By Ishmael Junourgh 
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ripples of Hope Foundation, Agatha Orleans, has been named CEO of the Year at the Sustainable Development Excellence Awards 2026, in recognition of her commitment to community development, social impact and sustainable interventions.
The award, which celebrates individuals and organisations making meaningful contributions to sustainable development, has been described by the foundation as a collective victory for its dedicated volunteers, partners and supporters who continue to champion service and community transformation.
Expressing gratitude for the recognition, the foundation said the honour was not only a celebration of its achievements but also a renewed motivation to deepen its interventions in communities and improve the lives of vulnerable populations.
“This victory belongs to all of us who continue to believe in service, community development, and making a positive impact,” the foundation stated, while thanking its volunteers, partners and supporters for their dedication.
AWARD TO BE FOLLOWED BY ACTION
Rather than allowing the award to become an endpoint, the Ripples of Hope Foundation says it will mark the occasion by returning to the communities it serves with another practical intervention.
The foundation has announced plans to commence the construction of a bathroom facility for Wechiau Senior High Technical School next week, as part of its ongoing commitment to improving educational infrastructure and the welfare of young people.
The intervention is expected to contribute to a more conducive and dignified learning environment for students of the school, while addressing an important aspect of sanitation and student welfare.
For the foundation, the initiative reflects a philosophy that development recognition must be matched by continued action.
“The award is a celebration, but the work continues,” the foundation emphasised, signalling its determination to translate recognition into tangible benefits for communities.
The planned intervention at Wechiau Senior High Technical School also reinforces the growing role of civil society organisations and community-focused foundations in complementing efforts to improve educational infrastructure, sanitation and youth development in the Upper West Region.
As Ripples of Hope Foundation celebrates its latest achievement, its next project is set to demonstrate that the most meaningful measure of an award may ultimately be the lives improved through the work that follows. The Bridge News Online will continue to follow the foundation’s community development initiatives across the region.
Mudasiru Techi Dari