Provide Scholarships to Sierra Leonean Children

Here's a feel-good project update from Janet - one of Directors in Freetown.  It summarizes the impact we are making together:

The scholarship beneficiaries and their families extend their deepest thanks and appreciation to all Develop Africa and Global Giving supporters for the God-given opportunity accorded the children to enroll and stay in school - so that they will realize their dreams of becoming professionals in their various aspirations. Indeed words cannot articulate enough their profound gratitude for the support towards their education.

Without the on-going support that you help provide many of the children would not have been in school. The funds disbursed to the children help their parents/guardians to buy uniforms, books, school bags, shoes, and pay school fees and charges, which generally prevents children from being enrolled into school or drop out of school.

Fatu M, one of the beneficiaries was delighted to receive a scholarship.  Her father fell ill last year, suffering from stroke paralysis. All their meager resources have been used to seek a cure for the father. The mother’s petty trading came to a halt and has used the capital to seek medical attention for her husband. She also had to temporarily stop the business to care for her husband, as they moved from place to place in search of cure. This misfortune has caused Fatu’s two brothers to drop out of school for now because their parents had no money to support their education.

Thanks for support received Fatu is going to school. She would have been in the same plight as their brothers if they had not received support from Develop Africa.  Fatu had this to say:

“I want to thank our sponsors and Develop Africa very much for helping me to continue with my education. I am so very grateful for the support. I will grow up to be a great woman because I am going to school. Thank you sponsors and Develop Africa. May God always bless you.”

When the going gets tough and you wonder whether it's worth it all - stop and think about Fatu - and how you are helping to keep her and many others in school. Your support is making a huge difference.   Together we are helping to support the education of determined girls like Fatu.  Together, we are helping to nurture the seeds of greatness within them.  This is priceless!

We are excited to share with you a 2-paragraph message that we received from Freetown.  This message warmed our hearts and confirmed again that we making a definite and positive difference.  Without the support that we are providing, many of these children would drop out of school - due to the related costs being too much for the parents to carry.  Here's the message:

"Thanks be to God for Develop Africa and its donor partners who have brought hope and dignity to the lives of many children and their families. Sponsorships from your generous donations continue to help children in Sierra Leone to forge ahead with their education and prepare them for a brighter future. Indeed without your sponsorship, many of these children would never have darkened the walls of  schools, whiles very few would barely have made it at primary level.

Students and their families are deeply grateful to donors who have opened a door of hope for them. Indeed your sponsorship is a lifelong assistance to the children and Sierra Leone as a whole. May God richly bless you all as you strive to develop our children into useful citizens."

This report includes 2 images - a scanned progress report card from Joy - one of the children we are sponsoring and a photo of some of the children that we are supporting. You can see from the grades and comments on the report card that she has done very well throughout the course of the year.  This is something that we pay attention to and is a condition for scholarship renewal.  We are encouraged to see that Joy is doing so well and she has a great future ahead of her.

We are continually pumped and excited about being able to together help rising leaders like Joy forge ahead with their education.  Our support is creating a definite and unchangeable bright future!  It sure feels good to be a change maker!  Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world".

Giving Tuesday: Have you ever heard about Giving Tuesday:  #GivingTuesday will run on November 27, 2012 from 12:01 AM ET (what time in your city?) to 11:59 PM ET November 27, 2012. This year Microsoft is matching donations made to our microprojects - http://bit.ly/giveyouth by credit card or PayPal at 50% donations.  This is a great way to invest in further change and help us provide more scholarships.  Please join us and donate as early as you can on that date (after 12:01 am to ensure we secure matching funds. 

 Thanks so much for your support and best wishes.