On behalf of the Dutch Board of the Child Support Ghana Foundation I bring you the sad news that on December 18, 2015 in the early morning Eric Coomans passed away in his home town of Wa in Ghana.

Erics physical condition was already in a bad shape since June this year. A planned trip to the Netherlands had to be canceled in August because of that. Fortunately, later this year he was able to meet his family. In recent weeks, his physical condition improved, but Friday morning the family was surprised with the sad news that Eric died that morning. Eric died in a way that made it more acceptable for his family; suddenly and without illness in his own house in Wa.

Eric’s funeral is on Saturday, January 2nd at the compound of Child Support Ghana in an understated funeral and he will be buried at the compound at a place designated by himself. His sons Herko and Arne, as well as his sister Marieke, will be there.

We look back at the life of a man who dedicated the past 11 years of his life to help children in the Upper West Region of Ghana and their families who could not make it alone. Dozens of children have been given a better start in life by Eric and his staff. Eric builded en led Child Support Ghana on his own – stubborn – way, which enforced a lot of respect by his environment. Doing things in his own way has also ensured that his main projects became a success.

Thanks to your support we have had in the past 11 years, we could offer many children shelter, food, clothing, and especially an education. Eric Coomans has kept you informed regularly on the progress of the children.

The board has spent the past 11 years assisting Eric by collecting your financial support to send it to the right place and by guiding the volunteers who came to help in Wa. During these years the Dutch board has been following the work of Eric and gave attention to explore the possibilities for continuation of this work when Eric would ever stop doing that. There is regularly pointed to organize a good and reliable follow-up so that the work can continue.

Unfortunately, we are faced quite abruptly with the death of Eric.

In recent months, Eric was working to realize the transfer to a fully Ghanaian organization. This should commence formally on February 1st. Unfortunately now it started straight away.

Mama Jane, the oldest mother of the house, and her retired husband Mr. Emmanuel Eledi will work with the other mothers to take over the daily management. They are supported by the co-director Rev. Daniel Seidu.

We hope that the new leadership will continue to promote the mission and the vision of Child Support. The Dutch board will accompany the new leadership, and especially the children to continue to move towards a new future for Child Support. We hope you will continue to support Child Support in any case during this time. We will keep you informed of the changes and developments that will occur.

I’d like to end this letter with Eric’s own words that he wrote in a draft letter to you which was meant to announce the formal transfer to the Ghanaian leadership in February:

“I want to thank you for the many years of support to the children who are all listed with a painful and poor background in Wa Yiri and do their utmost to continue going to school. The staff will continue to support them and hope that you will continue to support the children financially.

I want to thank you for the trust you have given me all these years, because without your support Child Support could never have become what it is today. I feel that I unfortunately let the kids down and hope that you will continue to support.”

Eric’s family will host a memorial meetup in the beginning of 2016, to celebrate his life and to exchange touching, moving, inspiring and funny stories and memories about him. If you’d like to attend, please send an e-mail to herdenk.eric@coomans.name.