On Saturday, March 21, a concert will be performed by the Tapestry Singers, under the direction of Paula Kern, to benefit Africa Education Partnership’s efforts to provide wells and refurbish schools in areas of Nigeria. The March 21 event will be held 4 – 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 240 Hillstown Road, Manchester.
Since 2009, Africa Education Partnership, a registered nonprofit organization, has constructed and renovated school buildings, provided teacher training and classroom materials, and accessed funding sources for wells for clean water in the Gusau and Kafanchan areas of Nigeria.
Retired Granby teacher Elaine Chagnon travels yearly to Nigeria as the organization’s “boots on the ground” representative, assessing progress, meeting with teachers, administrators, and students, and gathering information for next projects. For a small organization with a dedicated board, the results have been quite amazing, with one new school campus constructed and accredited, three other buildings renovated, and six wells drilled.
It is hoped that the benefit concert will help raise awareness and generate funding for the next two large projects: construction of a dormitory and kitchen for students who live too far away to attend school, and to construct a large examination hall with computers so that students can sit for their board exams necessary to enter university. While the event is free, there will be an opportunity to gain information and pledge. Freewill offerings will also be gladly accepted.
Please join us for a wonderful afternoon of music and information about our exciting work in this developing third world country. You may visit africaep.org, email us at africaedupartnership@gmail.com, or call Elaine Chagnon at 860-930-8703 for more information. Do not miss this opportunity!