Hope Performance Tennis – Enock Godi

Stephanie:
Hi, and welcome to another episode of Nonprofit Therapy.
We’re very honoured today to have here Enock Godi, the founder and president of Hope Performance Tennis.
And honestly, I don’t want to say too much — he’s here to tell his own incredible story.
So let’s just dive in.
Enock, why don’t you introduce yourself and tell our listeners a little bit about yourself and your amazing organization?

Enock:
Thank you for having me.
My name is Enock Godi, founder and president of Hope Performance Tennis.
People always ask me why I started Hope Performance Tennis — and really, it’s because of my background growing up as a kid.
I wanted to give back to my community and support young children in Ghana.

Stephanie:
You were born in Ghana?

Enock:
Yes, born and raised in Ghana.
And — I know you’re about to ask — later on I became a professional tennis player.

Stephanie:
Exactly! I would love to hear that part of the story too.

Enock:
So growing up, I was homeless on the streets of Accra by the age of 11, sleeping from street to street.
There was a lady whose daughter played tennis. I used to go to her house, help her wash clothes, and sometimes she’d give me food.
One day I asked where her daughter was, and she said, “She’s travelling for a tennis tournament.”
I thought, Wow, what’s tennis?
I had heard of it but never played or even seen a court before.

I went to the tennis courts for the first time, borrowed a racket from her son, and just hit the ball against a wall until I was exhausted.
I fell in love with it instantly.

Stephanie:
Wow. And you taught yourself? That’s incredible.

Enock:
Yes. I saved money for months just to buy my own racket.
I would work at soccer matches selling food, water, bread — anything to earn money.
I kept hitting against walls, practicing alone, day after day.
I slept at a gas station across from the stadium for five years, from age 11 to 15.
I had nothing — no shelter, no food security — but tennis became my hope.

Stephanie:
That’s unbelievable. How did you go from there to becoming professional?

Enock:
One day, on December 24th, a lady in a taxi asked me for directions.
I helped her — even though I didn’t really know where she was going — and somehow ended up escorting her to the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
She introduced me as her “brother” to the deputy minister, although we weren’t actually related!
Later, I ran into the deputy minister again at a stadium event.
I reminded him who I was, and he gave me his card and told me to call him.

Long story short, he arranged for me to join the National Sports College.
That ended my homelessness and gave me food, shelter, and the chance to train properly.
From there, my tennis career really took off.

Stephanie:
That’s absolutely incredible. It really feels like divine intervention — like that woman was an angel.

Enock:
Exactly. I’ve never seen her again, but she changed my life.

Later, when I visited Ghana in 2017, I saw many kids going through similar struggles — kids with dreams but no resources.
That’s when I realized: God didn’t let me go through all that suffering for nothing.
He was preparing me to be in a position to help others.
And that’s why I founded Hope Performance Tennis.

Stephanie:
Your story is so powerful.
So tell us: how does Hope Performance Tennis work today?

Enock:
We operate in nine regions across Ghana.
We provide local clubs with everything needed for kids to train — rackets, shoes, clothes, strings.
When a kid shows up, even if they can’t afford anything, they can still train properly.

We use tennis not just to build athletes, but to shield kids from negative paths — crime, poverty, hopelessness.
Tennis teaches discipline, respect, and perseverance.

We also run junior national rankings, high performance camps, and our flagship annual program.
It’s not just about making champions — it’s about changing lives.

Stephanie:
That’s beautiful.
And your story really puts everything into perspective — how much we take for granted.

Enock:
Exactly. I always remind people to be grateful for the opportunities they have.

Stephanie:
You are clearly an incredible nonprofit leader.
But, as we know, running a nonprofit isn’t easy — hence this podcast’s name, Nonprofit Therapy.
What’s a challenge you’ve faced, and any advice you’d give to other nonprofit leaders?

Enock:
Definitely.
The biggest thing is: your story matters.
People follow your why — your real story.
And you need to stay focused.
When you build your nonprofit, start with a strong foundation:

• Have a clear vision, clear goals.

• Keep records. Document everything — photos, videos, testimonies, reports.

• Stay accountable to your donors. Show them exactly how their support is changing lives.

If you stay consistent and transparent, people will trust you and support you.

Stephanie:
That’s such great advice.
Build your foundation strong, track everything, and stay authentic.

Enock:
Exactly. And also — when God gives you a mission, He also sends helpers.
But you need to recognize them and stay humble.

Stephanie:
You recently started working with us at Vee — and we’re so happy to have you!
How has your experience been so far?

Enock:
So far, so good!
Vee has really helped push our brand out there — through social media posts on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
It’s bringing much-needed awareness to the work we do.

Vee has also helped us identify grants — we’ve submitted four grant applications already and are waiting to hear back!
The team has been so supportive.
We’re excited to keep growing with Vee’s help.

Stephanie:
We’re honoured to support your mission however we can.
And like you said earlier, social media visibility is so important — not just for fundraising, but to tell your story and show your impact.

Enock:
Exactly.

Stephanie:
Finally, for our listeners who want to get involved — where can they find you?

Enock:
You can find us on:

• Instagram: @hopeperformancetennis

• Facebook: Hope Performance Tennis

• Website: hopeperformancetennis.org

If you’re interested in volunteering with us — especially for our 2025 programs in Ghana — you can email us at hpt.accra@gmail.com.
We’re always excited to welcome volunteers who want to make a real impact.

Stephanie:
Amazing.
Enock, thank you so, so much for sharing your story and for all the beautiful work you’re doing.
We’re so happy to have you on board with Vee — and we’re even more excited to see what’s next for Hope Performance Tennis!

Enock:
Thank you so much for having me. It’s been a pleasure.