THE MESSAGES WE LEAVE BEHIND…
A LOCAL GAME
On our first trip to Ghana, Gabe Raley, a fifteen year old American soccer player, founder of Sankofa Vision, shared his love for the game with Rising Stars and Augie’s local school. We organized a terrific match between two schools in the town of Adankwame, and playing a game that unites the world.
THE IMPACT OF SOCCER
Two of our founding members, Augustine Boadi and Gabe Raley, share a lifelong love of soccer. Augustine grew up playing for the Rising Stars in Ghana, an organization committed to helping young athletes earn opportunities abroad through education and soccer. His path crossed with Gabe’s through The Pro Project, a high-performance soccer community outside of Boston Massachusetts.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Augustine needed a temporary place to stay to continue training with The Pro Project while he was on break. Gabe and Augie met at The Pro Project and his mother, Deb, welcomed him into their home for what was meant to be two weeks before Augustine went back to Northfield Mount Hermon where he was a high school student. However, as lockdowns began and Augustine was unable to return to Northfield Mount Hermon, the two weeks stretched into years and a unspeakable bond between Augie and the Raley’s. This was the catalyst that inspired the creation of Sankofa Vision.
Seven years after Augustine left Rising Stars, he returned with Gabe to visit and train. During their visit, they met Ayeyie, a fellow Rising Stars graduate, who would go on to join Woodstock Academy in 2024, following in Augustine’s footsteps.
Zach Raley a founding member and artist based in Needham Massachusetts, designed and created this mural when he was in Ghana. The work was created with only 6 cans of spray paint and limited colors, but still encapsulates our long lasting message of unity, and connecting everyone all around the world. By including the Black Star, originally a Ghanaian symbol of African unity, Zach encapsulates African pride, American freedom, and Ghanaian spirit. Ghana was among the first to gain its independence, with its first president popularizing the symbol as he (Kwame Nkrumah) believed that Africa would be stronger together.
OUR FIRST MURAL
Another Painting by Zach Raley, inspired by the life and joy found in the moment when Zach’s family met the family of Augustine Boadi.
A LEGACY IN ART
The Image this work was painted from is seen here on the right, where Deb, one of our founders, dances with the members of Augie’s family.
