Julie Veronica Anne Basu (Part II)

Last week we introduced you to Julie Veronica Anne Basu, a student at Bumpe High School. She is 19 years old, loves studying government, and dreams of becoming a lawyer. Watch the video to learn what a typical day is like for her. Continue reading to learn more about Julie's inspiration- Christina Thorpe.

You may not be familiar with Christina Thorpe, but in Sierra Leone- a country with a female youth literacy rate of 37% (in comparison to a 60% literacy rate for male youth)- she is a hero for many girls like Julie.

Ms. Thorpe has spent her life educating many in Sierra Leone. She began as headmistress at a Catholic secondary school (and also was a nun), later became Minister of Education and the only woman in a government cabinet of 19, and went on to found Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), which raises awareness about the impact of education for women and works with NGOs to promote access, retention and performance of girls in schools.

In Sierra Leone, women with even a few years of basic education have smaller, healthier families; are more likely to be able to work their way out of poverty and are more likely to send their own children- girls and boys- to school.

BBC article on Christina Thorpe (click here)

The Kposowa Club

[photo of The Kposowa Club @ Long Beach Polytechnic High School]

This past summer the Foundation had two high school interns, Sasanka Jinadasa and Samantha Liberman, regularly helping out at the office. The girls helped with everything from stuffing envelopes for our July appeal to inputting data entry to making lunch runs for everyone in the office. In addition to helping our office run like a well oiled machine, the girls were inspired to start The Kposowa Club at their high school to help raise awareness about The Kposowa Foundation and its work in Sierra Leone.

Sasanka, founder and president of The Kposowa Club, provided us with the picture above and updated us about a recent fundraiser in which the club was able to raise funds for its upcoming activities. The foundation is excited to have such a dedicated group of young people on board.

Students Making A Difference

[Student group Institute for Human Dignity at the Culberson's home]

The Kposowa Foundation would like to graciously thank the West Virginia University chapter of Institute for Human Dignity (IHD) for raising funds for the foundation. The funds will be used for rebuilding the dining hall and kitchen on the Bumpe High School campus.

Jim and Judy Culberson, Sarah's parents, hosted a picnic for the student group at their home in Morgantown, West Virginia. A check was presented to Kposowa Foundation Board Members Judy Culberson and Jerry McGonigle, who accepted on behalf of the foundation. Also present at the event was David Stewart, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at West Virgnia Univeristy.

Institute for Human Dignity (IHD) is a student group that is committed to making a difference on campus by building awareness of global issues. They are currently focusing on Africa, specifically Sub-Saharan Africa and Sierra Leone. IHD is also involved in Emergency, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that provides free of charge medical and surgical care in war-torn areas. They have programs in Sierra Leone including the only physical therapy department in the country.

One member shared his interest in issues facing developing African countries and his recent attendance of a speech forum sponsored by a student chapter of the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMRF). He said that through all of this he has acquired an even deeper passion for what IHD is doing in Morgantown and The Kposowa Foundation in Sierra Leone.

IHD has an impressive agenda mapped out for 2008-2009. The foundation is looking forward to these events and more opportunities to interact with these impressive students.