About – Home | Smiling Heart Foundation

About Us

Founded in 2011 in Dambai, Smiling Heart Foundation (SHF) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to overcoming systemic socio-economic barriers in the Oti Region.

Legal Accreditation: SHF is officially incorporated in the Republic of Ghana under the Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) as a company limited by guarantee.

Registration Number: G-37,018
Date of Incorporation: 16th June 2011
Certifying Body: Registrar General’s Department (RGD), Victoriaborg, Accra

Our Identity

SHF was established with a clear conviction: that lasting change requires more than charity’ it demands advocacy, community ownership, and institutional strengthening. Since inception, SHF has worked hand-in-hand with local communities, government agencies, and civil society organisations to create impact that endures.

Who We Serve

We prioritize those often left behind in the development process, focusing our resources on:

Widows and Widowers — navigating economic hardship and social isolation
Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) — ensuring access to educational and social care
Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) — advocating for inclusion, rights, and accessibility
Youth & Young Girls — promoting empowerment and protection
Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) — acting as a catalyst for local development by providing the structural support they need to function effectively

Vision & mission

Our vision

Smiling Hearts Foundation envisions a society free of poverty, driven by self-reliant, rights-conscious communities and inclusive development that brings prosperity and smiles to every face.

Our mission

To socially and economically empower marginalized groups through targeted advocacy, skills development, and institutional strengthening; restoring dignity and creating pathways to sustainable livelihoods.

Core values

Compassion

We lead with empathy and genuine care for the people we serve, recognizing their inherent worth and dignity at all times.

Inclusion

We believe no one should be left behind. We deliberately centre the voices and needs of the most marginalised; PWDs, women, youth, and children.

Integrity

We uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability in managing resources and delivering on our commitments to communities and partners.

Empowerment

We do not create dependency. Our programmes build the capacity of individuals and communities to advocate for themselves and sustain their own development.

Collaboration

We recognize that no single actor can solve complex development challenges alone. We actively seek and nurture partnerships with government, civil society, and the private sector.

Community-Centred

Every intervention is designed with and for the community. Local knowledge, traditions, and leadership are respected and integrated into all our programmes

Governance structure

SHF operates under a governance framework that ensures accountability, strategic direction, and programmatic integrity. The organisation is overseen by a Board of Trustees and led by a dedicated management team.

Board of Trustees

Dr. Frank Awuah

Board chair

An academic leader, a former Vice Principal at Dambai College of Education with expertise in educational psychology and curriculum development (Ph.D., M.Phil.).

Prof. Husein Inusah

Member

is a Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Classics and Philosophy at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He is a Fellow of the African Humanities Program of the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), USA.

Prof. Franklin N. Mabe