God's Grace for Kids

UPDATE: God's Grace for Kids Cotonou has now expanded through Grade 12. We are grateful to God for the continued growth of the school and pray for His guidance as the school continues to expand.

Started in Josue’s home in 2012, with his two boys and a couple other students, God's Grace for Kids is a Christian Day Care/K-12 School in Cotonou, teaching students in its bright and colorful facility. Christian principles are taught daily to all students, regardless of family beliefs, so it has become a wonderful outreach tool for Josue’s ministry. In 2016-2017 school year, 63 students enrolled up to 4th grade as one grade per year had been added. Expansion plans continued...12th grade was added for September 2026 with enrollment up to 270 students total. Many students speak a local language at home. One of the goals for God's Grade is bilingual education with French and English being taught to help students progress globally.

Josue’s wife Prisca is the administrator, and the staff has grown along with student enrollment. Josue was renting only the first floor of the building in the beginning, but added the second and third floors as the school grew in numbers. Before the patio space was needed for classrooms, it was used to raise chickens, teaching the students how to care for them.They were sold at market, providing funds for more tables and chairs at the school.

The building had been for sale almost since the day the school started - but God provided this answer to prayer: in 2015, Josue was able to make a deal with the landlord of this property. If Josue could raise $100,000 by July 1, 2016, a contract would be written between them. That contract would allow him to pay the remaining $200,000 balance over 10 years, and Hope for Youth would own the building free and clear!  At the very end, but in God's perfect timing, the $100,000 came in! And as of 2026, the God's Grace for Kids Cotonou school is owned by the Hope for Youth Foundation.

Sufficient funds have been raised to complete the purchase of the property next door as well, but permits have yet to be released to start construction - please pray for this to happen! This space next door will be used to expand God's Grace for Kids Cotonou for the technical schools, and in the future, God willing, a university.

God's Grace for Kids Hevie

Josue had the vision of opening 10 schools in 10 years in 10 villages. September 2025 welcomed the first students to God's Grace for Kids in the village of Hevie, with 23 students enrolled. Word spread among the villages and many more students are expected for the 2026-2027 school year. While parents pay a small percentage of tuition, Truth Unleashed Ministries and Hope for Youth Foundation joined forces to create a student sponsorship program. Opportunities are available to Sponsor a Student at God's Grace for Kids for $50/month.

The opening of future schools is currently on hold as Josue is looking to strengthen the team and how the schools are run, although the plan for 10 schools in 10 years in 10 villages is still in place!

A GROWING SCHOOL

We are grateful for the continued growth and success of God's Grace for Kids. In June 2026, 17 out of the 18 students who took the Grade 6 national exam successfully passed, and 100% of the Grade 9 students were successful as well! We give God the glory for the students, teachers and administrators who have worked so hard to make this possible.