The GWF Sponsor A Student program was created to provide tuition to deserving students in Ghana without the means to afford their own quality education.The GWF Sponsor A Student program began with partner school Wisdom Academy, as a source of providing continuous funding for the school and thus better education for the students. Currently, our Sponsor a Student program has grown to include the Center for Youth Empowerment Elementary and Junior High School as well.

As the list of GWF Partner Schools grows so too will the list of children who need to be sponsored. Please, take some time to learn about how your contribution can impact many through the Sponsor a Student program.

Prince (right), currently being sponsored, was first sponsored in the spring of 2005 by a visitor to Wisdom Academy.

These young students were sponsored for one year by the employers of a past volunteer to Wisdom Academy.

Why Sponsor A Student?

When you sponsor a student, not only do you take a great burden off of that child and his or her family, but you are also improving the overall quality of the school by granting it access to much needed funds and resources.

Help a Child - In Ghana education is the door to a better life. However, too many children will never walk through that door, unable to gain access to the keys that quality education necessitates. This analogy especially holds true in rural villages. In some areas it is estimated that nearly half of all students cannot attend school, usually for financial reasons. By sponsoring a student you are essentially handing over the keys to his or her education and thus, a better life. A precious gift that may never stop giving.

Previous and current students under the GWF Sponsor a Student program.

Help a School - Each school included under the GWF Sponsor a Student program must show a strong dedication to improving their education as well as offer affordable tuition. While each of our partner schools' tuition is far less than most private schools, many students are still unable to afford the tuition. While many proprietors more concerned with running their private schools as a business would "sack" a student in these circumstances, our proprietors allow students to continue their education within the schools. While this dedication and passion for children and education makes our schools superior, unfortunately, it is also the main reason why our schools are in such dire need of resources. Sponsoring a student's tuition helps not only that student but all who call Wisdom Academy and the Center for Youth Empowerment their schools.

Help a Family - Many families, unable to afford the costs to send all of their children to quality private schools must make the decision to send only one child to school (usually the boy) while the others are sent to work as sellers in the market or as street vendors. By sponsoring one child you may be affecting the entire family in a positive way; opening the door for other children of the family to go to school and taking a huge financial burden off of the parents.

Why not public school?

"You Get What You Pay For" - With new educational reform laws being passed this yearin 2005, public school has finally become free. However, as the saying goes, "what you get is what you pay for." Many public schools, but especially those in rural areas, are under funded and under supervised resulting in very poor education for students. Even with public school becoming free, the enrollment of most private schools continues to increase.

In the case of the Center for Youth Empowerment, being located in a Liberian refugee camp, public schooling is completely non-existent making private schools the only option. With average incomes far less than Ghanaian families, it is understandable that families could see tuition costs as more of a burden than they are worth.

How do I Sponsor A Student?

To sponsor a student simply click on the 'Sponsor A Student Now...' button provided below and you will be directed to our pre-payment page. Once your payment is received, GWF will notify the receiving school and the scholarship will be sent shortly after. Upon receiving the sponsorship, the school's proprietor contacts the child and the family and the payment is put into the school's records.

Unless otherwise noted by our donors on the Paypal payment pages, the scholarship donations will be alternated between Wisdom Academy and the Center for Youth Empowerment. If you are a past volunteer or previous donor and would like to sponsor a specific student or school, be sure to leave a note with your donation, or contact GWF as soon as the donation is made.

Because the children love to write letters, you can expect a letter sent to the address you provide. If no address is provided, no letters can be sent.

*One term (4 months) = $43.00

*One year = $102.00

All costs include PayPal (https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_display-receiving-fees-outside) and MoneyGram Money Transfer fees (http://www.moneygram.com), which allow us to receive and forward all payments and contributions.

One family has been continuously sponsoring the education of these six students since August 2006.

Questions regarding the Sponsor A Student Program, including prices for more extended sponsorships, may be directed to: Erin at erinokun@ghanawisdom.org