Young Ambassadors Leading Change in Ghana
Martin James Foundation is proud to announce a new partnership with Brave Aurora in Ghana. It comes at a pivotal moment for children’s care reform in the country, where local leadership and community action are essential to ensuring that every child can grow up in a safe and loving family.
About Brave Aurora
Brave Aurora was founded in 2009 after its founders volunteered at an orphanage in northern Ghana and discovered that eight out of ten children there had at least one living parent. What began as a small initiative to reunite those children with their families has grown into one of Ghana’s leading voices for family-based care and child protection reform.
Working closely with the Department of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Brave Aurora works to strengthen families, empower caregivers through livelihood and education support, and promote sustainable alternatives to institutional care. Their work aligns closely with Ghana’s national care reform agenda, which aims to reduce reliance on residential care and ensure that all children can thrive in family and community settings.
Context
Across Ghana, thousands of children remain at risk of separation from their families due to poverty, disability stigma, and limited access to quality education and social services. Many parents turn to orphanages out of desperation, believing institutional care will offer their children better opportunities. Yet the evidence is clear: children thrive best in families.
In the country’s northern regions, Brave Aurora’s work has already shown what is possible. In the North East Region, which was once home to 23 residential homes, there are now none in operation, thanks to sustained community engagement, family strengthening, and strong government collaboration. The new project builds on this proven model to reach new areas in the Upper East Region, which has the highest number of residential homes in northern Ghana.
About the Partnership
Through this 12-month partnership, MJF Global will support Brave Aurora to expand the Young Ambassadors Project into Ghana’s Upper East Region, which has the highest concentration of residential homes in northern Ghana.
The project will:
– Train young people with lived experience of care and caregivers in public speaking, community engagement, and advocacy;
– Conduct community engagement initiatives to challenge misconceptions about institutional care and promote family-based alternatives;
– Facilitate family tracing and reintegration for children currently living in residential homes; and
– Support the transition of residential homes into family-based care models in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare.
By empowering young leaders to tell their stories and influence change, Brave Aurora and MJF aim to strengthen Ghana’s movement toward a care system rooted in families, not institutions.
We’re honoured to stand alongside Brave Aurora. Please follow their journey and support their mission to ensure every child in Ghana grows up in a safe and loving family.
Visit www.braveaurora.com to learn more and get involved.
Quotes:
From MJF:
“Brave Aurora’s deep community roots and leadership in care reform exemplify what sustainable change could look like. We are delighted to partner with them on this project – their Young Ambassadors are leading the way to ensure that every child can grow up safe, supported, and loved.”
From Brave Aurora:
“This partnership with MJF Global enables us to scale what we know works: local leadership, grounding our work in lived experience, and family-first solutions. Together, we will strengthen communities, support families, and show that change led by young people is not only possible, but powerful.”
