Help Build a Youth & Artist Retreat Center in Ghana

Hello friends,

I’m Christabel, a nurse, advocate, and community leader. Together with my partner Kachi, an industrial design consultant and wellness guide, and my mother, a lifelong entrepreneur, we are creating something truly unique: the Ọganihu Collective, a village in Jukwa, Ghana, that will uplift marginalized youth, celebrate African heritage, and offer a space for healing, learning, and shared prosperity.

Ọganihu means “progress” and “well-being” - words that capture the spirit of our project. This 1.83-acre piece of land, gifted to us by my mother, will become a sanctuary where young people gain skills, reconnect with their culture, and become empowered through economic ownership. For visitors from around the world, it will be a retreat, a place to immerse in wellness practices, learn traditional African crafts, and experience Ghana’s beauty firsthand.

Built on a Cooperative Model: The Ọganihu Collective will be based on a profit-sharing cooperative model that gives every artisan and member a stake in the business. By creating a cooperative, we’re empowering youth to not only learn valuable skills but to own a piece of the collective, earning profits and sharing in its success. This model ensures that the benefits of the collective stay within the community, fostering economic resilience and long-term growth.

Our Initial Goal: Phase 1 – Preparing the Land ($30,000)

To bring the Ọganihu Collective to life, our first fundraising goal is $30,000. This initial funding will allow us to cover the essential groundwork: clearing the land, constructing a secure fence, and setting up basic infrastructure that will pave the way for all future phases. With your help, we’ll lay the physical foundation that will make everything else possible.

Once Phase 1 is complete, we will then move forward to Phase 2, where we’ll build the artisan workshops, wellness spaces, and communal areas that will be central to the collective’s mission and cooperative structure.

Phase 2 – Building the Heart of the Village ($70,000)

After the foundational work is done, Phase 2 will bring the Ọganihu Collective to life as a thriving cooperative, owned by its artisans and community members. We will need to raise an additional $70,000 to build:

• Workshops for Youth Training: Artisan studios where youth will learn skills in traditional African crafts like pottery, weaving, and herbal medicine, all under the guidance of skilled elders and artisans.

• Wellness Retreat and Community Space: A center for wellness retreats led by Kachi, where visitors can reconnect with the land, learn African wellness practices, and participate in workshops with artisans.

• Communal Gathering Areas: Spaces where the community can come together for celebrations, storytelling, and shared learning.

This two-phase journey will allow us to build sustainably, with each step supporting the next, and setting up the cooperative model for long-term success.

Why This Project Matters

In Ghana, many young people leave school with limited paths forward. Without opportunities to gain practical skills, they’re left in a cycle of economic struggle. And as fewer youth engage in traditional African crafts, we risk losing cultural practices that have shaped our heritage for generations.

The Ọganihu Collective will change this story by creating a space where marginalized youth can gain hands-on training in artisanal skills, sustainable farming, and wellness practices - all while sharing in the collective’s growth through a profit-sharing cooperative model. This approach gives them not just a job, but ownership and a sense of stake in the community’s success. Beyond supporting youth, the collective will open its doors to people from around the world, offering immersive cultural workshops and a sanctuary for wellness.

How Your Support Will Make a Difference

With your help, Phase 1 will lay the foundation for the entire project. Every contribution brings us closer to our first goal of $30,000. Here’s how your donation will be used in this initial phase:

• Land Preparation: Clearing and leveling the land to set the stage for future construction.

• Constructing a Fence and Security Infrastructure: Protecting the space and creating a secure environment for growth.

• Creating the Foundation for Future Construction: These initial steps will allow us to begin building artisan workshops, wellness spaces, and other core areas in Phase 2.

Once Phase 1 is complete, we will move forward with building the heart of the village through Phase 2, with a focus on sustainable, community-owned spaces.

How Every Dollar Creates Impact

Your contribution to this first phase isn’t just a donation - it’s an investment in heritage, empowerment, and community. Here’s how each level of support makes a difference:

• $25 provides essential materials for land preparation.

• $100 helps secure construction supplies for foundational work.

• $500 supports critical site preparation and fencing.

• $1,000 brings us closer to establishing the wellness retreat, creating a sanctuary for both the community and visitors.

Join Us in Building the Ọganihu Collective

We invite you to be part of this journey to create a self-sustaining, cooperative community in Ghana. By helping us reach our first goal of $30,000, you’re helping to build a place that empowers, uplifts, and heals. Even if you can’t give today, sharing our story with friends, family, and anyone who believes in the power of heritage and community means the world to us. Together, let’s create something beautiful - a village of hope, healing, and shared prosperity that will inspire for generations.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

With deep gratitude,

Christabel, Kachi, and Mummy.

Reward Tiers

• $25 or More: A heartfelt thank-you message and exclusive updates with photos and stories from our progress.

• $100 or More: Access to a special photo album showcasing the journey of the collective and the lives you’re helping transform.

• $500 or More: A personalized video message from us, giving you a closer look at the impact of your support and the artisans you’re helping to empower.

• $1,000+: Your name on a donor wall at the Ọganihu Collective site, as a founding supporter of this transformative space.