Mission
Literate Africa Project Inc (LAP) is a non-profit organization formed on the understanding that universal primary education is vital to the global community. The mission of the Literate Africa Project is to support educational initiatives in underserved communities and to provide academic resources by strengthening collaboration between African educators and their global counterparts.
The Challenge
Ghana is a democratic developing country on the West Coast of Africa. Ghana is the size of Indiana and Illinois combined. The total Ghanaian population is estimated at 24 million, and of that number 29% live below the poverty line and 42% are illiterate. Primary and secondary education is tuition free and mandatory, but academic supplies are in scarce, especially in rural areas. The initial program focuses on a limited, manageable number of schools in the impoverished Ada region. LAP conducted a needs assessment, which confirmed the lack of accessibility to reading books and modern infrastructure like computers and Internet. LAP's programs will positively affect the 22,624 enrolled students along with the other community members who reside in Ada.
Approach
The Literate Africa Project, Inc was formed to support a sustainable system of equitable access to educational resources. LAP aims to enhance the support to lifelong learning through material input, logistical support and professional development for educators. This support also includes fostering partnerships between educational institutions in the US and in Ghana as a means of sharing information and best practices.
No single, simple solution exists for the educational crisis plaguing sub-Saharan Africa or the dismal graduation rates in many communities. The Literate Africa Project does not aim to replace or take sole responsibility for the educational system of any community. Rather, we work with community based organizations and education officials to support and develop the existing framework. In this way, the communities themselves maintain responsibility for sustaining and enhancing the academic initiatives.
History
On March 18th, 2010 the Literate Africa Project was incorporated in the State of New York. All our work is conducted through the efforts of dedicated educators and volunteers. Numerous individuals and institutions around the world support LAP. Our fantastic fiscal sponsor is the nonprofit organization, Wings of the Dawn International Institute for Children. Wings of Dawn is a Texas based organization that helps build economically stable and productive societies in African communities by ensuring access to self-sustaining educational centers for their citizens.
Board of Directors
The organization has a representative board of directors. Collaboration is open to grassroots/nonprofit community educational programs, schools, larger organizations, corporate and small business partners and individual supporters as well as other agencies and organizations concerned with education in underserved communities (e.g. library, education and faith organizations, professional associations, etc).
The board of directors governs the Literate Africa Project:
- Addae Cox, Educator, Isaac Bildersee IS68 Middle school
- Ade Cox, Educator Kappa VII Middle School
- Sekou Cox, Executive Director
- Noah Francis, IT Budget Accountant, JP Morgan Chase
- Ajene Green, Market Manager, SpongeCell Ads
- Breanne Hull, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Educlone E-Learning
- Amari Johnson, Founder, Eloquent Scribes Writing Service
- Ishmael Osekre, Performing Artist
- Dominique Phelps, Event Coordinator, Brooklyn Academy of Music
- Rebecca Phipps, Educator, Louis D. Brandeis High School
- April Sinckler, Educator, Benjamin Banneker Academy
