B.A.S.I.C.S INTERNATIONAL

What B.A.S.I.C.S INTERNATIONAL does

B.A.S.I.C.S International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in December 2000 by Pat Wilkins to provide educational access, mentorship, and economic empowerment to children, youth, and women in Chorkor, a fishing community in Accra, Ghana. The organization operates an integrated development model composed of four core programs: Back2School (educational sponsorship and school retention support), Break the Cycle / Nana's House (after-school intervention with tutoring, mentoring, feeding, and extracurricular activities), Chorkor Digital Lab (digital literacy and workforce development), and Hedzole (a women's social enterprise producing handcrafted bags, beaded bracelets, and African fans). Supporting elements include a feeding program serving 100+ children daily, a chess program, and a planned Camp Promise facility on 8 acres 95 km from Accra. The organization holds a registered affiliate (BASICS Ghana) and a US headquarters in Jamaica, Queens, NY opened in 2016 in partnership with The Thomas White Jr. Foundation.

Over 25 years the organization reports more than 6,000 educational sponsorships and 300,000+ individuals reached, with a stated volunteer and partner network spanning 21+ countries. The business model rests on three revenue streams: tax-deductible individual and corporate donations (501(c)(3) status), recurring child sponsorships, and Hedzole product sales through an online shop (basicsinternational.org) and physical showrooms in Ghana and New York. Hedzole products are priced at modest unit levels (e.g., $5-$12). Corporate partners include Cisco, AWS, Lycopodium, Vasion, AMS, Hubtel, and Diamond Foundation, alongside an NYU Steinhardt academic pipeline. Strategic infrastructure is intentionally non-technological: the organization has no proprietary technology product, no API, and no AI/ML capabilities, and relies on human-delivered community programming rather than platform architecture. Operations were materially disrupted during COVID-19, including staff reductions and a pivot into PPE manufacturing via Hedzole's partnership with Cadling Fashions.

Name

B.A.S.I.C.S INTERNATIONAL

Legal name

B.A.S.I.C.S International

Website

https://basicsinternational.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

B.A.S.I.C.S International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 that delivers educational sponsorship, after-school intervention, digital literacy, and women's economic empowerment programs to children, youth, and women in Chorkor, Accra, Ghana, supported by donations, sponsorships, and the Hedzole social enterprise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGABAA

Rural Livelihoods & Economic Empowerment

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/International Development & Poverty Alleviation

SECONDARYEDAIAGAA

Community Development & Social Impact Programs

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Service Learning, Volunteering & Gap Year Programs

SECONDARYHLAJAKAH

Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Public Health, Government & Regulators/Global Health & Development Agencies (NGOs/Multilaterals)

Keywords

• Community development programs
• Education sponsorship services
• Women empowerment social enterprise
• Digital workforce training
• Handcrafted artisan products

Headquarters

HQ city

Jamaica, New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations supporting the 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax-exempt under IRS code.
2. Educational Sponsorships: Child sponsorship program providing educational access and retention support for children in Ghana.
3. Hedzole Social Enterprise: Handcrafted products including Freedom Line bags, beaded bracelets, African fans, and home goods. Products are handmade in Ghana by women artisans. Revenue supports women's economic empowerment and helps provide meals for children.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

B.A.S.I.C.S International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating an integrated community development model in Chorkor, Ghana, providing educational sponsorships, after-school intervention programs, digital skills training, and nutrition services for underserved children. The organization also runs the Hedzole social enterprise, producing and selling handcrafted bags, beaded bracelets, African fans, and homeware items made by women artisans to generate economic empowerment opportunities. Programs are delivered alongside local schools, social workers, and mentors within Chorkor with funding from individual donations, sponsorships, and corporate partners.

Product overview

B.A.S.I.C.S International operates as a nonprofit organization offering an integrated portfolio of programs for women and children in Ghana. The core offerings include educational sponsorship (Back2School), digital skills training (Chorkor Digital Lab), after-school intervention (Break the Cycle/Nana's House), and the Hedzole social enterprise. Hedzole is a handcrafted products business producing bags (Freedom Line Collection), beaded bracelets, African fans, and various homeware items made by women artisans in Ghana. Supporting programs include feeding/nutrition services, chess training, music programs, and the planned Camp Promise outdoor education facility. The organization connects these programs to provide holistic development supporting education, leadership, digital inclusion, and economic empowerment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hedzole: A social enterprise empowering women through providing economic independence, resulting in social inclusion. Produces handcrafted bags, accessories, and home goods by women artisans in Ghana. Pronounced 'Hey Jo Leh' meaning 'Freedom' in Ga language.
• Back2School
• Break the Cycle / Nana's House
• Chorkor Digital Lab
• Camp Aklowah / Camp Promise

