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This grant is to support a young woman from Ghana that has started a Foundation at a very early age to support young, single mothers. She wants to obtain an education so that she can further support and sustain the Foundation. We have identified a very generous host family that will house this student while she completes her degree. The funds from this grant will support her tuition, travel, a laptop computer and other living expenses while she is in San Diego County to receive her community college degree in journalism. There is no college that can provide her this education in her home country of Ghana. Note that we are working with a local Rotary Club of Nugua in Accra on this project. This club oversees the Foundation and Irene locally. A description of the Foundation and a statement by the applicant herself is given below. A photo is included in the photo section of this application.
Young Single Mother's Foundation was established by a 23 year-old lady called Irene Quartey from Accra,Ghana. This foundation was established in January, 2017. Young Single Mother's Foundation (Y.S.M.F) is a non-profit initiative aimed at providing accommodation, medication, food, vocational training and education for both mothers and their children. Young Single Mother's Foundation was started in a small community in Accra, Ghana. In this community teenage pregnancy is increasing rapidly, due to dropping out of school. This foundation was established to help teenagers who get pregnant and dropout of school. This girls are abandoned by the men who get them pregnant and their families. These young girls experience much hardship through their pregnancy and birth. Some end up in the streets with no, accommodation, medication and education. Young Single Mother's Foundation provides them with vocational training (Beads making). Y.S.M.F provides food, medication, accommodation and education for both mothers and their children.T he main aim of this foundation is to empower and change lives of young girls in their community. I saw how my mother struggled to to raise three of us all by herself. This motivates me to help young single mothers to go where no one has gone before and also to raise successful children who will have a bright future and contribute remarkably in their own ways to make this world a better place for their generation.
An introduction to this student in her own words:
MY BACKGROUND
I am the last born of my parents. We are three, two boys and me. We were raised by our mother. She took care of as solely. My elder brother who supports us financially passed away two years ago. So after I completed secondary school I couldn't further my education due to financial problems.I learn how to make beads jewelries and started a business out of it and train other single mothers too.
MY EDUCATION TO DATE
I attended Her Excellency Academy for my nursery and kinagarten education. I was transfered to Richard Akwei Memorial School for my primary and junior high education. I stayed at home for a year after I completed due to financial problems. The following year I got admission into herSt. John's Grammar High School for three years and completed in 2013. Since then I have been home working and hoping to further my education.
MY EDUCATIONAL GOALS
After college I will like to have my own talk show like the Bill Cunningham Show, The Muary Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show etc to help single mothers. I will like to motivate, empower and educate upcoming mothers and single mothers. I will like to train school dropouts and street children into beads making and to acquire other vocational skills. In Ghana there is a notion that women are supposed to be in the kitchen so whiles the men were taking to school women stay at home, although things have changed a little I will like to empower more women especially the youth to believe in themselves that what a man can do women can also do and do it better, this will help to reduce teenage pregnancy and also have more women as leaders. These are few of my goals and what to accomplish with my education in Ghana.
REASONS TO STUDY IN THE USA
The reason why I want to study in the USA is because in Ghana, there are no high-quality institutions for students who wants to study Journalism. I will also get international experience for my CV. This will help me to get employment in any reputable and high paid Television/Radio stations in Ghana.Education in the USA will also help me towards a successful international career. Through my foundation, I will like to help and to be recognized not only in Ghana but in Africa and the world at large. It will also help me to come out of my comfort zone, and become open-minded and to also broaden my horizons.I will not only grow professionally but also personally. These are few of my reasons why I will love to study I the USA.
ADDENDUM (June 13, 2018): After 2 unsuccessful attempts to obtain a student visa to the US despite being accepted as a student and our having proven financial responsibility, we have decided to change our course of action. We have had many discussions with immigration and visa experts to develop this plan. Irene will enroll in a journalism course in Ghana for the next 6 months. The College is accredited and she will receive a completion certificate. Classes begin June 18, 2018. This will increase her credibility as a serious student and may allow employment in her chosen field. In addition, we will help her do some inter-Africa travel to get some stamps in her passport. When complete, we will reassess and perhaps reapply for a US visa or enroll her in another 6 months of study. During the next 6 months, we will try to identify an industry mentor that is willing to support her application and provide mentorship opportunities for her as well. Finally, we will be providing $350 of seed money for her to add an additional line of items for sale in the Foundation shop. This will help to sustain her and the young mothers she is supporting in the interim. See attached documents for course costs and expenses incurred to date.
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