Like a true Cinderella….
Today, the 18-year-old Ghanaian model, Dorcas Awudi will be virtually outdoored on the NGO OAfrica’s Instagram feed @oafrica.org, as the “Face of OAfrica”, supporting the charity that sponsored her for 11 years.
Dorcas was the fourth born out of the nine children of a paralyzed stroke victim, who could not cater for her children. OAfrica, a charity that supports family care, was able to support the children to school and also provide a monthly cash grant to the family. OAfrica also paid the rent advance to move them to a decent home.
For 11 years Dorcas lived the life of a schoolgirl, cared for by OAfrica, and was given a partial scholarship by St Peter’s Mission School in Medina, an institution that is generous and has helped so many children gain a good education by giving free and discounted placements to OAfrica beneficiaries. At home, Dorcas was always polite and helpful. Her mother is very happy that Dorcas was always a responsible
sister:
“She helped me a lot. She always bathed her younger siblings every morning and evening”
she told us
Currently Dorcas in the 3 rd year of SHS, but as her final exams have been postponed she decide to seek a job during the forced COVID-19 break. It was at this point that the President of OAfrica, Lisa Lovatt-Smith visited the family on their farm near Naswam. Herself an ex-model, the President of OAfrica has, because of her 20-year career in Vogue magazine, a finely tuned instinct as to who has potential and she
immediately took some candid snaps of Dorcas and sent them to her fashion buddies.
The response was unanimous “This girl has IT, that elusive quality that can make a top model”, said Nii Okai Djarbeng of Lightville photography and editor of Lightville magazine one of Ghana’s top international fashion photographers and. Marcel Desailly, football legend and OAfrica Senior Global Ambassador told us “I want her to be a model. She can make it”! From Italy, designer Margherita Missoni concurred: “Dorcas is beautiful, if she comes to Europe we’d definitely work with her“
Her first job, therefore, is as ambassador and spokesperson for OAfrica. “I am so happy to have this role!” she says. “It’s a way I can give back to OAfrica and also help me support my family more.” It is her first commission but unlikely to be her last.
Dorcas joins Jocelyn Dumas and Eric Don-Arthur as Ambassadors for the charity in Ghana along with Marcel Desailly who is Global Ambassador.