The Optimum Health Project

Growing up in the 1980s in the village of Abandze via Saltpond in Ghana, West Africa, Cynthia sought education and life skill experiences that were often scarce. In seeking out these opportunities, Cynthia was abused and assaulted by adults she should have been able to trust. She grew through these experiences, which led her to create Fawohodze. The project is near and dear to her heart, with a core mission of providing Ghanaian youth and at-risk women physical and emotional safety through learning.    After Cynthia relocated to the United States, she launched a successful salon and continued to provided youth in Central and Greater Accra region of  Ghana, with supplemental education programs, supplies, and teachers. Many of these children live in rural areas with limited access; many women are illiterate and are challenged by job instability and physical safety. Fawohodze is meant to inspire this crucial population to learn, grow, and find confidence. She has personally sponsored education access for 300 children, tutoring for 58 middle school 2021 final year students whom were behind due to the Covid-19 pandemic with her own financial resources.     The second prong of Fawohodze grew from Cynthia’s experience as an African living in America. Having been raised in the shadow of a slaving fort, she didn’t have a clear understanding about the effects of the transatlantic slave trade until she began interacting with Black Americans. Inspired by stories of the loss of homeland, language, and identity; and inspired by the shame of Jim Crow Era American and the resulting Civil Rights movement, Cynthia began to understand roots of the disconnection between Africans on the continent and Black Americans. In effort to bring these two people together, Cynthia began hosting travelers at her family home in Sakumono-Tema, Ghana. Since 2011, she has hosted nearly 20 individuals for no cost; this has allowed them to connect with their homeland and inspired them to educate others by sharing their experiences.    Cynthia believes that through education, cultural connection, and cultural trade, we can form a positive bond by which all are uplifted, throughout generations. 

Poor emotional health can weaken your body's immune system. This makes you more likely to get colds and other infections during emotionally difficult times. Also, when you are feeling stressed, anxious, or upset, you may not take care of your health as well as you should.

 Physical health is the state of your body, and mental health is the state of your mind, feelings and emotions. Like physical health, mental health is always there, and it's fine to have good and bad days. Physical health can influence mental health, both positively and negatively

 Spiritual health includes a purposeful life, transcendence and actualization of different dimensions and capacities of human beings. Spiritual health creates a balance between physical, psychological and social aspects of human life. Spirit is what can not be defined as part of the body or as part of the mind. Body, mind, and spirit all have an affect on one and other. By improving your spiritual life you can contribute to the healing process. Spirituality may not be able to cure you, but it can help to cope with the pain and difficulties that accompany illness. Spiritual health is achieved when you feel at peace with life. It is when you are able to find hope and comfort in even the hardest of times. It can help to support you as you experience life completely. Spirituality is different for everyone.