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The Challenge
Many education administrators in Africa struggle to maintain reasonable enrollment and attendance rates in their schools. Parents often rely on their children to earn additional income to meet the needs of the household. As a result, although education may be available, many children are left without basic reading and writing skills and a future of educational opportunity.
The Africa Aid Approach
Program Implementation
The School Lunch Program was initiated completely by refugee leaders of Buduburam. In order to build a strong program and empower local leaders, Africa Aid forged a partnership with the Self-Help Initiative for Sustainable Development (SHIFSD), a refugee-run organization focused on providing free education to children in Buduburam. Together, representatives from Africa Aid and SHIFSD sketched out a program plan and timeline, and Africa Aid’s SLP kitchen – the first of its kind in Buduburam – was constructed in 2007.
Mobilizing University Resources
Back in San Diego, the team began constructing their multi-campus University outreach campaign to raise funds and awareness for the SLP in Buduburam. Student groups were formed on three major University campuses – San Diego State University (SDSU), University of San Diego (USD), and the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) – all dedicated to spearheading creative ways to engage their peers in the cause. The signature Africa Aid t-shirts were designed, booths were set up at campus events to educate students about Buduburam, and student leaders helped to plan and execute fundraising events, including an Art Auction and the Kicks for a Cause soccer tournament at UCSD. Africa Aid’s student groups not only helped to raise more than $20,000 to support the SLP, they built the critical foundation for Africa Aid’s future university programming.
Results
We are proud to report that, as a direct result of Africa Aid’s SLP, student enrollment increased by 20% with nearly 215 children of all grade levels receiving free daily meals in their classrooms. Children who never would have otherwise been able to attend school were taught basic reading and writing – skills that will stay with them throughout their lifetime. The SLP maintained operation for two years until refugees in Ghana returned home to Liberia after being exiled for 15 years.
