Help Us Build the Mae Harley Empowerment Academy

On Mother’s Day, May 11, 2025, the people of Abeadze Kyeakor Village in Ghana celebrated a historic moment: the unveiling of the Mae Harley Empowerment Academy, named in honor of Mae Harley of Shreveport, Louisiana.

Mae’s visit to this village a few years ago left a lasting impact. She not only embraced the community but also became a vital supporter of youth education. In recognition of her dedication, the village chose to honor her by naming this new vocational school after her.

This new school will sit right next to the Bernice Mayes Community Library, which was built in the village in 2023 and features the first computer lab in the area. The library is named after Mae Harley’s older sister, Bernice Mayes, who was also my mother. She passed away in February 2019, but her legacy lives on through the library that bears her name.

Together, the Bernice Mayes Community Library and the Mae Harley Empowerment Academy will provide the children and families of Abeadze Kyeakor with access to knowledge, skills, and opportunities that will transform the entire community.

My name is Paul Allen Billings, and I am the Developmental Chief of Abeadze Kyeakor Village. I created this GoFundMe to raise the funds needed to complete construction of the academy so that its doors can open to students this fall.

Why This School Matters

A legacy of empowerment: Mae Harley has dedicated her life to lifting others, and this school ensures her influence continues for generations.

Hope through education: The academy will give children and young adults in the village access to vocational training, literacy programs, and opportunities to build a brighter future.

A bridge between Shreveport and Ghana: As Mae’s daughter, Mariam Harley, shared: “This school is just part of an effort to give the children in this Ghanaian village hope and a future.”

Our Goal

We need to raise $20,000 to complete construction, furnish classrooms, and provide the first year of essential learning materials. Every contribution directly supports the children of the Mae Harley Empowerment Academy.

$50 – “Student Starter”

"Plant a seed — provide a desk and chair for one student to learn and grow."

$100 – “Knowledge Giver”

"Put books in their hands and fuel a lifelong love of learning."

$500 – “Builder of Dreams”

"Help lay the foundation for education by supporting classroom construction."

$1,000+ – “Legacy Wall Honoree”

"Be permanently honored on our concrete wall as a champion of empowerment."

$4,000 – “Classroom Visionary”

"Leave a legacy. A classroom will be named in your honor for generations to come."

How You Can Help

Donate today — no gift is too small.

Share this campaign with your network of family, friends, and community leaders.

Stand with us in turning this vision into reality for the children of Ghana.

Your support ensures that the Mae Harley Empowerment Academy doesn’t just exist in name, but becomes a living, thriving place of learning, empowerment, and hope — standing side by side with the Bernice Mayes Community Library, a beacon of education for generations to come.

Together, we can honor Mae Harley’s legacy and give these children the future they deserve.

I invite you to join me, Paul Allen Billings, in making this vision a reality by donating and sharing today.