Products and services

• Back2School Education sponsorship program providing school access and retention support for children in Ghana, part of an integrated development model linking education, leadership development, digital inclusion, and economic opportunity. Designed for underserved children in Chorkor and the broader Ghanaian community.
• Chorkor Digital Lab Digital skills and workforce development training center providing technology education and digital literacy programs for youth in the Chorkor fishing community of Accra, Ghana. Focused on preparing young people for skilled jobs and digital inclusion.
• Hedzole Social enterprise (pronounced 'Hey Jo Leh', meaning 'Freedom' in Ga language) empowering Ghanaian women artisans through producing handcrafted bags, beaded bracelets, African fans, and homeware products for sale online and at showrooms; economic returns support children's daily meal programs.
• Break the Cycle After-school intervention and social program operating at Nana's House in Chorkor, providing tutoring, mentoring, homework support, daily meals, and extracurricular activities including STEM, music, dance, reading, and chess for sponsored children.
• Camp Aklowah Summer camp and holiday program for BASICS children offering recreational activities and skill development opportunities during school breaks.
• Freedom Line Collection (Hedzole) Handcrafted bags made from African prints with recycled sack lining, in medium ($10 each, $7.50 for 2+), large, extra-large, drawstring, and travel styles; designed for market, beach, school, and travel use. Made by women artisans in Ghana under the Hedzole social enterprise.
• Beaded Bracelets (Hedzole) Handcrafted in Ghana from recycled glass beads with brass symbols; available at $12 each with affirmation words including 'Blessed', 'Love', 'Joy', 'Peace', 'Queen', 'King', 'Warrior', 'Faithful', 'Worthy', 'Sankofa', 'Grace', 'Believe', and 'Favored'. Made by Hedzole women artisans.
• African Fans (Hedzole) Collapsible cloth fans made from traditional African fabric, stiffened and pleated, fastened with butter-soft leather thong; sold at $10 each. Handmade by Hedzole women artisans in Ghana.
• Offline Collections (Hedzole) Additional handcrafted items available offline only at the Ghana and New York showrooms, including Freedom Small (Small $5), Large and X-Large bags, Calico Tote, Akorkor, Akweley, Marrekech Bag, Placemats, Shoe Bags, Pillow Shams, Bed Runner Sets, Table Runners, Puffs, Storage Bags, Reversible Bags, and Hammond Sling bags. Produced by Hedzole women artisans.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6,000+ educational sponsorships provided over 25 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Thomas White Jr. FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2016Partnership formed June 3, 2016 to launch shared working space in South Jamaica, Queens. Both organizations committed to fighting illiteracy and global poverty through education and community empowerment. BASICS operates from TWF building at 162-04 Tuskegee Airmen Rd, Jamaica, NY.
• LycopodiumminorOthersCorporate partner shown in trusted partners section of website.
• CiscominorOthersCorporate partner shown in trusted partners section of website.
• VasionminorOthersCorporate partner shown in trusted partners section of website.
• AMSminorOthersCorporate partner shown in trusted partners section of website.
• HubtelminorOthersCorporate partner shown in trusted partners section of website.
• Scott SquareminorOthersCorporate partner shown in trusted partners section of website.
• AS4AK (Australian Sponsorship for African Kids)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian organization facilitating donations from Australia to BASICS International. Enables international supporters to contribute to programs.
• NYU Steinhardt SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides international internship opportunities for NYU students. Partnership has been active for over 5 years, with students volunteering as tutors and mentors at BASICS programs in Ghana.
• Cadling FashionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest apparel company in Ghana. During COVID-19, Hedzole ladies joined Cadling's mask production line to make 750,000 masks and PPE for Ghana government contract. Provided employment during pandemic.
• World Peace ConnectionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization that visited Ghana. Aunty Pat shared stories about her journey and community connections in Chorkor.
• Brothers And Sisters In Christ Serving (BASICS Ghana)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegistered NGO in Ghana serving as affiliate organization for BASICS International programs in West Africa. Coordinates on-the-ground operations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BRAC: One of the largest international development NGOs, operating integrated education, microfinance, and economic empowerment programs across multiple developing countries including Ghana. Broader and larger, but structurally similar integrated-development approach.
• Save the Children: Large global child-welfare and education nonprofit with programs in Ghana. Operates on a much larger scale and broader geographic footprint, but addresses overlapping beneficiary segments (children's education, nutrition, wellbeing).
• UNICEF: United Nations agency focused on child welfare, education, and nutrition globally, with extensive Ghana operations. Operates at vastly greater scale but addresses the same thematic issues BASICS targets.

Direct peers

• CAMFED (Campaign for Female Education): Nonprofit focused on educating girls and supporting young women's economic empowerment in sub-Saharan Africa. Overlaps with BASICS on educational sponsorship for disadvantaged children and female economic empowerment.
• TechnoServe: Nonprofit focused on business solutions to poverty in Africa, Latin America, and other developing regions. Comparable economic-empowerment orientation, particularly supporting women entrepreneurs and small producers in Africa.
• Opportunity International: Microfinance and economic-empowerment nonprofit serving entrepreneurs in developing countries, with operations in Ghana. Overlaps with Hedzole's mission of providing economic opportunity to underserved women.
• Pencils of Promise: Nonprofit focused on building schools and increasing access to education for children in developing countries, including Ghana. Highly comparable sponsorship and school-access model serving similar beneficiary populations.
• Free The Children / WE Charity: International development and youth-empowerment nonprofit combining education, clean water, and community programs. Similar integrated community-development model serving children in developing regions.
• Room to Read: International education nonprofit focused on literacy and gender equality in Asia and Africa. Comparable integrated model combining direct educational intervention with community and family engagement.

Emerging players

• Village Enterprise: Nonprofit focused on poverty alleviation through entrepreneurship and savings groups in rural Africa. Highly comparable rural livelihoods and economic-empowerment orientation, especially for women.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@basicsinternational2000
• Facebookfacebook.com/basicsinternational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/b-a-s-i-c-s-internationa
• Instagraminstagram.com/basicsinternational

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about B.A.S.I.C.S INTERNATIONAL