Sonia Lee is fundraising
Help Bring Learning to West Africa: School Supplies Needed!
Help West African Students Thrive!
In a small African village, Amina dreams of becoming a doctor, but poverty threatens her future. With no school supplies or even light to study by, her aspirations seemed impossible. Develop Africa changed that. They provided her with a scholarship and solar lights, turning her dream into a reality.
My Goal
Funds are urgently required to continue supporting children like Amina and their families! I hope to raise $1,000+ to support students in Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Liberia, Senegal, and beyond.
Your donations will directly fund:
- Purchasing essential school supplies: notebooks, pencils, backpacks, solar lights, and more
- Shipping costs to get those supplies from the U.S. to students in West Africa
- Mosquito nets to protect against malaria
- Vocational training for young adults to foster self-reliance
- Microfinance loans for families to start small businesses
If you prefer to donate physical supplies yourself, you can drop off new or gently used items (see below "What We Need Most") at South Valley Family YMCA (5632 Santa Teresa Blvd, San Jose, CA 95123) where they will be handled with care and eventually picked up by myself or a team member.
How YOU (yes, you!) Can Help
Every dollar makes a difference. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you're placing tools for success directly in a child’s hands.
$25 = notebooks, pencils, and a backpack for one student
$50 = covers the shipping of one full box of school supplies
$100+ = empowers a classroom and helps fund solar lighting or tech supplies
What We Need Most
- Backpacks & notebooks
- Pens, pencils, erasers, and sharpeners
- Solar lights (so children can study at night)
- Rulers, calculators, and school uniforms
- Laptops/tablets for tech access
- Art supplies, children’s books, and science kits
Furthered reading:
Why It Matters
- Without tools to learn, bright young minds are left behind. Many students in under-resourced schools are forced to share one textbook between five or six peers—or go without entirely. Studies show that just one textbook per child can increase literacy scores by 5–20% (Michaelowa & Wechsler, 2006). When we equip a child with supplies, we also equip them with power—the power to write, learn, imagine, and lead.
About Develop Africa
- Founded in 2006, Develop Africa is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to strengthening self-reliance in African communities. They provide school supplies, solar lights, scholarships, and skills training with a focus on long-term sustainability and local collaboration.
- They’ve already impacted tens of thousands of children across West Africa—and with your help, we can reach even more!
Questions?
Feel free to reach out! I'd love your support.
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