All of you have shown your support by helping out at events, making donations, buying prints, offering advice/resources, and spreading the word. We have built something together by being efficient and persistent, forming strong partnerships with educators, community leaders, and media-makers in both continents. In the purest sense, we are truly a grass roots organization-- we have no offices, no paid staff, no 4-wheel drive vehicles roaming the streets of Accra with our logo emblazoned on the door. Every dollar we have raised has gone directly to paying for school fees for our students in Ghana. This year, all eight girls on scholarship are scheduled to graduate from high schools around the country and this is an accomplishment.
Many of you have also been asking about Edward Chao, our ninth scholarship recipient, whose book of photos and writings entitled "I am the only one who saw" we released in 2007. Besides helping to raise money for Eddie's education, Eddie's book has had a real impact here in the States. Through outreach programs like "ABC Day" at Explore Charter School in Flatbush Broolyn, Eddie's book has been used in US. classrooms, affording thousands of children in schools around the U.S. an opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a child in West Africa.
Eddie is now 15 years old and he has just completed Hannah Middle School, one of the best private junior high schools in his region. I spoke to him recently, as he was going through the process of applying to high schools through a national lottery, which selects the school he will attend based on his grades and BECE final exam scores. It has not been en easy road for Eddie to get this far in school. His grandmother is very dedicated to supporting his education, but the two of them have very limited resources and have been displaced more than once in the past few years due to land development issues. When I spoke to him last, he was excited to learn that he had been accepted into Adonten, which is a very good high school. He was also eager to know if my "colleagues" and I would continue to support him at this next stage of his education. I asked Eddie to write a letter to you, his supporters, to update all of you on his progress and to find out for himself. Here are Eddie's words.
To Whom it may concern:
I would like to thank you for the act of generosity all these years. By the grace of God he has given you strength to support me and send me to Hannah Junior High School, a private school in the Greater Accra part of Ghana.
Life at Hannah wasn't easy since my family is not financially sound to help but by the help of the almighty they were able to give the little support they could. The management and teachers of Hannah school were supportive and friendly. My favorite class was Form 3: Room 1 English and this is because it was the class of the best 40 students.
During my final examination, I had problems studying at home due to unavailability of electricity in our house. So I had to study with my friends in other schools. I couldn't always afford all the text books so I had to borrow from my friends. The following are my final scores. 1 is the highest score, based on the scores of all my other classmates.
English -1
Social studies -1
Mathematics -3
Science -2
Twi -3
French - 2
B.D.T (Pre-Vocational skills)- 2
For secondary school, I got Adonten Secondary school in the Eastern part of Ghana. It is a boarding school and I intend to read General Arts. After secondary school I want to go to the University to read performing arts since I want to become a professional actor and also a TV presenter.
I want to say a big thank you to every single person in the organization for their endless support, without you it would have been impossible for me to attend a private school like Hannah.
I can't pay you back but just to show my appreciation and God richly bless you. Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Edward Chao
GET INVOLVED!
I write to ask for your support going forward with a commitment I made over five years ago to make sure that Eddie gets a good education. Fees for Eddie's high school will come to a little over $1200 per year. That includes boarding fees, field trips, and essential needs for boarding like a mattress, mess hall set (fork, spoon, knife), etc. Anything we raise above $1200 will go toward next year's fund.
TO MAKE AN ONLINE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION TO EDDIE'S HIGH SCHOOL FUND 2010-2011 CLICK HERE
You can also make checks payable to "Deviwo Project" and mail to
Deviwo Project
284 Eastern Parkway #5E
Brooklyn NY 11225
I've informed Eddie that since he got a top score in English, he will be taking over the letter writing campaigns, so you'll be hearing from him more often. What I would love most, if you choose to donate to Eddie's scholarship fund, is for you to include a message of some kind for Eddie. Please feel free to tell him what hopes or expectations you might have of him going forward and what it means to you to have read his words (either in his book or in this letter) and to be a part of helping him complete school. I will make sure he reads these letters and answers any questions you may have in his next correspondence, which will be at midterms this year.
For your donation of $200 or more, you will receive a limited edition signed copy of Eddie's book "I am the only one who saw" AND an 8 X 10 print of Eddie's photograph "Boy on a bike"
For your donation of $100 - $200, you will receive an 8 X 10 print of Eddie's photograph "Atee Heading the Ball"
For your donations of $35 - $100 you will receive a limited edition of Eddie's book "I am the only one who saw" (1 of only 2000 printed copies).
Please help us reach our goal of $1200 for the 2010-2011 school year. DONATE NOW.
Sincerely,
Sam Bathrick
Founder, Deviwo Projects
