H4P Celebrates Madam Salome Francois For 45 Years Of Dedication To Special Education

The H4P Organization, on 14^th February, 2017, Valentine’s Day or the National Chocolate Day, a day where most people show love in various ways to their loved ones, launched its 6^th anniversary celebration dubbed, the “Celebration of Love” at the New Horizon Special School.

The launch was held in honor of Madam Salome Francois, the founder of the New Horizon Special School for dedicating forty-five (45) years of her life and resources to taking care of people with special needs especially children to make their lives better.

The C.E.O of H4P Organization, Apostle Charles Hackman, enlightened the audience about some achievements of Madam Francois before presenting to her the H4P LIFE TIME SPECIAL AWARD. Mrs. Francois qualified to become the first female senior radiographer at the government hospital, Korle – Bu in 1963 but had to give up her career to take care of her intellectually disabled child, Helen. The passion and commitment to give her daughter the best in spite of her disability was what drove her to establish the New Horizon Special School in 1972. She was the first to have started a private Special School in Ghana.

Mrs. Salome Francois in the early days of the school, went round the city of Accra to find other children with intellectual disability to offer them special education rather than a life spent hidden at home. It was however hard to find such children because their parents did not want to acknowledge having children with disability. She eventually had her first class of three children with assistance from some volunteered teachers from the ‘Friends of the American Women Society.The classes were first held in her home and she was the school’s fund raiser, principal, executive director and chief advocate.

For forty-five years, Mrs. Francois has never been paid for her work at the New Horizon Special school having considered the impact the school has brought to many with intellectual disability as what brings her fulfillment. One can truly attest to the fact what begun as a desire to better the lives of Special needs children set the pace for private Special Education in Ghana. What she has built is truly remarkable and has been of great impact to many.

Now eighty-seven (87) years of age, Mrs. Salome Francois was lost for words when she was awarded The H4P Lifetime Award.She acknowledged that it was truly the Lord’s doing and thanked the C.E.O. of the H4P Organization profusely and the assistance H4P has offered her and the school over the years. She encouraged others to come on board and help the vulnerable in society.

The H4P Organization also presented a hamper to wish her a happy Valentine’s Day.

The H4P Organization also presented gifts to the Principal, teachers and staff of New Horizon for their commitment to the special needs children. The intellectually disabled students from the New Horizon Special School danced in honor of Madam Francoise at the event.