Warm greetings

Activity Update: So far this year we have together provided scholarships to an additional 10 students. See - photo of some of the children and their parents – taken at the award ceremony in Freetown. The new shipment of books and school supplies has arrived in Freetown. In the next update, we will provide additional information and share photos etc.

Please take a moment to watch the brief “thank you” video – linked below that made my day. With passion and fluency, in this special video message, Thomasia one of the scholarship beneficiaries extends thanks and gratitude on behalf of the other beneficiaries to you our GlobalGiving donors.

On one hand, it’s disheartening to be reminded (in this video) that even today, there are a lot of children out of school. Fortunately, on the other hand, it’s heart-warming to be reminded that together we are shaping the lives of these children and making a difference. As Thomasia states towards the end of the video – “Your sponsorship has made it possible for our parents to send and keep us in school. We are grateful for your support. We thank you GlobalGiving, Develop Africa and other donors for giving us hope and a future”.

These words from Thomasia made my day! The realization that my involvement is “giving hope” and “helping to provide a future” warmed by heart. Thomasia’s words will remain with me and continue to encourage me to do so much more.

I hope her words made your day brighter too. I hope your heart is warmed too as you listen to the video and read this update. It’s truly amazing how together we can help ensure that children are able to complete their education. I trust also that you would be inspired to do more – however you can. Remember every bit counts.

Without your support all this would not have been possible. Develop Africa is truly grateful for your past and on-going support. Thanks again for your support. Your feedback and suggestions on what we can do additional to expand our impact are so very welcome.

We wish to invite you to help spread the word about the joint impact we are making. Please invite / encourage your friends, family members, co-workers etc. to get involved. You can email this link to them or post this on Facebook etc. Together we can do even more and make this world a better place…

Cordially

Sylvester

Links:

• Video: Thank You Message From Scholarship Beneficiary

Pictures:

• Some of Scholarship Beneficiaries and Parents 2010 (JPG)

Thanks to your on-going support, Develop Africa helped effect real change by providing 15 scholarships to children in Sierra Leone. The scholarships were provided at a scholarship award ceremony which took place on October, in Freetown. The occasion was graced by the parents, friends, teachers and staff of the school and the recipients of the scholarship award. The students and parents were delighted to receive the financial assistance that is making education a possibility for them. Together we are influential and effecting real change, one child at a time.

Marie Mansaray, one of the beneficiaries, gave a vote of thanks and asked local Develop Africa representatives to convey their heart-felt gratitude to GlobalGiving and other donors. Thank you Globalgiving partners, friends and family for helping further their education. We are together truly making a mark that cannot be erased. Additional information and a link to photos taken at the award ceremony are available here - http://bit.ly/phs2009 .

Over the course of the year through your giving Develop Africa has also been able to provide over 8 drums / barrels books and school supplies to the El Shaddai Children’s Home (in partnership with Lead Global, Inc.) and the Freetown Cheshire Home (in partnership with Nuwach Ministries).

As the year draws to a close, we would like to make a special appeal for your support … and send you a friendly reminder to add us to your “gift list”. Please consider making a donation before the end of the year and help us impact many more lives. We would so very much appreciate your support now and on a regular basis next year. We would also be so grateful to hear from you and welcome your feedback.

Links:

• Scholarship Award Ceremony
• School Supplies Provided to El Shaddai Children's Home

Pictures:

• Scholarship Recipients and Family Members (JPG)
• School Supplies Distributed at El Shaddai Children's Home (JPG)

In April - May, this year, I had the opportunity to visit some of the partner schools in Sierra Leone. While there, I presented 3 new XO laptops to the Eva Houston School.

I was very warmly received at each school. I had a brief meeting with the school Principals / Head Teachers and was given a tour of each school. The children, teachers and Principals expressed their deep gratitude for the assistance that you have helped provide.

They asked me to convey their appreciation to you – our donors - for the materials received and scholarships provided. As they explained some of these materials are hard to come by and unavailable locally. By providing these supplies free to the schools and students, we are together promoting and supporting education. Through the scholarships and this supportive environment, the children are able to continue their education and their learning is enhanced.

Thanks donors for your on-going support! We all realize the value of a quality education – and even much more so in these days. This means a lot more than you will ever realize. This is helping to greatly increase their opportunities for success and independence.

Additional details about, pictures and a full report on my field trip are available from the link below.

We would appreciate your feedback and hearing from you. Please feel free to contact us at any time.

Your continued support is also appreciated. Please consider making an additional donation today or signing up for a recurring donation. This would help us impact many more lives. Thank you.

Links:

• Field Trip Summary Report

Pictures:

• Visiting with the school children... (JPG)
• Presenting 3 XO laptops to a school (JPG)
• Reviewing teaching supplies in use in a classroom (JPG)

In most places in the Western world, it’s cold or cooler now. How about a heart-warming moment for a change?

Well, here is an unedited, 8 minute video from Freetown, Sierra Leone that shows a group of very grateful children and teachers. This video was shot late in December 2008 – just before Christmas. You can see in the video the books and teaching supplies that your donations are helping to provide. Clearly the books and supplies received meant a lot to them.

Be sure to listen to the end of the video where you can hear the song in your honor. In this song YOU are proclaimed and acknowledged as “jolly good fellows”.

Thank you for helping to make a difference in their education through your donation.

We welcome your additional donations today and throughout the year – that will help us continue to do so much more.

Links:

• Video of Appreciation From the Field - On Youtube

Hello friends,

As of Saturday December 6, we have together raised $3145 from 87 special donors – you being one of them. We appreciate each of you - for investing into the future leaders of Sierra Leone and also for helping Develop Africa secure a permanent presence on GlobalGiving. We did it together! Kudos to you all!

Some of you have already received a link to a recent Sierra Leonean newspaper article about our education initiatives in Sierra Leone. The link below – “Develop Africa Boosts Education” – shows how together we are making a difference.

The $3145 that we raised so far is a great start towards the project funding goal of $49,987. This amount will help provide much needed scholarships, books and school supplies for about 20 children. With your help we can do much more and reach our funding goal. So, as we close out the final month of this year and plan towards the upcoming year, can I ask that you help us take this project to the next level? Below under ‘Attachments”, is a link to a PDF file that provides some suggestions on how you can help us take this project to “The Next Level”.

Every action you take, every invitation you extend, every donation you make - all together counts and will help educate the next generation. You are powerful!

Thank you so much for your support! I'll keep you updated on our progress.

Best wishes

Sylvester

Links:

• Develop Africa Boosts Education

Attachments:

• The Next Level (PDF)
  

Dear friends,

Thanks to all of you that already donated to the GlobalGiving Challenge 2008! We appreciate you.

Below is a link to a “thank you” letter (in PDF format) I just received from Freetown, Sierra Leone - In this letter, the Headmistress / Principal of the school expresses gratitude for the supplies you and other previous donors have helped to provide. Thanks for joining us in continuing to make a difference – and helping to educate the next generation of leaders in Sierra Leone.

As of Sunday, November 16, the project has received a total of $1,240 from 32 donations. With this money we will be able to provide additional scholarships, children’s books and much-needed school supplies. This is a great start!

We however still have 43 unique donors to go in 5 days time. This is “doable”. I’m sure with your help we can reach this goal.

Please let your friends and loved ones know about the challenge and encourage them to give too. If you could personally reach one or convince one person, we will definitely get there. You are welcome of course to make an additional donation.

Cordially

Sylvester

Attachments:

• Thank You Letter - Tower Hill (PDF)