Sustainable Connexions International

Who are we?

Sustainable Connexions International (SusCo) is a 501(3) based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Established in 2014, the organization’s mission involves working with local and global partners to provide creative interventions to ensure orphans and other vulnerable children survive, thrive, and excel. SusCo has forged partnerships with entities in the U.S. and Ghana to help under-resourced Ghanaian children improve their reading, math, life, and critical thinking skills. SusCo established OVC Connexions Ghana in 2018 to serve as the local entity for leading the deployment of programs in Ghana. Annually, SusCo and OVC Connexions provide educational programs to support more than 200 children living in Oyibi, Saabi, and Ekon villages.  

Our Mission: Working with global and local partners, SusCo provides creative interventions to ensure orphaned and vulnerable children survive, thrive, and excel. 

Our Vision: A world where orphans and vulnerable children are nurtured & loved.

What do we do?

Recent studies show that annually, an average of 400,000 youth and children living in Indianapolis, Indiana, are waiting to get into an after-school program. With the increasing need for competency-based programming, SusCo developed “Through the Eyes of Youth” in 2022 which uses photography and videography as a medium to build relationships between Ghanaian and U.S. youth. Over several weeks, participants explore how the cross-cultural context reveals each country's shared history, and the various ways leadership principles are understood. Additionally, youth will develop their cultural competency skills as they celebrate one another's differences as it relates to their own culture, values and traditions.

Pictures taken by 2024 Through the Eyes of Youth Cohort  

In 2023, Through the Eyes of Youth served over 70 children living in the U.S. and Ghana and built their skills in the following areas: 

• Enhanced photography taking skills 

• Engaged in virtual Interactions with Ghanaian Cohort 

• Identified local and global concerns

• Developed cultural sensitivity and awareness

• Studied Ghana’s Rich Heritage 

• Implemented a Self-Led Community Service Project 

Testimony’s from Through the Eyes of Youth - Ghana Cohort 2023

       Cecilia                          Headed to the beach                           Beach Clean Up 

“Community service helped me improve the health of my community” - Cecilia

“I learned that cleaning up community will help me to serve tourist attraction and people from different places will come to this place and settle because of the cleanliness and neatness in our community” - Mensah 

“I learned that cleaning up your community helps avoid diseases such as cholera, malaria and other diseases from the community. It also beautifies the community and makes the place very clean.” - Nyan

                                                                                  Job Well-Done       

Martindale Brightwood Youth leave the country for the first time!

To maximize the learning objectives of this program, this October, U.S. youth participants living in Martindale Brightwood Indianapolis have been selected to travel to Ghana. Through generous funders and donors, this experience of a lifetime is fully funded, and youth will have the opportunity to work towards building deeper connections with their Ghanaian counterparts, enjoy site-seeing and complete a joint community service project. 

Help us continue to make this trip possible for our 2025 Cohort Class 

Your contribution will be used to cover the pre-trip costs needed for a youth to travel to Ghana. 

1. $165 - Covers the cost of 1 passport  

2. $96 - Covers the cost of 1 visa  

3. $250 - Covers the cost of 1 Yellow Fever Vaccination 

4. $100 - Covers the cost of 1 program camera

Total = $611 *excludes airfare

We understand not everyone is in a position to give the suggested amounts today and we welcome a financial contribution of any size! 

                                                                                     Through the Eyes of Youth - Martindale Brightwood Indiana        

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to creating a world where vulnerable children feel nurtured and loved. Your support is truly changing lives. 

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Stay connected with us to see the impact of your donation and learn more about our upcoming trip to Ghana this October 2024! 

With Heartfelt Thanks, 

Sustainable Connexions International Family 

                              Girls of Ghana