It is estimated that less than one-third of Sub-Saharan African children of the
appropriate age are enrolled in secondary school. The solutions are many, better
schools, more supplies, well trained teachers, but many governments and large
development agencies tend to overlook those talented students who cannot afford
any secondary education.
To fill this unmet need The African Educational Opportunities Foundation, Inc.
seeks to create opportunities for promising African youth through the provision of
scholarships when poverty would otherwise force them to abandon their studies.
The Foundation focuses on students entering high school, when the majority of
African students drop out of school. While it is our priority to support the costs of
tuition, we are realize the that many students do not have the resources for
uniforms, and supplies, and those from rural areas may need further support for
room and board, therefore we will also support these costs when necessary and
possible.
Scholarships are distributed through partnerships and collaborations with local
NGO's and international development volunteer agencies. This unique service
model allows us to keep our administrative and overhead costs at an absolute
minimum, ensuring that nearly all of the money we raise goes directly towards
student's educational expenses. In addition, because we work in countries we are
familiar with, we can gain greater access to and information about potential
collaborators.
Accomplishments
During our 2004 inaugural fiscal year we distributed $1,500 to fund a scholarship
program in the West African country of Ghana. These funds will provide 7-15
students with another year of secondary school or high school.
In August 2005 we sent $1000 to an NGO in Togo called RENOPEF (Reseau
National des Organisations pour la Promotion de l'Education de la Jeune Fille),
which distributed scholarship funds to approximately 10 secondary school
students. Here is some information (in French) about NGOs in Togo, including
RENOPEF, our project partner in Togo.
In July of 2006, we partnered with a Mauritanian NGO located in Nuokchott.
Ammenons Nos Filles a l'Ecole (Bringing our Girls to School) distributed $1600 to
fund eight girls through another year of school.
Opportunities Foundation, Inc.
22 Vine St
Melrose, MA 02176
info@aeof.org
African country and would be interested in partnering with us to develop a scholarship
program, please contact us.
If you are an individual seeking funds to continue your education in Ghana or
Togo, please contact our partner organizations directly to learn how to apply for
a scholarship. If you are an individual in another African country seeking to
further your studies, please do NOT send us applications by email or letter.
While we are sympathetic to your needs, we work through partner organizations
and cannot respond to these requests.
