Woodburn Gives to Bumpe

In May, Judy Culberson met with students and their teacher at Woodburn Elementary School in Morgantown, WV. The students presented a check for $300.00 to the Kposowa Foundation. As a unit of study, six students ran a café for teachers throughout the school year. A kindergarten class baked muffins each week, and these fourth-grade students sold them and water to the teachers and administration at the school. Proceeds from this project are dedicated to a charity of their choice. This year the students chose to give the money they earned to Bumpe High School. During the presentation, students talked to Sarah by conference call, asked questions, and learned a few Mende words.Three students from Woodburn also participated in a pen pal exchange with 3 Bumpe students and their teacher, Amy Ellis, hopes to continue the exchange in the upcoming year. The Kposowa Foundation thanks the students of Woodburn for their amazing contribution!

AIDS Awareness Campaign

In March 2012, the Berkeley Carroll School in partnership with the Kposowa Foundation sponsored an HIV/AIDS and STD awareness workshop at Bumpe High School. The workshop included 90 participants from various schools and medical practitioners taught students about the causes, symptoms, and prevention of HIV/AIDS and other STDS. From the campaign, students were able to learn about the hazards of HIV/AIDS, STDS, and teen pregnancy.

Bikes in Bumpe

Bumpe High school has just acquired fifteen bicycles for use by students who have been walking long distances to the school.  When we learned here in Morgantown, WV, that the Village Bicycle Project was distributing bikes and training in Ghana (and Sierra Leone!), we contacted them to inquire about some Bikes for Bumpe!  Dave Pelham responded quickly with information about their bike workshops and sales programs.

It was fortuitous that some dedicated donors at Wesley United Methodist Church in Morgantown had a buckful of pocket change they had collected to help make "Change in Bumpe".  A generous anonymous donor added some larger bills to the pot and the total contribution was adequate to fund costs of a full day bicycle workshop in Bumpe including purchase of the bicycles.  Hindo Kposowa assisted as Dave (VBP)  arrived with bicycles and tools to spend the day teaching students and others how to maintain, repair and ride bicycles.  Bikes can now be checked out by responsible students who will use them for their trip to and from school. The smiles in the photos make it clear that everyone is delighted with this new program.

Sierra Leone Celebrates 50 Years of Independence

On April 27th Sierra Leone celebrated her 50th Independence Anniversary. Celebrations will continue throughout the year to commemorate the golden jubilee. The theme of the anniversary is "50 Years Forward-Celebrating a New Sierra Leone" and encompasses a vision of unity in diversity focused on development and growth. The festivities celebrate the unique attributes that set Sierra Leone apart as a nation, reinforce a sense of pride and patriotism, and help people rediscover the things that keep Sierra Leoneans united.

We at the Kposowa Foundation wish the nation of Sierra Leone a very happy anniversary!

Radio Interview with Sarah Culberson

This month Sarah Culberson was interviewed on the Joy Keys radio show along with actor and activist Isaiah Washington. Like Sarah, Washington has a genetic link to the Mende people of Sierra Leone and works to promote positive improvements for the people of Sierra Leone. Listen to the interview here!