, and experiential learning through community engagement, team-building activities, and programs like the Stars Are the Limit incentive system that rewards attendance, punctuality, behavior, and academic performance.
-
-
Nonprofit-Operated Cafés and Social Enterprises 1 activity
- Run social enterprise initiatives for economic empowermentOperates Hedzole Social Enterprise to create income-generating opportunities and fund community programs; ensures producers earn above fair wages through a profit-sharing model and uses profits to fund meals and other services.
-
-
Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operate incentive-based support store for childrenRuns an Incentive Store where children redeem stars earned through positive behavior and academic performance for food, hygiene products, clothing, shoes, games, and other essential items.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$518K
Contributions & grants$480K93%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$38K
expenses
Total expenses$357K
Program expenses97%
Admin / overhead1%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$93K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$353K
Cash$339K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$353K
Liquid reserves11.4 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue +64.4%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia Wilkins | President | 40 | $75K |
board members · 9
- Angelique Wright — Secretary
- Diane Davis — Member
- Gary Purdy — Treasurer
- Kweku Fleming — Member
- Lenora Gates — Financial Secretary
- Linda Ampah — Member
- Renee Blake — Chair
- Robert Okine — Member
- Vikkie Wilkinson — Member
relationships · 19
Who they work with
- AS4AK (Australian Sponsorship for African Kids) Funder — Facilitates donations from Australia to support BASICS International's initiatives
- AWS Partner — Supports STEAM and creativity workshops at Camp Aklowah.
- Africa Greek Week Partner — Collaborated with BASICS International on community service activities with youth in Chorkor, Ghana.
- Brothers And Sisters In Christ Serving Network — Affiliate organization in Ghana, registered as an NGO, through which BASICS International extends its reach
- Chorkor Partner — Community in Ghana where the Back2School program operates to support children's education.
- Cisco Partner — Supports STEAM and creativity workshops at Camp Aklowah.
- Cisco Networking Academy Partner — Technology and curriculum partner providing industry-recognized digital skills training.
- Communities served Partner — Works alongside communities to co-create solutions and support long-term development.
- Guidestar Government — Displays Guidestar Transparency Seal, indicating affiliation and public reporting compliance.
- Guidestar Network — Member of Guidestar, as indicated by the Guidestar Transparency Seal on its website.
- Hedzole' Partner — Social impact initiative under BASICS International that trains and employs women artisans and funds meal programs.
- Hubtel Partner — Supports STEAM and creativity workshops at Camp Aklowah.
- Nana’s House Partner — Hosts the Break the Cycle intervention program, providing after-school tutoring and mentoring for sponsored children.
- National Association of University Women Partner — Visited Ghana and engaged with BASICS International's work.
- Vasion Partner — Supports STEAM and creativity workshops at Camp Aklowah.
- corporations Partner — Collaborates with corporations to support innovation and workforce development initiatives.
- global institutions Partner — Works with global institutions to strengthen access to education and economic opportunity.
- nonprofits Partner — Partners with nonprofits to expand resources and opportunities in education and economic empowerment.
- schools Partner — Collaborates with schools to strengthen access to education, technology, and leadership development.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Holistic Support Modelmethodology: holistic_support_modelBy addressing multiple interconnected needs—such as education, mentorship, meals, safe spaces, and economic support—students and families are empowered to thrive because well-being is multidimensional and requires integrated interventions.
- Integrated Ecosystem of Opportunitymethodology: integrated_ecosystem_of_opportunityBy linking education, mentorship, workforce development, digital inclusion, and economic opportunity into a connected system, individuals gain reinforcing pathways to upward mobility because isolated interventions are less effective than synergistic support networks.
- Relationship-Based Developmentmethodology: relationship-based_developmentBy investing in long-term relationships and consistent presence within communities, sustainable change is achieved because trust and mutual accountability form the foundation for lasting impact.
- Social Enterprise with Dual Missionmethodology: social_enterprise_modelBy operating a self-sustaining business model that repurposes waste into marketable goods, the organization funds child nutrition and artisan livelihoods simultaneously, because economic empowerment and environmental sustainability reinforce each other in marginalized communities.
- Sponsorship as a Vehicle for Educational Retentionmethodology: sponsorship_modelBy providing sustained individual sponsorship that covers both direct and indirect costs of education, children remain in school because financial barriers—such as uniforms, books, and fees—are systematically removed through long-term donor commitment.