Access to education is vital for women and girls

Education access is directly linked to employment and entrepreneurship achievement and success. Women and girls who receive an education have access to higher paying jobs, better health, and a greater quality of life, not only themselves but also the community as a whole.

In Burkina Faso, only 17% of Burkinabé girls attend secondary school, with 29% of adults having literacy skills. In Sierra Leone, 10,000 children were forced to be child soldiers during the civil war. 320,000 children were orphaned by the war, and then Ebola orphaned 12,000 children. Although education is now free there, quality education is lacking because there aren't enough teachers and supplies.

Ramphan McCray education Scholarship for Girls

This scholarship allows access to education that some families can't afford. We reach out to orphaned, single-parent families and families with major health issues. Each girl on scholarship in Burkina Faso has school fees paid and receives school supplies in a backpack and a solar lantern for studying. This project name is after Sarah's sister-in-law, who has passed as a way to honor her and because she believed in the power of education.

Baba odukale malaria prevention kit

In Burkina Faso, 62% of the population contracts malaria, and 30% of those who contract it die from the disease. To ensure that girls on scholarship are healthy to attend school, they receive a mosquito net, fumers, and if needed, funds for malaria testing and treatment. This project is in honor of Sarah’s dear friend, who died from malaria.

Smile, children

Board member Belinda was sending books and supplies to her native country of Sierra Leone to help out girls at the school she attended as a child. Friends wanted to help her with her cause, but they wanted to deduct their contributions. She wasn't ready to start a nonprofit, so we partnered with her to get books and school supplies to children in Freetown, Sierra Leone. We are working on getting the girls the same supplies and malaria prevention tools as the girls in Tiébélé.

D.r.e.a.m. (Drake's recognition of entrepreneurs, artists, mentorship)

This program is for women to have access to the tools needed for success and provide for their families. Although still in development and seeking funding, there will be business loans for the villagers, designed in collaboration with them, and a pilot mentorship program with artists of color in Central MN has completed. The project name is in honor of Sarah’s family, who give unwavering support of her goals and passions.

in action

Because of your donations, in 2018, we provided 10 girls in Tiébélé, Burkina Faso with scholarships, school supplies, and malaria prevention tools. That increased to 19 girls in 2019, and in 2020, we sponsored 30 girls! In 2020, we sent a container full of backpacks, books, and school supplies to benefit 22 girls in Freetown, Sierra Leone.