From Smokehouses to Schoolbooks

Restoring Hope in Ghana’s Coastal Villages

When powerful high tides swept through Ghana’s coastal fishing communities, the waves didn’t just destroy homes—they wiped out livelihoods. The mud-and-brick fish smokers that sustained hundreds of women were reduced to rubble. For mothers already struggling to keep their children fed and in school, it was a devastating blow.

Through the Christian Council of Ghana, a longtime Global Ministries partner, hope soon returned. “We put in a proposal,” shared Joyce Le Castine, Director of Programs and Advocacy, “and we received $10,000 to help support them. The women had the opportunity to rebuild the smokers—what would be like an oven in your terms, but built with mud and blocks.”

These community-built ovens became more than tools of trade. They were instruments of empowerment. “When there’s a bumper harvest of fish, they can smoke and store it,” Joyce explained. “Then during the lean season, they sell and make more profit—and can send the rescued, trafficked children to school, keeping them in school rather than dropping out.”

The initiative built upon years of anti-trafficking work led by the Council. “In 2008, we worked with children who had been trafficked,” Joyce recalled. “But what could we do for their mothers to prevent re-trafficking? We realized that if we supported the mothers, they would keep their children in school and not sell them.”

Today, these fish smokers stand as symbols of renewal and resilience. In a single village, what began as a small project has inspired dozens of women to rebuild together, share their skills, and reclaim their independence.

“God calls us to care for creation and one another,” Joyce said. “When women are empowered, children stay safe, families are stronger, and faith communities thrive.”

Support from One Great Hour of Sharing, through Global Ministries, makes these transformations possible. Gifts to One Great Hour of Sharing strengthen partnerships like this one—where faith, compassion, and sustainable development meet. As Joyce affirmed, “We believe every person is created by God, and we respect the integrity of God’s creation. Supporting these mothers honors that belief.”