About Us

Today, there are more than 150 million orphans across the globe, and close to 1 billion youth are considered to be vulnerable.

While some children live in orphanages or residential homes, others live with family members, in foster care, or on their own with minimal support from others.

Sustainable Connexions International (SusCo) was established in 2012 as a nonprofit, 501c (3) organization based in the United States by founder Alyson Parham Small.

Guided by a board of directors representing the USA and Africa, SusCo works with local partners to develop to implement programs and services to address social, emotional and academic barriers impacting vulnerable children.

SusCo established a local non-governmental organization in Ghana, OVC Connexions Ghana, to lead the work on the ground in Ghana. This entity is governed by a separate board of directors.

Meet our Board and In-Country Team

Our Approach

Given the unacceptable number of orphans and vulnerable children around the world, SusCo recognizes that while some children reside in residential homes, others in foster care, many others continue to live in villages with varying degrees of support and care.

SusCo developed the Tender Loving Care (TLC) model that outlines a comprehensive framework of critical interventions and ongoing monitoring of children to help improve their capacity to become self-sufficient adults.

Working with diverse community partners, SusCo contends there is no single pathway for supporting orphans but, by placing a consistent and intentional focus on the social, emotional and cognitive development of children, there is greater likelihood for orphans and other vulnerable children to achieve success in school and into adulthood.

Learn More About Our Initiatives

Our Mission: Working with local and global partners, SusCo provides creative interventions to ensure orphans and other vulnerable children survive, thrive and excel.

Today, there are more than 150 million orphans across the globe, and close to 1 billion youth are considered to be vulnerable.

Our Vision

A world where all children are nurtured, loved and guided along paths toward becoming self-sufficient adults.

Our Approach