Newsletters: Volume 7 - Fall 2001
President Makes Fifth Trip To Africa
President Roger Whiting recently returned from his fifth trip to East Africa where he visited GTL's scholarship recipients and their schools. At the annual meeting of the Board of Directors Roger shared some of the wealth of good will that students and their families extended to him during his visit.
 Emily Moore |
Emily Moore Joins The Board
We are particularly delighted to welcome Emily Moore as the newest member of the Board of Directors. Emily gained first hand experience of Tanzania during a safari with her husband in the year 2000. She is a graduate of Smith College and holds a Master's degree in counseling from the University of New Hampshire. She is the author of Strong Stuff: Mothers' Stories, and the mother of two sons. Emily established and operates a jewelry manufacturing business aptly named Moore Designs, Inc. She resides with her family in Deerfield New Hampshire.
 Florence Kiragu Nyamu |
Focus On Kenya
GTL is fortunate to have Dr. Florence Nyamu as its very willing and very capable Scholarship Coordinator in Kenya. Florence holds a Ph.D. in Education from Harvard University and works as director of FAWE in Nairobi. At present Florence is overseeing the work of 17 GTL scholars in six different schools in Nairobi.
One of these young women is sixteen year old Nziza Kitavi from St. George's secondary school. In response to the help made possible by your donations, she writes, "I am writing especially to express my gratitude to GTL for the assistance you've given me in paying my school fees. I promise I'll be an industrious student and make sure that I attain the best to the highest level, so that I can be able to help those in need in the future."
Kenya is a country slightly more than twice the size of Nevada, with a population of nearly 30 million people. Seventy-eight percent of the population is rural. The climate ranges from tropical along the coast on the Indian Ocean to arid in the interior. Approximately 7 percent of the land is arable, with another 30 percent in forests and woodlands. Natural resources include gold, limestone, precious stones and an abundance of wildlife. Among the natural hazards are recurring droughts in the northern and eastern regions, and flooding during the rainy seasons. Droughts were severe in both 1999 and 2000. The Republic of Kenya gained independence from the UK in 1963. The Constitution of the republic establishes a government consisting of an elected President, a unicameral legislature and a separate judicial system. Universal suffrage is enjoyed by all adults eighteen years and older.
Election Of Officers
Officers elected for the coming year are: President, Roger Whiting; Treasurer, Jeanne Lynch; Clerk, Barbara McCarthy; Chair of the Board, Clyde Pax.
Reminder - Change In Mass Tax Law
Recent changes made in the state tax laws now allow you to deduct your donations to GTL from your taxable income on your Massachusetts Tax Return. With your generous help, Growth Through Learning is this year supporting 88 young women in school. Please help us to increase this number past the 100 mark during the coming year. In view of the continued need of the many girls in East Africa who are not able to attend school, we ask you please to continue your generous support even in this time of a somewhat uncertain economy.
 Clyde Pax, Ph.D.  Jeanne B. Lynch  Barbara McCarthy |
From the President
It has been my practice in the past to write primarily about our students in East Africa. In this newsletter I would like to emphasize the contributions of our Board of Directors.
First, I am most grateful to Clyde Pax, Ph.D. for accepting the position of Chairman of the Board. This provides the opportunity for a greater separation of the Board as a policy making body and my function as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Clyde brings with him a wide range of experience and wisdom as a former philosophy professor at Holy Cross College and a volunteer to several non-profit organizations.
July 1, 2001 marked the beginning of Growth Through Learning's fifth year of offering scholarship aid to the girls and young women of East Africa. Since our modest beginning of providing just twelve scholarships the first year we continue to grow at a rapid pace. In fact, we anticipate offering at least 100 scholarships this fiscal year.
We have experienced "growing pains," to be sure. The greatly increased number of applications has required more effort from the Scholarship Committee. Also, as word of GTL's program spreads in East Africa we are receiving an ever increasing number of letters of inquiry from parents seeking funding for their daughter's education. Every letter is promptly answered.
In addition, the Treasurer's job has expanded as we receive an ever-increasing number of contributions. Wire transfers need to be sent to a growing number of schools, and monthly financial statements need to be prepared. Also, rather complex government forms need to be filed annually with the Internal Revenue Service and the Commonwealth of Mass.
In this regard I would like to thank Jeanne B. Lynch for accepting the positions of both Treasurer and Chair of the Scholarship Committee. Jeanne has really stepped forward in a big way and devotes countless hours to these two time consuming jobs.
We are also fortunate to have Barbara McCarthy as Clerk of the corporation. She has particular interest in teaching English as a second language. Since 1991 she has been teaching international students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
The participation of our board members is vital to the success of Growth Through Learning. Thank you all for your support and dedication.
Roger L. Whiting, President
Growth Through Learning
Why Support GTL?
With the rapid expansion of our transportation and communication systems, the World is rapidly becoming a global village... a community of diverse societies, religions, and cultures. It is no longer possible, practical, or moral to ignore the plight of those less fortunate than ourselves.
The balance of knowledge, wealth, and opportunity is not equal. There are those who enjoy an unbelievably lavish lifestyle, while others lack sufficient food, medical care, opportunity, and education. The gifts of food, clothing, and medicines are worthwhile, to be sure. But what greater gift exists than knowledge, and the consequent ability to become truly self-sufficient?
Those of us who see or believe in a common origin and providence for all humanity are convinced that our relationship with even those who live in quite distant regions is that of sisters and brothers.
Last modified: May 11, 2003, 18:37 EDT