Newsletters: Volume 2 - Fall 1998

Nakalembe Proscovia, Age 13, Uganda

Gearing Up for January

In Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda the new school years begins in January. For all of us working with Growth Through Learning this means gathering sufficient funds to cover another year for the 12 GTL scholars now studying in these countries, and hopefully sufficient funds to extend the same opportunity to a dozen more deserving and needy African girls. That's right. When the new school year opens in January we hope to be able to report to you that your money is supporting 25 young scholars. The twelve young women currently studying under GTL sponsorship are doing quite well according to letters received from their families by President Whiting. Some of the letters received are quite touching in the expressions of gratitude for the help you folks have provided. Here are some examples:

Aid To Africa Continues To Drop

According to a recent Internet posting by the African Policy Information Center, a Washington-based educational group seeking to widen the debate on foreign aid, both public and private aid to African countries continues to decline. "The main destinations of all types of private flows are the more dynamic economies of Asia, Europe and Central and South America." The poorest countries experience "a continuing need for aid [even] to help establish conditions that will favor market investment, self-sustaining growth, and attainment of internationally agreed development goals." For additional information see the APIC web site at: http://www.africapolicy.org

Letter Excerpts: Our Families Speak

The following excerpts, from letters of the girls whom you have helped, speak for themselves. From Tanzania... "Now our Subira is at school. May our God bless you for your kindness." From Kenya..."The parents of the girls will be very happy. We are really very grateful." From Uganda... "Thanks for the good heart you have to the needy new generation."

Annual Board Meeting

GTL held its annual board meeting at the new home of President Roger Whiting in Paxton, MA on August 20, 1998. The year was indeed a successful year. By the end of the first year of operation Growth Through Learning is justly proud of the fact that it has enabled twelve young women to continue in school. Moreover, GTL is in all three countries of East Africa and has at least a beginning of a local network set up in Tanzania and Kenya. In Tanzania Mr. Josiah Muganda continues to forward applications from girls in the region of Dar es Salaam; and in Nairobi, Florence Kiragu Nyamu has sent several applications and is currently investigating ways to distribute our brochure to American tourists in Kenya. Back at home, the Internal Revenue Service has approved Growth Through Learning as a non-profit public charity. The approval came 29 days after the application was filed. As President Whiting says, "we must be doing something right."

Fund-raising Chief Task

The plan for increased scholarships for the coming year pretty much sets the agenda for the board of directors. During the coming months their chief task will be fund-raising. If any of you readers have any good ideas about how to further this important work please share them by writing to GTL 3 Shanandoah Drive, Paxton, MA 01612.

Josiah Muganda Scholarship Liason in Dar es Salaam

Letter from the President

On August 20, 1998 Growth Through Learning held its first Annual Meeting. We were officially incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on July 1, 1997 and our fiscal year ended June 30, 1998. What a year it has been!

Following an intense fund raising campaign in the fall of 1997 we were able to provide scholarship aid to 12 young women - girls who would have been denied secondary education without our help. Then on April 22nd of 1998 we filed our application for non-profit status with the Internal Revenue Service. This filing was acknowledged within a week, and a determination of approval was made on May 29th. Having been told that this process generally takes 3-4 months, I was extremely gratified that we were approved so quickly. Clearly we are doing things right! Many thanks to Attorney Stuart Hammer of Mountain, Dearborn & Whiting (no relation,) in Worcester, MA for guiding us in the preparation of this very complex and technical application. His help was invaluable.

Now, we are well positioned to begin a new fiscal year. Ms. Sandra Savage has assumed the position of Vice President, Sister Clare Tjader is now Treasurer, and Ms. Jeanne Lynch is Clerk of the Corporation. In addition we elected three new directors to the Board, Jeanne B. Lynch, Douglas B. Whiting, and Carla Szymanski. That raises our number to 10, and provides significant strength to the Board. Our charter allows for 15 members, and the search for additional interested, qualified people goes on.

We are greatly saddened by the terrorist attacks on our embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the individuals and their families whose lives were shattered forever by those atrocious and senseless acts.

Perhaps, however, we can derive some strengthened resolve from these incidents. By providing as many scholarships as possible, by helping others to become better equipped to move forward with their lives, we will help to ease the burdens of life in East Africa. We recognize that it is often the women who are the teachers of children. Consequently the multiplier effect of our efforts will undoubtedly effect the lives for future generations as well.

This will take time, to be sure. We are proud that Growth Through Learning is among several support organizations that are working for the betterment of East Africa. To the best of my knowledge, however, we are the only non-profit public charity providing scholarship aid there. Consequently, I believe we are both unique, and meaningful. I know we are appreciated, as I receive such touching letters from parents, schoolmasters, and other concerned individuals. Frankly, I have never experienced such a hunger for education as expressed by the people of East Africa.

Please join us in this worthy effort. We, and the women and girls of East Africa, need your support. Believe me, it is a meaningful contribution, as your gift can, and will, make a difference. The school year in East Africa begins in January. Consequently, your early donation will aid us significantly in planning for the coming year.

- Roger L. Whiting, President

Last modified: Oct 19, 2003, 14:01 EDT