We hope that you are all enjoying your summer and getting a chance to spend time soaking up the sun with loved ones. Here at our headquarters in the USA, as we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, we came across the following quote from Nelson Mandela: "For to be...
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For nearly two decades, Touch A Life has worked alongside children, families and communities in Ghana to create opportunities for healing, education and independence. Along the way, journalists, authors, universities, media organizations and partners have shared stories about the children we serve, the people who make this work possible and the lasting impact of lives transformed. Explore some of the stories that have helped tell the Touch A Life journey.
FEATURED STORIES
Over the years, Touch A Life’s work has been shared by media outlets and organizations around the world. These featured stories offer a closer look at our mission, our work in Ghana and the people and partnerships that have helped shape the Touch A Life journey.
The New York Times · October 29, 2006
Africa’s World of Forced Labor, in a 6-Year-Old’s Eyes
This is the article that changed the course of Touch A Life. Sharon LaFraniere’s reporting introduced readers to six-year-old Mark Kwadwo and the realities faced by children forced to work in Ghana’s fishing industry on Lake Volta. After reading Mark’s story, Pam and Randy Cope knew they had to act.
Modern Ghana · February 14, 2007
Oprah Winfrey on Ghana
Following the rescue of Mark Kwadwo and six other children, millions of viewers were introduced to their story through The Oprah Winfrey Show. This Ghana-based account captures the national attention surrounding Mark’s rescue and the early efforts that helped bring greater awareness to child trafficking on Lake Volta.
Grand Central Publishing · April 16, 2009
Jantsen’s Gift
Pam Cope’s memoir, Jantsen’s Gift: A True Story of Grief, Rescue, and Grace, chronicles the loss of her son Jantsen and the journey that transformed personal grief into a mission serving vulnerable children around the world. The book also shares the beginnings of Touch A Life and the path that eventually led Pam and Randy to Ghana.
2 News Oklahoma / KJRH · February 11, 2022
Touch A Life: Rescuing Children from Modern Slavery
An inside look at Touch A Life’s mission and the journey from rescue to healing, education and independence. Featuring Pam and Randy Cope and Emmanuel Crawford, the story explores the lasting impact of providing children with safety, opportunity and hope.
Wake Forest Magazine · January 4, 2016
Touch A Life
A moving look at the relationships that have shaped Touch A Life’s work in Ghana. The story follows Dana Dix and Lauren Henn to the Care Center and shares how love, loss and friendship inspired the creation of Seth’s Social Center.
CBN
International Orphan Finds Purpose in America's Heartland
Emmanuel Crawford shares his journey from forced labor on Lake Volta to freedom, family and a new life in Oklahoma. His story offers a powerful glimpse of what can become possible when a child is given safety, opportunity and a place to belong.
The Christian Chronicle · March 1, 2007
Oprah Winfrey Puts Ministry's "Magnificent Seven" in Spotlight
One of the earliest stories documenting Touch A Life’s work in Ghana, this article recounts the rescue of Mark Kwadwo and six other children from forced labor on Lake Volta and the national attention their story received through The Oprah Winfrey Show.
First Book / PR Newswire · September 24, 2013
Powering Global Education: First Book to Provide Books and Digital Content to 10 Million Children Worldwide
A look at Touch A Life’s partnership with First Book and the role education plays in creating opportunities beyond rescue. The collaboration helped place new books into the hands of children in Ghana who had experienced trafficking and exploitation.
The Dallas Morning News · November 5, 2010
Finding Hidden Gems for Texan of the Year
The Dallas Morning News highlights Pam Cope’s work through Touch A Life and the growing community inspired by its mission. The story shows how the effort to help children in Ghana also sparked action among students and supporters in North Texas.
STORIES OF IMPACT
Behind every Touch A Life story is a life transformed. These stories follow individuals whose journeys reflect the lasting impact of freedom, family, opportunity and hope.
2 News Oklahoma / KJRH · February 11, 2022
A New Life: Rising Grove Football Star Overcomes Childhood Slave Trade
From forced labor on Lake Volta to Friday night football in Oklahoma, Emmanuel Crawford shares the remarkable journey that began with his rescue through Touch A Life and ultimately led to his adoption by the Crawford family.
Show Me The Ozarks Magazine · April 12, 2022
Emmanuel Crawford: From Slavery to Family
Emmanuel Crawford reflects on his early childhood working on Lake Volta, his rescue through Touch A Life and the journey that brought him from Ghana to his family in Oklahoma. His story is one of resilience, hope and the possibilities that can follow freedom.
The Oklahoman · January 6, 2023
Gatorade Names Grove’s Emmanuel Crawford Oklahoma’s High School Football Player of the Year
Emmanuel Crawford was named the 2022–23 Gatorade Oklahoma Football Player of the Year, recognizing his athletic achievement, academic success and character. The story also shares Emmanuel’s journey from Ghana and his continued connection to Touch A Life.
NBC Sports · November 23, 2018
Paralympic Swimming Hopeful Haven Shepherd’s Journey
NBC Sports shares the extraordinary story of Haven Shepherd, whose journey began in Vietnam after a family tragedy left her without both legs. Pam and Randy Cope helped create the connection that ultimately brought Haven to the United States and the family that would become her own.
