Kuntu Village (Ghana) and Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee-USA

Kuntu Village (Ghana) and the Kuntu

Village Nkosohen Committee-USA

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Kuntu is a small impoverished village of about 1500 adults and children, in the Central Region of Ghana, West Africa, near Cape Coast. 90% of the adults speak only their native language, Fante. They are considered illiterate, i.e., they cannot speak, read or write in English, the official language of government, business and education. The unemployment rate is nearly the same as the 90% illiteracy rate. Most villagers are self-employed fishermen, farmers, traders, bakers, etc. A few villagers work in the Kuntu salt ponds gathering sea salt and earn a little more than $1 /day.

Education is a top priority for Nana Kwesi Brebo III, chief of Kuntu, and the primary focus of Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee-USA. The village has a nursery school, primary school and since 2002, a junior high school. Students that complete junior high and pass the Ghana Education Service Basic Education Certificate Exam (BECE), are assigned, by computer, to attend a senior high school. Most Ghana high schools are boarding schools and the fees can be over $450 per year which is more the most Kuntu parents can afford.

Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee-USA is an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation with EIN 11-3657354. "Nkosohen" is the Fante word for "Development Chief". The mission of the Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee-USA is to help Kuntu develop in education and self-sufficiency. Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee-USA will not solve all of the problems of poverty, illiteracy and health care in Kuntu but will help Kuntu help themselves. The logo of KVNC-USA is the Adinkra symbol "Boa me na me mboa wo" which translates "Help me and I help you". We help education in Kuntu with books, school supplies, computers and scholarships to attend high school. Graduated scholarship recipients assist in Kuntu schools and nursery, tutor younger students and serve as role models. In 2008 and 2009, graduated scholars organized themselves to paint the Kuntu primary school and nursery buildings. In 2011 the parents formed a self-help association, the "Kuntu Nkosohen Esuafo Nkabom Kuw" (Kuntu Nkosohen United Scholar Association) to help the scholars and to provide for extra expenses not covered by their scholarships. As of September 2011, nineteen(19) Kuntu Nkosohen Scholars have graduated high schools; 4 have gone on to college and 32 Nkosohen scholars are currently enrolled in high school.

Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee-USA solicits donors to sponsors Nkosohen scholars and to support our other projects. All donations are used 100% for KVNC-USA projects. We need help because there is much to be done and the success of the scholar program continues to motivate more students, and their supportive parents, to seek education. There are many ways to help. You can make tax deductible donations to the address below or by credit card with PayPal. (PayPal is a secure payment site. Your personal information is not shared with anyone, including Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee-USA). Click "How to Help" for other ways to help.

Dr. Perry Kirklin, President and Founder

Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee-USA; 5534 Grey Hawk Lane; Lakeland, FL 33810-4001

(863) 816-8285

info@ghanavillage.org

Kuntu Highlights:

Although the 2010-2011 school year was difficult financially for KVNC-USA, all 26 Kuntu students who qualified for high school were able to enroll and 2 Kuntu Nkosohen scholar graduates attended college, all with all school fees paid. For the 2011-2012, we will also pay the fees for 7 new students to enter high school. Although high school fees have increased, the requested donation to sponsor a Kuntu high school student will be maintained at $450.

Two young women are sponsoring Nkosohen scholars to attend college! In 2009 Ms. Renita Bryant (left) sponsored Isaac Biney to become the first Nkosohen scholar to go to college. Isaac will complete his final year at Komenda Teacher College and will begin his practice teaching assignment. In September 2010 James Odoom entered Cape Coast Polytech and is in his second year studying accounting and business sponsored by Ms. Bianca Lee (right). Both Renita and Bianca are well educated young women just beginning their careers. They are using their education advantages to help less advantaged Ghana village youth who share their vision to better their life through education.

Also in 2010, Daniel Anderson was able to enter Cape Coast Polytech in business accounting supported by his extended family. In 2011, Samuel Otoo entered Ho Polytech to study marketing. KVNC-USA has paid his fees but he desperately needs a sponsor. Polytech schools are 3-year schools that offer advanced certificates. After completion, graduates can get good jobs or transfer to a university and in 1-2 years earn a bachelor diploma.

Bucks County Links continues to sponsor 10 high school scholars over 2 years! The Bucks County (PA) Chapter of Links, Inc., an organization of professional African-American women, have been faithful supporters of KVNC-USA since 2004. They are sponsoring 10 senior high school student for the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 school years! They are also supporting the teacher aide-tutor-mentors program. These are graduated scholars who help the younger students and teachers in the village schools. Additionally, Bucks County Links have pledged a significant contribution for a full-time nurse clinic in Kuntu.

Kuntu village has been blessed, indeed. For the 2011-2012 school year, KVNC-USA will sponsor 3 scholars in college (another scholar is in college supported by family); 25 continuing and 7 new scholars in senior high school; and 4 Nkosohen scholar graduates as teacher aide-tutor-mentors in the Kuntu primary school and nursery. This will be the seventh consecutive year that we have paid senior high school fees for all students that successfully complete Kuntu Junior High School. We are proud that since 2005, 19 students have completed senior high school as Kuntu Nkosohen scholars. Check out the Nkosohen Scholars.

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MORE HELP IS NEEDED. These economic times are especially difficult for non-profit corporations. Offerings of our church supporters and donations to service organization supporters are down while expenses to fulfill their missions have increased. We, too, are experiencing shortfalls while encouraging more Kuntu children to pursue education. Your tax-deductible donations, large or small, insure that the young people in Kuntu will continue to be able to attend high school. Use the link (above) to donate with credit card through PayPal or, preferably, mail a donation to Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee-USA. All donations are acknowledged with a receipt for tax purposes.

We also encourage our supporters to use the Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee-USA travel site, www.travel-4-kuntu.org for vacation, cruise or other travel plans. You will find the same airlines, hotels, cruises and vacation packages as other Internet travel sites for the same or better price...and commissions are paid to KVNC-USA. You can use cruises and tours as fund raisers for your organization and some cruise lines, especially Carnival, will donate additional amounts to non-profit cruise sponsors.

As an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee-USA can be designated in your United Way pledge. Designate Kuntu Village Nkosohen Committee-USA with EIN 11-3657354. Our address is: 5534 Grey Hawk Lane, Lakeland, FL 33810-4001.

Donations of any amount, large or small, are very much appreciated and all are acknowledged with receipts for tax purposes. Small donations and moral support are important to our mission the same as dollars. No one in KVNC-USA receives compensation so you can be assured that all donations go 100% to Kuntu projects.

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Last update November 1, 2011 Hit Counter