2004 ANNUAL REPORT

December 12, 2004

Dear Friend of Kopeyia,

Once a year I write to ask for your continued support of our school project in Kopeyia.
Thanks to your generosity, our school in Kopeyia is an educational institution to be proud of, providing essential information and empowering the villagers to improve their lives. 
Founded on October 10th, 1988, with 2 teachers and 80 students, The Kopeyia Bloomfield Local Authority School now has 32 teachers and 800 students, in pre–K, Kindergarten, Primary and Junior Secondary School levels through 9th grade. 

I traveled to Kopeyia in August 2004, and I have some incredible news to share with you.

Girl Power: National Honors and New Business

In 2004 our school received 4 national honors in academics and athletics – all earned by girls. 

• Rose Agbeforti, an 8th grader, came in second in all of Ghana in the ‘What Do You Know’ quiz competition, based on general knowledge in all subjects. 
• Rose also helped lead the way for our school’s Girls Club to place second in all of Ghana in the ‘Sara Initiative’ knowledge/skills competition.  ‘Sara’ is a storybook character who is emerging as a role model for girls’ empowerment in Africa.  Sara’s story teaches adolescent girls to resist peer pressure, develop self-esteem, and to say NO to undesirable sexual advances.  Sara also sets another example we extol, by using her education to solve local community problems, like making a smokeless stove, which uses less firewood.  Adolescent reproductive health (including STDs, HIV and AIDS), nutrition and current events remain annual priorities in our Girls Club curriculum.
• Josephine Afatsawo, a 7th grader, made Ghana’s 2004 National Girls Soccer Team.
• Afi Gloppa, a 5th grader, made Ghana’s ‘04 National Girls Track & Field Team.

Mama Traku graduated from our 9th grade in 1996, then apprenticed as a hairdresser for a few years.  This year Mama celebrated the first anniversary of her own successful hair salon, the first business started in the village by any Kopeyia graduate.  Mama employs another Kopeyia grad, Liza Agbeli (’03), as her assistant/apprentice.

Quality Staff

These achievements reflect well on the school’s teaching staff, half of which is hired and paid by the Ghana Education Service (GES), the other half hired and paid by KGSF.  We send almost $10,000 annually to pay additional teachers’ salaries to reduce class sizes from 60 to 30 students per class, and to keep a substitute teacher on campus. 

Your donations greatly help our school’s effectiveness.

While there in August, I met Mr. Ken Denutsui, who is now in his 3rd year as our Headmaster, and 27th year heading a school.  I was impressed by his supervision, his relationship with the teaching staff, his educational standards and work ethic. 

Electricity

After lobbying the Ghana government for 13 years, and purchasing electricity poles ourselves in 1999, we finally saw electricity turned on in Kopeyia in 2004.  The school is wired, and a number of homes that are near the road are also using the power.  Now that the school has electricity, students are using the library to read and study every evening.  As the Kopeyia community becomes accustomed to paying the monthly electricity bill, KGSF will gradually add more gear to aid the school’s abilities and efficiency.  Our plans include a computer and printer for the Headmaster’s office, a television and VCR to show educational videos, plus a fan and a fridge for the staff common room.  Over time we plan to start a computer training room for the students, and we are dreaming about high-speed satellite internet access.

The arrival of electricity in the village is also important for the hope and excitement it inspires.  Our educated graduates will more likely set up their families and their businesses in Kopeyia, with the enhanced capabilities and living standards that electricity enables.

Clinic

Another long-sought improvement to life and infrastructure arrived in Kopeyia in 2004.  Mrs. Agnes Zigah, a mid-wife with 30 years experience, opened the St. Anthony’s Health and Maternity Clinic in Kopeyia.  A full-time nurse also works in the clinic 6 days a week. 
Mrs. Zigah, who lives in Aflao, a big town about 7 miles from Kopeyia, recognized the village’s generally improved economic stature, health care awareness, and popular demand for such a clinic.  The clinic is an excellent and affordable first line of defense against illness and injury, as well as a good source of health information and advice.   

