EDUCATION
Allowing the local villagers to express needs, Amenyo Foundation has provided technical and monetary assistance toward community development. One of the important programs of the Foundation is providing educational opportunities for deserving students.
Education is the Key
In 2008, the Kpenoe Junior High School in Ghana, West Africa consisted of a block of classrooms with no sidewalls, rickety furniture, and virtually no supplies. Students had to even bring their chairs to school. Through generous donations through Amenyo Foundation and hard work by the villagers, the school now has walls, doors, solid school desks, and even electricity. A library is now under construction.
The improved educational environment has attracted teachers and even students from surrounding villages. More students are achieving well on the high school qualifying exams and, with the support of Amenyo Foundation, are attending high school and going on to university, trade school, or nursing programs.
Currently, Amenyo is supporting 50 students in post junior high education through scholarships. Some students are sponsored by individuals through Amenyo while others are supported by non-specific donations made to Amenyo Foundation
Specific Projects
Scholarship Program
The Scholarship Program is a major focus of Amenyo Foundation's efforts. A full scholarship includes tuition, room, and board. Students from Kpenoe must go to boarding school as there is no high school in Kpenoe. Thanks, part to the improvements in the Junior High School education situation, more students are achieving well on the high school qualifying exams and, with the support of Amenyo Foundation, are attending high school and going on to university, trade school, or nursing programs. Some students are sponsored by individuals through Amenyo while others are supported by non specific donations made to Amenyo Foundation. Currently about 50 students from Kpenoe and Takla mostly in trade school or college are being supported.
Educational Supplies and Equipment
Given that education supplies are minimal or non-existent, Amenyo Foundation uses the baggage of those travelling with Amenyo to take large amounts of school materials. Typically a passenger takes two or three 50 pound bags with limited amount of personal things, the rest filled with donated supplies. Amenyo Foundation also funds the purchase of education items in Ghana
The Batik Boutique
On each Amenyo Foundation trip to Ghana many yards of beautiful batik fabric are purchased and brought back to the United States. The fabics are then made into bags and other items by volunteers. The batik items are then sold with 100% of the profits being used to help fund the scholarship program. To see more click on: Batik Boutique
Scholarship Impact
Mark was a seventeen year old student from Kpenoe (pronounced PEN-way), Ghana, West Africa. At this writing he was in 12th grade at a boarding high school. Kpenoe students must go to a boarding high school (grades 10-12) because there is no high school in or near Kpenoe. He was studying technology. Shalom was 16 years old and was in the 11th grade at a boarding school. Luky was in trade school studying to be an electrician and Cynthia was at secretarial school. These students, with continued hard work, can look forward to a bright future because they have earned and been given a scholarship. They will also give back to their village and their country. Education is the key which is being given through Amenyo Scholarships to deserving students.
What will happen to the other equally bright, hardworking students in Kpenoe who do not receive this key to opportunity? A boy will attend school (if his family can afford the school fees) through junior high school then face unemployment, subsistence farming, or odd jobs with no hope of advancement. A girl will likely become pregnant at an early age and struggle to raise her family in abject poverty. Her children will face an equally bleak future. Economically disadvantaged students in the USA can attend free public school through high school and then apply for a wide variety of grants, scholarships, and loans for post secondary education. Other than Amenyo scholarships, no such aid exists in Kpenoe.
Student receiving Amenyo scholarship money from Togbe Kotoku XI
A deserving student receives Amenyo donated funds and can therefore go to school