Newsletters: Volume 3 - Fall 1999
 1999 Annual Meeting - Josiah Muganda, Clyde Pax, Grayce Muganda, Carla Szymanski, Roger Whiting, Sr. Clare Tjader, Barbara McCarthy, Jeanne Lynch |
GTL Holds Annual Meeting
On September 8th, Growth Through Learning held its second annual meeting at its headquarters in Paxton, MA. Elected officers are: Roger L. Whiting, President, Eric M. Larsson, Vice President, Sr. Clare Tjader, Treasurer, and Jeanne B. Lynch, Clerk.
Elected, as a new member of the Board of Directors is Barbara M. McCarthy of Worcester, MA. Barbara has a Masters degree in English from the University of Detroit and is currently teaching international students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester.
The annual financial report showed that GTL's income from donations more than doubled in the past year and the total number of donations increased from 68 in 1998 to 107. Operating expenses have been reduced to 18% of income, and scholarship awards now equal 78% of revenues.
Update on Scholarships
During his annual report to the Board, President Roger Whiting announced that Growth Through Learning is now providing scholarship aid to thirty-two girls in East Africa. During his June trip to Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania he visited sixteen of these young scholars in twelve different schools. He was well pleased to find them happy and doing well. Thanks to your generous donations these thirty-two girls are able to continue their education during the current year. Together, we are making a difference. GTL is becoming known throughout the United States, as well as East Africa, as a viable and worthwhile non-profit organization.
The Year Ahead
Since the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1, GTL has been most fortunate to receive almost $11,000 from two substantial gifts. Consequently, we are well on our way to raising sufficient funds to offer scholarship aid to 50 young women and girls this year. For the most part, the school year in East Africa begins in January. To meet our goal of 50 students we will again need to count on your generosity, and we thank you in advance for your very essential assistance.
From one of our Students
In a letter from Uganda, student Grace Nantale writes "I do not know what words to use to express my excitement about the scholarship you gave me. The sincere gratitude that I have in my heart cannot be expressed by words. I have had to be sent home in the middle of almost every term for school fees. But now that I have a scholarship, I think the door to my success has been opened." This expression of gratitude is typical of many others that GTL has received from student thank you notes.
 Josiah Muganda, Dar es Salaam Tanzania |
Josiah Muganda - Coordinator
Another group of persons who can be proud are the Scholarship Coordinators who work for GTL in East Africa. One of these coordinators, Josiah Muganda from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania is currently visiting relatives in this country and he and his wife Grace delighted all of us with their presence at the annual meeting. Josiah has been extremely generous with his time, and continues to send us applications from good candidates. It should be noted that Josiah, like the other coordinators in East Africa, does this work for GTL without pay. In fact, all the work that is done at GTL is done by volunteers. Except for the funds necessary to run the organization, all of your money goes to the girls for school fees and expenses.
Matching Gifts
Have you checked with your employer to see if matching charitable gifts are available? Many companies will match on a dollar for dollar basis a charitable gift that you make to a qualified non-profit organization. What a great way to double the value of your tax-deductible donation! Usually it just requires you to complete a simple form and submit it to your human resources department. We will then be happy to inform your company of your donation for matching gift purposes.
 Rachel Talidda Nanteza of the Namugongo Girls' Boarding School points out her home country of Uganda to Roger Whiting |
From the President
During the past year our Scholarship Coordinators in East Africa have worked very hard and very successfully in helping GTL identify worthy candidates, obtain completed scholarship applications, and administer our scholarship awards to 32 students. Consequently, I felt it was time to return to East Africa and meet with some of them, visit the schools, and most importantly, meet some of the students we are sponsoring.
On June 16th I began my 11-day whirlwind visit to East Africa by flying from Boston to Nairobi, Kenya. There, our Kenyan Coordinator Florence Nyamu greeted me, and for the following 2 days we traveled significant distances out into the bush where I had the opportunity to meet 4 of our students, all at different schools.
Next, I flew to Entebbe, Uganda, where I received a royal reception from Sr. Immaculate Nassuuna, who welcomed me at the airport, accompanied by 5 of her brothers and sisters. The driver took Sr. Immaculate and me for a tour around the capital city, giving me a quick introduction to the history of the city, its major buildings, schools and churches.
The next morning Sr. Immaculate and I drove to the Namugongo Girl's Boarding School to visit Rachel, who is our first Ugandan scholarship recipient. She is an orphan, and a true "shining light." The smile on little Rachel's face was worth the entire trip! The next day we visited Rachel's grandmother with whom she lives when not in school. Her grandmother greeted us most graciously and was extremely grateful for GTL's help with Rachel's education.
After visiting 5 schools and 6 scholarship recipients in Uganda, I flew back to Nairobi and then took the bus to Arusha, Tanzania for my final visit. There I was greeted by Yona Andrew, our Scholarship Coordinator, and by Anne Mbwambo, who in August of 1997 became our first official scholarship applicant. At that time we were sadly under-funded, and GTL had to refuse her a scholarship. But Anne has worked hard and saved her money, and is now attending the College of Business Education in Dar es Salaam. She took an eleven-hour bus ride from Dar to see me, and to inquire about a possible partial scholarship. I was thrilled that GTL could at last help her.
 Violeth Julius Ulomi and Mother - Arusha, Tanzania |
Another happy surprise was to be greeted in Arusha by Violeth Julius Ulomi and her mother. Violeth is attending the Singida Folk Development School that is located well over one hundred kilometers from Arusha. She came all that way to see me, bringing with her a very well-written thank you note, her school papers, samples of her tailoring, gifts of fabric and a bracelet, and a delicious white cake that she had baked herself.
While I was waiting at the airport for my flight from Nairobi to Amsterdam, I sat down at a small cafe. There I met a young man who was seated next to me, and during our casual conversation I learned that he is a merchant seaman. After three months at sea he was on his way home to Ireland for a month's vacation. He inquired about my occupation, and after several minutes of discussion he said, "I'd be willing to support GTL. It's better than donating to a charity where I don't know how my money is being used!" He then proceeded to produce five twenty-pound English notes (approximately $150.) He is GTL's first international donor, and I'm sure we will hear from again in the future.
The contributors, supporters, and Board members of Growth Through Learning have every reason to take pride in what they are doing. My visit to East Africa was totally successful because it reaffirmed our Mission and Program. The expressions of thanks were almost overwhelming, and the financial need was obvious. The schools appear to be well run, and the principals and headmistresses are competent and cooperative. It was obvious that these girls are well protected, nourished, and educated in a caring environment. We have good, reliable people as our Scholarship Coordinators.
Please! Help Growth Through Learning continue to keep these East African students in school. They so desperately want, appreciate, and need the advantages of an education. I have seen the joy on the faces of the girls and young women whom we are encouraging with our sponsorship. We are making a difference!
Roger L. Whiting
Last modified: May 11, 2003, 19:03 EDT