Restoring the Heart of Bumpe

Extrerior - Paint Up2, originally uploaded by The Kposowa Foundation.

It is said that the heart of any home is the dinning room. It is where the inhabitants can share a meal, a discussion, and some quality time together. The Kposowa Foundation had this and so much more in mind when they took on the project of rebuilding the dinning hall at Bumpe High School. With a private grant and the support of the Institute of Human Development, the dinning hall was completed and furnished this summer. Students and staff are now able to fellowship and enjoy arts programs in a beautiful space. The hall also provides a valuable resource for the community as it can be rented for weddings, conferences, and other events that additionally benefit revenue sources for the school.

In addition to the dinning hall, there has been major progress in completing the bathrooms. This is tremendously exciting, especially for female students who need proper facilities to feel comfortable in their learning environment. Although toilets and plumbing have not been installed, Bumpe students and staff are enthusiastic about the progress. Thanks to everyone involved in this project!

Newly Constructed Bathrooms

The Kposowa Foundation in Hermosa Beach, CA for Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars Concert!

Hi Family,

The California branch of The Kposowa Foundation will be represented at the Sierra Leone Refugee All Stars concert in Hermosa Beach, CA - Wednesday, August 10th!

Come out and support the foundation and this amazing Sierra Leone/Liberia group!

Time: August 10, 2010 at 9pm.
Location: Saint Rocke
Street: 142 Pacific Coast Highway
City/Town: Hermosa Beach, CA
Website or Map: http://saintrocke.marqueehq.c…


Purchase tickets for the show and get more information here: http://refugeeallstars-audience.fm/events/hermosa-beach-ca

A Big Gift from a Young Donor

Mackenzie, 13 years old, decided to share her birthday with the students of Bumpe. Rather than receiving gifts, Mackenzie asked her friends and family to donate to the Kposowa Foundation. With the help of her loved ones, Mackenzie purchased two sewing machines for the Home Economics block at Bumpe High School. Now the students can learn a valuable trade and share their skills with the community.

We thank you Mackenzie and your friends for opening your hearts to the students in Sierra Leone!

Success with Bumpe's Pen Pal Program

This year Bumpe students were able to find distant friends with students at Vistamar School in California. The pen pal program allowed students to connect with one another on a personal level as they shared their interests, hobbies, and daily lives. The students received the letters via email, and for Bumpe students, whose lives have been ravaged by civil war, the letters were a real snapshot of life here in America.

We are grateful for the success of the program and hope to continue the correspondence between students here in America and Sierra Leone. We would like to especially thank the students, faculty, and staff of Vistamar for their involvement and participation.

Rotary Helps with Clean Water

Back in 2009, Jim Culberson, a North Rotarian in WV, and Kim Zook, a Bremerton Rotarian in WA, partnered with the Rotary Club in Bo, Sierra Leone to establish a water project that would bring clean and accessible water to the residents of Bumpe. Together the partners secured a $50,000 grant from the Rotary Foundation to fund the construction of new water wells. Today, the project has completed 8 wells in various communities including:

·       Bumpe

·       Mongayba

·       Mojibba

·       Gibbu

·       Solima

·       Bo

Thanks to the generosity and partnership of the Rotarians, the residents of Sierra Leone can be confident that they are receiving safe water within their own community. Parents can live without the worry of water borne diseases killing their children and children can enjoy their health and childhood. The Kposowa Foundation would like to extend a special thank you to all that were involved in this project!