Our Story
Ever since Albert was diagnosed with autism as a child, Ato and Effuah Brown made the issue facing persons with special needs and in particular persons with autism a lifelong cause and advocacy. After Ato's retirement from the World Bank in 2019, the family moved from the Washington DC area back to Ghana, West Africa with the commitment to develop a world-class autism respite center to help families dealing with autism in Ghana.
A year ago Ato and Effuah completed the construction of Phase 1 of an autism facility complex on a beautiful farm and serene environment in the Akwapim Mountains of Ghana. The facility has a conference room, sensory room, and three bedrooms for overnight or weekend stays, immediate grounds for respite and recreational activities as well as access to the 100-acre farm estate (60 acres of assorted fruits - mangoes, papaya, pineapple, passion fruits, banana, avocado etc) and forest reserve.
The Autism Respite Center now caters to day programs in partnership with the Okere District Mental Health Department and MultiKids Academy based in Accra. Since October the Center has been hosting persons with autism on the campus with a combination of day and overnight visits as well as community outreach services and visits to persons with special needs in the surrounding community. Training sessions are in the works for district mental health case officers and community social welfare workers. Albert’s Haven is poised to become the staging platform for respite care for persons with autism as well as host siblings, parents, caregivers, and autism facility personnel in Ghana.
Phase 2 of the Respite Centre is scheduled to begin in earnest in fall 2023. The master plan is designed to have additional boarding facilities and complementary recreational and therapeutic facilities to expand intake from the current 10 persons to 50 over the next five years. The design, rendering, and costing are available on request.
Ato and Effuah have put a significant part of their life savings into this endeavor and have established a counterpart commercial farm to sustain the future activity of Albert’s Haven Foundation. They are now seeking collaboration and partnerships as well as financing support to tap into best practices on autism respite care and build a holistic developmental framework to help the special needs and autism community in Ghana.
Who We Are
Albert Haven Foundation, founded by Ato and Effuah Brown, emerged from a deep personal commitment to addressing the challenges faced by individuals with autism in Ghana. Having constructed Phase 1 of our autism respite center in the serene Akwapim Mountains, we are currently providing day programs and overnight stays, collaborating with the Okere District Mental Health Department and MultiKids Academy. Our center, nestled on a 100-acre farm estate, offers respite and recreational activities, fostering a supportive community.
As we embark on Phase 2, scheduled for fall 2023, our goal is to expand our capacity to accommodate 50 individuals over the next five years. We aim to provide not only respite care but also to serve as a hub for training district mental health case officers and community social welfare workers. Albert Haven Foundation is committed to collaboration, seeking partnerships and financial support to establish a holistic developmental framework for the autism community in Ghana, guided by the belief that every individual deserves a haven where they can flourish.
Management
Mrs. Effuah Brown
Founder
Mr. Ato Brown
Co - Founder