Hey! I am Aminatu Abdulai, a recent college graduate of Smith College and a proud native of Kolinvai, Ghana. My journey to higher education was not always smooth; it was marked by resilience, determination, and the will to overcome. Today, I'm on a mission to provide a safer and better learning environment for the children of my hometown. I invite you to join me on this transformational journey. Below you can learn more about why Kolinvai, its people, and this school are special to me and how you can help us.

My Story and The Need:

My middle school education in Kolinvai began in 2009 in a newly built school where I was part of the inaugural class. The classrooms, however, were precarious structures. Looking back, I’m amazed by how we overlooked the unsettling reality that they could crumble for education. By my second year, the school was no longer operational, forcing me to pursue education elsewhere. Now, as a college graduate, it pains me to know that I have become an anomaly in my community. I don’t believe I am the best or brightest to come from my community, but many haven’t been afforded the same opportunities as I have, and part of that has to do with the environment they are expected to learn in. The school is operational, but the conditions of the school still deprive many children of the opportunities they deserve.

Today, over 250 families in our community send their children to learn in an unstable structure simply because there is no alternative. Seeing these eager children face the same challenges I once did breaks my heart. Middle school is a pivotal stage in a child's education, especially for girls, setting the course for their future.

Our Mission and The Challenge:

Our mission, borne out of numerous requests for help after sharing my story on my college campus, is to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for Kolinvai’s children. The existing school structure, built of mud, teeters on the brink of collapse. It is a constant danger to the students and the teachers dedicated to their educational growth.

Our Vision & Your Role:

We aim to construct three modern classrooms, an office, and a mini library by channeling the funds from this campaign and grants toward purchasing building materials, hiring structural engineers, and securing skilled masons. This will provide a safe learning environment for current students and serve future generations of children in Kolinvai. I am currently in Kolinvai, Ghana leading and participating in the construction efforts, embodying the spirit of communal labor that defines our culture.

Our Appeal:

We humbly ask for your generosity in supporting the education of middle school students in Kolinvai. Your donation can help shape the future of our community's children. We also implore you to help us spread the word about our mission - every share brings us closer to our goal.

Your Impact:

By donating, you become a part of Kolinvai's story, playing a crucial role in transforming our children's lives. Your donation is an investment in the promise of a brighter future, an affirmation of the belief that every child deserves a safe and conducive learning environment regardless of their circumstances.

Thank you for your support and for considering our cause. Your contribution holds the power to bring about a significant change in the lives of the children of Kolinvai.

Here are some images of the school, the students, Kolinvai community and culture, and the project team.

Progress of the new school building

Kolinvai JHS old structure.

Some of the current students in the school

Some of the elementary school children in Kolinvai

Some of the current students inside one of the three classrooms.

The community at the opening of the project.

Myself fetching the first sand on the ground for the building.

The project team.

This Fundraiser is approved by Issifu Budgbilla 

Headmaster of Kolinvai DA Junior High School.