Since Mary Jean would be spending several months in southern Ghana with a volunteer program, she arranged to fly to northern Ghana to visit Raiham for a few days. The experience was both “incredible” and “surreal”, she wrote in an email to Christian Children’s Fund of Canada staff.

Mary Jean’s journey began with a visit to a primary school. Since CCFC started working in the area, school enrollment has dramatically increased and education has become a much higher priority. CCFC's sponsorship program helps families with school fees, textbooks, desks, infrastructure and provides students with healthcare and hot lunches every day.

Next, Mary Jean visited Raiham’s home. She met Raiham, her father, stepmother, brother, sister, grandparents, and other relatives. “I was extremely happy to meet Raiham and excited about chatting in person about our respective families,” Mary Jean recalls. “We talked about our families and schooling, the letters we had exchanged, what kind of food we like and what our favourite subjects in school are.” Mary Jean delivered greetings on behalf of her family and presented Raiham with a gift from her father, which caused the shy girl to beam happily.

One thing that struck Mary Jean was the size of Raiham’s house, which was very small for the number of individuals living there. Poverty also seemed much greater in the area than what she had seen in southern Ghana. Raiham, Mary Jean, and CCFC staff then visited Raiham’s school and met some of her classmates.

They enjoyed a meal together and then said their goodbyes. “I was overjoyed to meet with Raiham after reading about her and receiving letters from her for so many years,” says Mary Jean. “I hope that Raiham will be able to achieve her dream of becoming a nurse someday and that her family may be supported by her future career.”