Support The Pillar Academy in Accra, Ghana

Dear all,

I would like to share with you a project that is close to my heart and that I have been fortunate enough to witness firsthand. My dear friend Kwame and his father, Papa or "Grandpa" Maxwell, have dedicated their time and own resources to building a school in Ghana called "The Pillar Academy."

In the 90s when they recently immigrated to the Netherlands, papa Maxwell helped his children Kwame, Kofi, and Magdalene with their homework. He noticed that more young people in the Holendrecht (Bijlmer) could also use homework assistance. He expanded the group of young people he tutored, and as more people became aware of what he was doing, more parents approached him with requests to help their children as well. Together with a good friend, Mr. Maxwell founded the Agency for Immigrant Children to meet the needs of the community (and quickly beyond). Since 1997, AIC has provided homework assistance to elementary and high school students, laying the foundation for the current organization, SPE. Under the leadership of then Papa Maxwell and Meester Kwame, they have assisted hundreds of young people in achieving a bright future!

This shows that Papa Maxwell has always been passionate about education and his dream was to build a school in his home country. Through their hard work and dedication, this dream has become a reality. I had the privilege of visiting the school myself and it was one of the most humbling and beautiful experiences of my life.

What struck me the most was not only the effort and dedication put into the school but the happiness and joy that it brings to both the students and staff. Every student calls Papa Maxwell "Grandpa" and a dozen of them are personally picked up from their homes by either Papa Maxwell himself or the school bus. The mutual respect and love within the Ghanaian culture is so beautifully displayed in this school.

I am reaching out to you all to ask for your help in supporting this wonderful project. Your donation, no matter how small, can make a huge difference in the lives of these students and the community as a whole. Education is so important and with your support, we can help Papa Maxwell and Kwame make a difference in the lives of these children. Our goal is to raise as much funding as possible to support our cause. However, we also welcome school supplies such as pens, pencils, and schoolbags, which can make a significant difference in the lives of the children we serve.

Happy to tell you more about this project in person,

Shi