Message from Our Chairperson
I first met Kwesi and Melissa Koomson in a church. They were out beating the bushes, talking with anyone who would listen, about a new school in Ghana – a school with a new approach and remarkable results. I remember having two overwhelming reactions.
The first was, in spite of all the bad things I had heard about program failures in Africa, these two individuals seemed to really know how to make a big personal difference, on the ground. Kwesi was from the very village in which the school was located, and he spoke with clarity and authority about the importance of parent and community involvement.
The second was I was amazed by the direct and powerful impact a relatively small amount of money could have if effectively deployed. Kwesi and Melissa were talking about $75 providing a full annual scholarship for a child to get one of the best educations available in Ghana!
The more I learned about the Schoerke Foundation the more convinced I became that something very right was happening.
In the Summer of 2011, I went to Ghana and visited Heritage. It was an unforgettable experience. The students are like sponges just soaking up everything - listening intently, taking notes, helping each other, and questioning their American visitors literally about everything. The level of curiosity and focus on learning was, to me, amazing.
There is something in the Ghanaian culture that thirsts for education. Some say it’s hope – a parent’s desire for a child to do a bit better. I don’t really know what creates it. But, I do know there seems to be an insatiable demand for education in Ghana. Heritage Academy, the school Melissa and Kwesi created, has grown from 32 to 1,057 students in its seven-year life, and the children just keep coming.
All you really have to do is look at the faces of the kids - their bright eyes, magnificent smiles, study intensity, connection with each other and their teachers, and enthusiasm for life. It tells the whole story.
Try following us on Facebook. There's usually something good happening.
Sincerely,
Roy Ortman