Highlights in spite of Covid-19

Ghana managed the virus pretty well overall with 323 deaths as of Nov 23. However, there were many actions taken to keep people safe. Schools were closed for some time, and the school year was completed just recently (instead of Aug). There is a plan to start this school year in mid to late January 2021.

In spite of this, Tomorrow’s Stars had many achievements during the year and we are planning for a more normal year in 2021. Here are some highlights!!

5 Outstanding University Graduates: As always, we have some great achievers. Please see our blog at https://tstarsorg.wordpress.com/blog/. We are especially proud of Joseph and Otabil for their awards.

Otabil: Top Clinician in Phys. Asst. Class

As 2021 begins, we are sponsoring 15 outstanding UNIVERSITY STUDENTS. These young men and women have paid it forward for 2 years and could not continue their education without your help. They are a great investment at about $1000/year for tuition and room. With your help, 13 of our STARS have already graduated.
We installed solar power and added more laptops to the BEST SCHOOL COMPUTER LAB in Elmina. See story below.
Our Pay It Forward Students (PIFs) under Solo’s leadership continued to help the community and students and themselves. This included activities like starting and maintaining ten (10) community hand washing stations, making and giving out hand sanitizer, tree planting, donations to orphanage and hospitals, etc. They also had many personal development sessions to help them “become their dream” as they will soon be earning university scholarships funded by donors like you. See photos below!!

PAY IT FORWARD STUDENTS!

As schools were shut down, our PIFs and students were no longer needed for the usual activities of libraries, computer lab, mentoring students, literacy, resource room etc.

Above: Putting together a COVID-19 program for students and community.

An initial plan was to help provide truthful information about the COVID-19 virus and support of the government actions. Small group discussions were held including our doctors (Rudolph and Otabil) symptoms and prevention of spread. We also warned against social media rumors. Later there was communication to students and parents in the area with the information we have agreed upon, with consideration to social distancing (not an easy thing in the Ghanaian culture).

GOOD NEWS!!

Solar Power comes to Computer (ICT) Lab and Nsoroma Study Center

We have installed two solar panels along with batteries, and inverter to support computer lab, ceiling fan and lighting at Christ Cares JHS building. This will save some power money and especially give us power at those times when the electric company fails us.

New laptops from Enkei America.

We have the best computer lab in the KEEA district, counting even the 3 high schools. We have 20 working laptops. This is supplemented by internet service on demand, a projector, printer and other facilities. Our laptops are also made available to our university scholarship students as needed.

Students, PIFs and Univ students showing off some of our laptop inventory.

Best equipped computer lab in 70 school JHS district.

PIF Day

Even with COVID-19, we decided to do PIF Day with a focus on information and communication. We should have done better with social distancing.

What a proud group we are in our African Wear

OUR STARS AND PIFS AND STUDENTS

Here are some photos and news about our Managing Director Solo and 8 young men and women who are on their way to “becoming their dream”. They decide and pursue their dreams, but it would be nearly impossible without the help of Tomorrow’s Stars donors. Nearly all have “first class” grades, being above 3.0. And we have known nearly all of them since they were grade 6 or younger.

OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR SOLO

Solo is our leader. He has a degree in Education Management and an MBA in Marketing. His superpower is listening and finding common ground. He is good with technology as well as people, always wanting others to succeed and “become their dreams”. We are fortunate to have him.

Otabil

He has graduated from UCC as a degreed Physician Assistant. He was the top clinician in his class. See photo above. He especially enjoys his time at the clinics and hospitals and revels in the success of figuring out a diagnosis to help a person feel better. He has been through some difficult times, his mother and father both passed away in his early years. Otabil and I enjoy our ping pong matches, he usually wins, but I am the current champion.

Esther

Esther completed her second year at Nduom University of Business and Technology. She was a strong PIF for 3 years leading the way with handwashing and literacy in the resource room. She had trouble with math in HS, but is bringing home A’s from Nduom after some tutoring help (it is more practical math). Esther is a joy to be around.

Leticia

Leticia has always been serious about her studies, but struggled with Math in HS and had to retake the test a couple times. Her dream was to become a nurse, but after 3 years of PIF, and being around volunteers Kathy, Sue and Toni, she has enrolled in Early Childhood Education at UCC (University of Cape Coast). She has completed her second year and excels in the “practical” activities and developing lesson plans with the small ones. She also developed a process for cheaply making handwashing soap.

Eric

Eric graduated with honors from (KNUST) Kwame Nkrumah Inst of Sci and Tech in Kumase. His major was Chemical Engineering, his last year was a 4.0. He is now in his year of National Service as an assistant lecturer at the university. Eric has always been a leader and an inspiring public speaker.

Philomena

Philo has graduated with a diploma from OLA, a local teacher college. She was near the top of her class and specializes in teaching math and science. Yes, a Ghanaian girl teaching math and science. She is now doing National Service in Mankissim about 1-1/2 hrs away. She didn’t go to Christ Cares as a student but Volunteer Kathy found her during her first HS year at EHS, we are blessed by that. She was PIF in Nursery (tough duty) and always helped with girls club and children’s activities. She is on her way to success.

Isaac

We found Isaac as a student at Edinaman. He was a small shy boy, but was at the top of his class, ending as valedictorian. Even though he did not live locally we found a way for him to be a PIF at Christ Cares and become “one of us”. He has completed his 3rd year in Pre Law at KNUST with excellent grades. He is our Tomorrow’s Stars Lawyer. We like to have students with many specialties to share their knowledge in our Tomorrow’s Stars Family.

Joana

We found Joana after Edinaman HS, but she attended Christ Cares. She was a great help with the small children. She is a good listener and offers mature guidance to others. She completed a diploma in Business from UCC-Distance Learning. She is now doing her National Service with the Catholic Educational Unit which oversees all Catholic schools in the Central Region. They coordinate teachers, school activities, quiz competitions between schools. She loves the big picture experience. She plans to go to the 2 yr distance “degree” course in business.

Justice

Justice is a twin with Rolland who is a PIF in the computer lab. Justice has completed his second year at Health and Allied Sciences University in the Volta region, working on a career in medicine. His father was known as “the chairman” as a leader in the community. He passed some years ago and was a mentor to me. Justice is a hard worker and a saver, and becoming a leader.

OUR GRADUATES (THERE ARE OTHERS NOT IN ATTENDANCE)

Dr. Rudolph (Amazon author too), Eric and Francis (Optometrist in Accra)

Some of our PIFs and Stars are shown in the slide show below. We have become many! And, we are moving forward. The virus will slow us down, but it WILL NOT STOP US!