2024 Annual Impact Report
If you grew up in the 80’s (or like to watch vintage reruns) you’ll be familiar with the phrase, “I love it when a plan comes together.” This line, made famous by Hannibal, the leader of The A-Team, usually followed something blowing up or a narrow escape from death. That’s kind of how I feel about our theme for 2024 - “The Anchor Holds.” The theme was given to us by God through prayer at the end of 2023, and did it ever prove to be prophetic! 2024 threw us some curve balls at Accessible Hope, but throughout the storms, the Anchor did hold. Jesus, the Anchor of our souls, always holds us secure through all that life in a broken world might toss us. We experienced that tangibly in 2024. God’s plan came together, even amidst the chaos. And so many lives have been impacted for good through your partnership with Accessible Hope. Join us in celebrating the grace and power of God in the lives of so many vulnerable people through the vessel of this ministry. To God alone be glory for the good things he has done!
Kim Kargbo
President & CEO
More Help!
We are so grateful for new team members who are bringing not only more (wo)manpower to the team, but also fresh ideas and creative thought as the ministry grows to meet the needs of the hundreds of millions of people with disabilities who have not yet heard about Jesus. Melanie is leading our Development Department and overseeing the resourcing of the ministry. Kristin is leading our Program team and overseeing the many programs and services we provide for people with disabilities and the global church. We’re so grateful for the greater impact AHI can have as the team’s capacity expands.
Melanie Bedogne
Development Director
Kristin Will
Director of Global Partnerships
Impact At a Glance
Engage
Partnering with Like-Minded Organizations
Partnership with Young Life Capernaum (YLC)
In April, AHI conducted a Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop on the Theology of Disability in a city in the Former Soviet Union (FSU). Twenty-four ministry leaders from 11 different countries in that region came together for this engaging event. These leaders work with thousands of children and youth with disabilities and their families throughout Central Eurasia, and they were eager for this opportunity to build their capacity to communicate God’s love for people with disabilities.
“The training encouraged us to open our hearts to the Lord and listen to His voice amidst our fears. Moreover, we were empowered to take this knowledge forward to others, which was a surprise to me! I am excited to go back to my community and share everything I learned in the training. I know it will be a blessing for them, just as it was for me.” Gabriel, Central Asia
This team of leaders has taken what they have learned and multiplied it in so many ways. Praise God for all that He is doing to reach more people with disabilities in this part of the world.
YLC’s Multiplication Efforts for greater impact
22 Workshops conducted since their April 2024 TOT
19 Workshops in the planning stages
6 Workshops they are praying & dreaming will be able to take place
413+ Individuals directly impacted through their workshops and many more indirectly impacted
Equip
Training Church and Ministry Leaders
Equipping Global Leaders for Greater Reach
In May, AHI hosted a pivotal training event in Sierra Leone, equipping a team of global Training Ambassadors (TAs) from ten different nations, to facilitate Training of Trainer (TOT) workshops of the Theology of Disability (ToD) on behalf of AHI. They will lead pastors and ministry leaders around the world through the workshop and a one-year cohort experience to multiply the transformational impact of this course throughout the world.
These Training Ambassadors expand our team and allow AHI to have greater reach into new regions of the world. With the completion of this training, we are now able to provide Training of Trainer workshops in English, French, Swahili, and Spanish.
Empower
Our Global Hope Partners
Women of Hope in Sierra Leone
2024 brought great upheaval to the ministry in Sierra Leone, however, God’s grace sustained the ministry, and lives continue to be impacted. The latter part of 2024 saw staff members stepping into new roles and responsibilities. Adama Conteh, a long-time staff member who has lived with blindness her whole life, has confidently stepped into the role of Operations Manager and is working hard to see that the lives of women with disabilities continue to be impacted and transformed through the power of God and the programming efforts of the ministry.
Step-by-Step Learning Centre in Tanzania
2024 was a milestone year for Step-by-Step Learning Centre (SSLC)! With grants and local funding, they built an Adult Program Centre (APC), allowing the school to expand its reach. Though not fully complete, the APC was in use by year’s end, positioning SSLC to double its capacity and serve more students with disabilities and their families in Arusha, Tanzania.
The addition of the Adult Program Centre at SSLC will provide numerous benefits. It will house a workshop for income-generating projects, training adult students with disabilities in various skills like jewelry making and catering, while simultaneously generating income for the school and students. A dedicated shop will sell these student-made products. A modern kitchen and dining hall will serve as a social area, training ground for hospitality skills, and future restaurant, selling student-made food items. A professional therapy room will offer physical, occupational, and speech therapy to the community, generating further income. Finally, a tuition-based, inclusive education wing, comprising daycare, preschool, and primary school classes for children with and without disabilities, will promote and model inclusive education.
Adult Program Centre at Step by Step Learning Centre
Young Adult Students showing their handmade products and the new space dedicated to showcasing and selling these items
New therapy room being used while waiting for it to be fully furnished with the equipment needed.
Spacious new area where the young adult students can make all their handmade products for income generation
Morning circle time in the new multipurpose room where all of the students now gather for the start of each school day to sing and pray together.
Nyandengoh! in southern Sierra Leone
2024 was also filled with construction excitement for Nyandengoh!. A four-classroom building was completed in July. These new classrooms allow for dedicated space to serve children with disabilities in the Mattru Jong community.
Having a beautiful new school building has made a positive impact on how the community views Nyandengoh! and the students it serves. When Nyandengoh! first opened its doors, people kept their distance. Over time, people would stop to see the children playing outside. This also drew the attention of other children in the community, and soon they joined in the playtime. Now that the new school has been built, people want to enroll their children alongside the Nyandengoh! students! The school's positive impact continues to be evident in the growing community interest and increased enrollment requests, demonstrating significant stigma reduction.
The four-classroom building was completed in July. It was designed by Engineers without Borders (Lehigh Valley Professionals). They remotely supervised the construction taking place under the direction of Ahmed Fullah, the local contractor.
Representatives from local churches, the District Council, the Ministry of Education, and the Paramount Chief came on the day the students began using the new school building.
Young Massa rings the school bell declaring the new school year’s start!
The students and staff love using the new tables that were built for the new school.