With your support, many of our graduates are continuing their education in vocational schools, high schools, universities, polytechnics, computer schools, teacher training colleges, catering and tourism schools.  This year we are adding some incentives to encourage greater participation in our vocational school scholarship program, especially among girls. 

Some Kopeyia graduates are apprenticing for electricians, accountants, hairdressers and seamstresses, and will soon be starting village businesses of their own.  Others are improving village-farming practices.

All students who receive KGSF scholarships sign an agreement to return to live and work in Kopeyia for at least as many years as they receive sponsorship for their higher education.  They readily accept this community-minded responsibility, embracing the opportunity to use their new skills and knowledge to improve the village’s standard of living.  Some scholarship recipients are already working in Kopeyia as teachers, hairdressers, and seamstresses, and one is employed as a hospital aide in a nearby town.

The children we educate will become the future leaders and economic backbone of Kopeyia.  We are proud of the academic and vocational progress of many of our graduates so far.  They remain dedicated to building Kopeyia’s economy, to enable the village to support and maintain their alma mater for future generations.

University Graduate

Through his dedication to hard work and to helping his village, Kofie Agbeli is on track to become a great leader in Kopeyia.  Kofie was in our school’s pioneer class, helping to build the school throughout its first 8 years, while setting high academic standards.  Kofie’s fine scores on Ghana’s standard national final exams in 1996 earned him a KGSF scholarship for three years to attend Bishop Herman Senior Secondary School, a few hours journey north from his Kopeyia home.  Kofie then achieved an amazing academic leap by qualifying for a full scholarship to attend University of Northern Iowa.  With ever-improving grades, and an unflagging commitment to study subjects that would be useful to him back home, Kofie has just completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from UNI in General Studies, with concentrations in business, computers, and a certificate in leadership skills.  Congratulations Kofie!

Kofie has been hired to work as a substitute teacher at a highly regarded private school in New Jersey from January through June 2005.  With some savings in his pocket and additional educational experience, Kofie plans to move to Kopeyia in July 2005 to build a house and set up his life, family and career in the village.  Kofie will be at the forefront of KGSF’s efforts to improve the Kopeyia School’s effectiveness by involving the community more in school activities.

Kofie will also serve as an active organizer of his peers, Kopeyia school alumni, trying to bring more of their career efforts and communal labor to bear on the village’s development.

Stretching Every Dollar

A dollar goes a long way in Ghana – about 100 times farther than it goes here!  $50 pays a teacher’s salary for one month.  $400 pays tuition, room and board, books, transportation, and pocket money for one year of Senior Secondary School (private boarding High School). Your tax-deductible donation benefits the community directly:  98% of each dollar you give provides services in Kopeyia; 2% goes to phone, postage and other administrative expenses.  We are staffed entirely by volunteers.

Your Generosity Makes It Possible

I hope it is possible for you to contribute to the KGSF again this year.  Your donation supports the education that will enable the people of Kopeyia to achieve long-term economic self-sufficiency.  Your generosity is truly appreciated. 
Thank you very much!

Sincerely yours,

Robert Levin, President      

KGSF is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization

Tax deductible contributions can be made out to KGSF and sent to:
Kopeyia Ghana School Fund, Inc.  1056 Oakland Court, Teaneck, NJ 07666

Salaries for 16 teachers in the Kopeyia School
(avg./teacher: $50/month): $9,600/year.

Kopeyia School Operating Budget and Maintenance: $4,000/year.

Scholarships for 7 Vocational School students
($300 each per year): $2,100/year.

Scholarships for 13 Senior Secondary School students
($400 each per year): $5,200/year.

Scholarships for 5 tertiary school students
($600 each per year): $3,000/year.

American Volunteer Envoys in Kopeyia for tutoring and on-site administration of KGSF programs - for transportation, communications and living expenses: $5,000/year.