I have been following the Kor Foundation for the last several years, and I am always impressed by their innovative means of engaging the diaspora to support students abroad in Nigeria.
The Kor Foundation, established by founder Stanley Onuwakor and co-founder Rita Oluchi Obi in 2009, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty throughout rural villages of Nigeria by partnering with schools both financially and academically.
Their approach to breaking the cycle of poverty within these rural villages includes three steps: enhancing the environment of our partnering primary schools, equipping our partnering schools’ staff and students with the necessary supplies to achieve success, and providing our participating students with exposure through the development of annual workshops and mentorship programs.
Although the efforts of the Kor Foundation have helped improve the academic environments of their partnering schools, the team has observed that many of their students’ participating families are struggling to help their children obtain a great education.
In order to create change in the individual lives of Kor Foundation students, the foundation’s leadership has spent the last few months working on a new project, the Pupil Ambassador Program, to build sustainability, impact the lives of students, and give Kor supporters more insight in to the lives of their students.
Three students from underprivileged educational institutions throughout Nigeria will be chosen annually based on Kor Foundation’s Pupil Ambassador eligibility criteria and have their educational expenses covered until they graduate from secondary school.
Under the leadership of Kor’s Nigeria-based Program Coordinator Uchenna Doben, three students were chosen from Ehume Primary School in Imo state: Nwankwo Obinna (9 years old), Emanuella Chekube (8 years old), and Nmasinachi Martin (7 years old). Nwankwo and Emanuella are in Grade 4, and Nmasinachi is in Grade 3.
The Kor Foundation will be launching their Pupil Ambassador Program at their 3rd annual Stand Up For a Child Fundraiser on Saturday, August 13th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Unorthodox Art Gallery in Chelsea, New York.
At the event, Kor Foundation supporters will be able to hear about the lives of each Pupil Ambassador through powerful imagery. The night promises to be a festive time for a great cause with food, music, raffles, and networking with like-minded professionals.
For tickets to the Kor Foundation’s “Stand Up for a Child Annual Gala” on Saturday, August 23rd, in New York City, visit www.korfoundation.org/ticket.
