My name is David Traugott, and I serve as the Executive Director for Relief for Children (RFC). Since 2021, I have worked to understand and bolster young people’s political, professional, and social participation in Sub-Saharan African countries. In pursuit of this goal, I visited Nsawam, Ghana in 2023 – where RFC is now based – to facilitate an academy on the United Nations sustainable development goals at a local high school. I’ve worked with local partners ever since to improve children’s lives in Nsawam.

This organization, founded in November 2024, was born out of our desire to expand youth-oriented programming outside of Nsawam, and, indeed, outside of Ghana to other West African countries. RFC aims to holistically improve the lives of children across West Africa in critical areas: education, professional development, health, nutrition, and spiritual guidance. Our ultimate goal, through this holistic support, is to empower the next generation of West African leaders, giving them the necessary knowledge and tools so that they can spearhead their own, locally-led development programs in their own communities, bringing about positive, sustainable change across the region.