Using Tennis to Break the Cycle of Poverty

Stephanie: Hi, and welcome to another episode of Nonprofit Therapy. We’re very honoured today to have with us Enock Godi, the founder and president of Hope Performance Tennis. I don’t want to give too much away—he’s here to share his powerful story. So let’s dive right in.

Why don’t you introduce yourself and tell our listeners a little bit about who you are and your amazing organization?

Enock: Thank you for having me. My name is Enock Godi, founder and president of Hope Performance Tennis. People often ask me why I started this organization. It really stems from my childhood. I grew up in Ghana and was homeless from the age of 11. That experience motivated me 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.

Stephanie: And you eventually became a professional tennis player—is that right?

Enock: Yes, that’s correct. Tennis became a lifeline for me. As a child, I used to help a woman whose daughter played tennis. One day I asked about her daughter, and she told me she had travelled for a tournament. That’s when I got curious about tennis. I had never played before or even seen a court up close.

When I first visited the tennis court, someone lent me a racket. I hit the ball against the wall until I was exhausted, then fell asleep on the stairs. That’s when I fell in love with the sport.

It took me four to five months to save up money to buy my first racket. I didn’t practice with others—I hit against the wall every day. I earned money washing bowls, selling bread and water at soccer games—whatever I could to buy strings and gear.

At the time, I was sleeping at a gas station across from the stadium. I lived like that for five years.

One day, on December 24, I helped a woman in a taxi find the Ministry of Youth and Sports. She didn’t know her way, so I walked her there. I later saw her again with the Deputy Minister and reminded him I was with her. He remembered me and gave me his card. I followed up, told him I played tennis and was homeless, and asked for help to attend a tennis academy.

He called the National Sports College in Winneba and arranged for me to join. That was the end of my homelessness. I had food and shelter—and I could train. I lived there for five years and became one of the top players in Ghana.

Stephanie: Wow. That’s incredible. Do you even know who the woman was?

Enock: No, I never saw her again. She gave me her number, but it didn’t work when I tried calling. I believe she was an angel.

In 2017, I visited Ghana and realized many young tennis players were facing similar struggles. While they had homes and families, the lack of support reminded me of my past. That visit stirred something in me. I felt the Holy Spirit was calling me to act.

I spoke to my boss at the tennis club where I work in the U.S. and told him I wanted to start collecting donations—rackets, shoes, clothes—for the kids in Ghana. We did a fundraiser to ship everything and eventually launched Hope Performance Tennis.

We now support programs in nine regions across Ghana. We work closely with local clubs and provide equipment so kids have what they need to train. We want no child to miss out due to lack of resources. Tennis is expensive—especially in Africa—so our mission is to remove that barrier.

Stephanie: And your story really puts everything into perspective. You worked for months just to get one racket. It’s humbling.

Let’s talk about Hope Performance Tennis. How do the programs work?

Enock: We operate in nine regions. We collaborate with clubs to develop kids’ training programs. We provide rackets, strings, and clothing so kids can focus on learning without worrying about equipment. We run after-school programs, host national ranking events, performance training camps, and an annual flagship event.

Our goal isn’t just to create champions. We use tennis as a tool to instil discipline, structure, and hope—keeping kids away from negative influences and helping them grow into confident, empowered individuals.

Stephanie: That’s so important. You started this nonprofit from your own story and grew it into something incredible. Running a nonprofit isn’t easy—hence the name Nonprofit Therapy. Do you have any advice for other nonprofit leaders?

Enock: Absolutely. I believe this journey was ordained by God. Many nonprofits struggle, but your story and purpose are what move people to support you.

For me, my story draws people in—it’s what makes the mission real. Most of our fundraising has come from my local community. And when God gives you a mission, He also sends helpers.

Also—foundation is everything. Your nonprofit must have a clear purpose, strong documentation, and evidence of impact. Take photos, collect testimonials, send reports to donors. Let them know where their money is going. Accountability builds trust.

Stephanie: Yes—track everything. Keep your data and records clean so you can show funders the real impact. That was such great advice.

You’ve also recently started working with Vee. How has the experience been so far?

Enock: So far, it’s been great. Vee has helped amplify our message and grow our presence on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. It’s helping more people see the work we’re doing. And with the grants tool, we’ve already submitted four applications. We’re hopeful for what’s to come. Vee is definitely helping us grow.

Stephanie: We’re so glad to support your mission. Your social media looks amazing, and I know funders love to see that visibility.

Finally, for anyone inspired by your story—how can they get involved?

Enock: You can follow us on Instagram and Facebook at Hope Performance Tennis. Visit our website: www.hopeperformancetennis.org

If you’re interested in volunteering, we’d love to have you. We bring volunteers to Ghana to work with the kids and coaches. You can email us at hpt.accra@gmail.com for more information about our 2025 program.

Stephanie: Amazing. Enock, thank you so much for joining us and sharing your incredible journey. We’re honoured to work with you.

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