PARTNERS, PROJECTS, & COMMUNITY
Touch A Life’s work has always been strengthened by people and organizations who believe in creating lasting change. From education and community partnerships to projects built in memory of loved ones, these stories celebrate the connections that have helped expand opportunities for children and communities in Ghana.
First Book / PR Newswire · September 24, 2013
Powering Global Education: First Book to Provide Books and Digital Content to 10 Million Children Worldwide
Touch A Life’s partnership with First Book helped put new books into the hands of children in Ghana who had experienced trafficking and exploitation. The initiative reflects the important role education has played in Touch A Life’s approach to long-term care and empowerment.
The Christian Chronicle · 2011
To Honor Son’s Memory, Couple Rescues Children from Slavery
The story of Connor’s Song and the Deal family illustrates how one family transformed personal loss into action, partnering with Touch A Life to support children affected by trafficking and exploitation. Their involvement ultimately helped create a lasting legacy at the Care Center in Ghana.
UNICEF Ghana · Child Protection Mapping Report
Touch A Life Recognized in Ghana’s Child Protection Network
Touch A Life is recognized in UNICEF Ghana’s mapping of child protection institutions as an organization working alongside government agencies and NGOs to protect vulnerable children. The report highlights Touch A Life’s collaborative role in providing home and child care in Ghana.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
For two decades, Touch A Life has been committed to creating a different future for children affected by trafficking and exploitation. These stories capture the early moments, people and events that brought Touch A Life to Ghana and helped shape the mission we continue today.
Los Angeles Times · July 12, 2009
Africa’s Bitter Cycle of Child Slavery
Reporting from Lake Volta, the Los Angeles Times examines the cycle of child trafficking within Ghana’s fishing industry and follows the work of Ghanaian rescuer George Achibra. The story identifies Touch A Life among the organizations working with Achibra to help children leave forced labor and begin new lives.
What Women Write · August 28, 2009
An Interview with Jantsen’s Gift Co-Author Aimee Molloy
Co-author Aimee Molloy reflects on writing Jantsen’s Gift and how her work with Pam Cope and Touch A Life took her to Africa and Asia. She shares how witnessing the realities of child trafficking firsthand changed both her work and her perspective.
The Dallas Morning News · November 7, 2010
In State Full of Standouts, Who Most Exemplifies Texas?
The Dallas Morning News revisits Pam Cope’s work through Touch A Life and highlights how the organization’s mission reached beyond Ghana, inspiring students and communities across North Texas to become involved in supporting children who had experienced trafficking and exploitation.
Nancy Borowick · Photojournalist
The Touch A Life Foundation: Rescue and Rehabilitation in Ghana
For more than a decade, award-winning photojournalist Nancy Borowick documented the children and community of Touch A Life in Ghana. Her photographs offer a rare visual record of children growing from their earliest years at the Care Center into inspiring young adults pursuing their own futures.
Blog
Exciting Construction Updates at the Care Center!
The year 2020, and all of the trials and triumphs that it brought, gave Touch A Life the opportunity to evaluate some of the ways that we can make the Care Center more self-sustaining—as a result, last year's Back to the Basics campaign was born. So many of you gave...
Keeping Touch A Life Students Safe Online!
The children of Touch A Life are quickly becoming young adults and we could not be more proud of all they are accomplishing as they continue their educational and vocational pursuits. As these children are getting older, they have more access to the Internet and...
College student, Bernard, wins a small business grant!
We are overjoyed to share that one of our amazing college students, Bernard, is the recipient of a small business grant through Heritage Christian College! Heritage Christian College annually awards students the opportunity to come up with innovative small business...
Young Family and Influence
The Young FamilyWith all the access points available today, it seems there are so many influences on our families. In fact, the term “influencer” is now a common term in our vernacular. Some of the influences can be good, but many of these simply are not. It also...
Small business owner, Emily, makes a big impact!
Touch A Life supporters come in all shapes and sizes. They come from the USA, Ghana, Portugal, and all across the globe. Some give a one-time donation, some support a child or program through monthly giving, and some give in honor of a lost loved one. Emily Goode has...
Young Adults on the Path to Success!
2020 was a big year, not only globally but for the Touch A Life family as well. In the midst of all of the changes taking place in our daily lives, we have had 27 students graduate from high school. What an accomplishment! They will be joining 10 other students...
We’ve Been Nominated for an International Children’s Peace Prize!
We are absolutely thrilled to share the exciting news that one of the wonderful Touch A Life children, Remember, has been nominated for the 2020 International Children's Peace Prize! This prestigious award is distributed annually to a child who has made a special...
Jonathan Learns How to Fly
At Touch A Life, we pride ourselves on developing customized holistic care plans for each child, and this includes knowing what each of our children hope to be when they grow up. Jonathan is one of our college students, and from a very young age he has always...
Touch A Life Students Are Applying to College!
We are beyond thrilled to announce that we have 24 students who have graduated from senior high school and who are applying to college—what a landmark occasion for Touch A Life! In the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, our senior high school students have been hard at...