The Institute for Human Dignity Celebrates Kposowa

The Institute for Human Dignity (IHD) is a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization committed to creating a voice for the voiceless. Founded by the students of West Virginia University, the organization completes fundraising, service projects, and/or awareness for causes, or other organizations of their choosing, on the local, statewide, national, and international levels. On May 1st over 190 people including IHD chapter members and other students from West Virginia University, faculty, and many friends of the Kposowa Foundation gathered at Lakeview Resort and Spa for an incredible evening that included dinner, entertainment by an African drum ensemble and a presentation by keynote speaker, Sarah Culberson. IHD's founders, and the past president, Kyle Phillips, welcomed the audience and introduced Jim Culberson who then introduced Jerry McGonigle who brought greetings from the Kposowa Foundation and expressed heartfelt thanks for the work of IHD. Dr. Culberson also introduced members of the Culberson and Kposowa family who attended the event. The evening concluded with the announcement of winners of the silent auction and a presentation by IHD to the Kposowa Foundation of a check for $7,000.00 to be used for the reconstruction of Bumpe High School.

It’s a Battle to Raise Funds

Windward School championed the efforts of the Kposowa Foundation by raising over $5,000 at a Battle of the Bands event held Saturday March 7th. It was a great night with over 300 people in attendance and one amazing act after another. The Kposowa Foundation would like to send a special thank you to all those who were apart of the extraordinary event.

Rotary Foundation at Work in Bumpe

Rotary International is a service club with about 1.2 million members and a commitment to community service around the world through its charitable wing, The Rotary Foundation. Rotary recently joined the Kposowa Foundation's efforts to improve life in Bumpe, Sierra Leone with a grant for a water project. When East Bremerton (WA) Rotarian Kim Zook met Sarah at a meeting and heard about the foundation's work, he invited her to travel to the Seattle area for a brief but successful series of talks and fundraisers. When Sarah's Dad (a Morgantown North Rotarian in WV) heard about this effort, and also learned that one of Sierra Leone's two Rotary Clubs is in Bo, just 25 km from Bumpe, he wondered if a Rotary Foundation matching grant might be feasible. Matching grants require 'hands-on' cooperative work by a host (In-country) club and one or more International partner(s).

After Jim and Kim discussed possibilities, Jim reached Dr. Andrew Muana of the Bo Rotary Club in Sierra Leone. When he expressed interest in a water project on behalf of Bo Rotary, we had then, the makings of a Matching Grant project; two interested U.S. clubs and a host club located quite near the Bumpe chiefdom where clean, available water is among the many pressing needs.
Contributions from the two U.S. Rotary Clubs were matched by Rotary District funds, and the total was matched by The Rotary Foundation. The project was recently approved and provides just over $50,000 to fund construction of new wells. Currently the Rotary partners are working with Joseph Kposowa and the Bumpe chiefdom to get work underway. These wells will supply safe, accessible water for many Bumpe residents who now spend many hours carrying water long distances.

Holiday Wishes 2008

[click on photo to see a larger version]

The Kposowa Foundation would like to wish everyone
a Happy Holidays!!

We'll see you in 2009!

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)