What We Do The Batonga Foundation Grant scholarships for girls to attend existing secondary Board of Advisors schools (grades 7 to 12) and provide continued support Dr. Ruth Bamela Engo, Cameroon as they progress through university, vocational school or Reine, Benin Former Director of Labour of Cameroon and other skill-based adult learning activities. “I was so happy to see my mother. I saw former UN Senior Economic Affairs Officer Build secondary schools in select communities that can her and said, ‘Mama, I’m saved.’” President, African Action on AIDS (AAA) guarantee that a minimum of half the students will be Stephen Lewis, Canada girls and where the school, once built, will be operated Reine was removed from primary school and Former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa through ongoing government and community support. forced to move away when her parents could Chair, Stephen Lewis Foundation Increase enrollment of girls in existing schools by pro- no longer support her. After being beaten and mistreated, she escaped Dr. Christiana A. M. Thorpe, Sierra Leone viding clean water and separate bathroom facilities as and returned home. Her family had been unaware of the consequenc- Founding Chair, Forum for African Women well as housing in cases where the distance from school es of sending her away, and when the director of her school asked her Educationalists (FAWE Sierra Leone Chapter) to home is too great. to re-enroll, her mother was relieved. A Batonga Girl Scholarship will Chairperson & Chief Electoral Commissioner Provide school supplies in the form of textbooks, library allow girls like Reine to continue their education in secondary school, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa books, pencils and other basic items which are often providing tuition their parents could never afford. Nobel Peace Prize Laureate (1984) non-existent or in short supply.

Founder, The Desmond Tutu Peace Centre Support mentor programs for female students that link them with older women who can serve as guides and Angelique Kidjo elder ‘protectors’ as the girls face challenges during the Board of Directors Angelique Kidjo, founder of Batonga, course of their education. Mary Louise Cohen Grammy Award-winning West African Partner, Phillips & Cohen LLP and Director, Explore alternative education models such as mobile singer, songwriter, and UNICEF Inter- Opportunity Fund secondary schools and radio-based distance learning for national Goodwill Ambassador, made GIRLS remote communities or for families with cultural restric- up the word “batonga.” At a time when Jean Hebrail tions on girls being sent away from home for schooling. Song writer, arranger and composer education for girls was not socially CHANGING acceptable in her native country of Advocate for community awareness to promote and Angelique Kidjo support girls’ education by addressing the gender preju- Benin, Angelique invented the word as a response to West African singer, songwriter and UNICEF taunts on the playground. The word stuck with her long AFRICA dice and cultural traditions that restrict the empower- International Goodwill Ambassador ment of women in general, and their access to education after her playground days, and Angelique internalized it John Phillips in particular. as an assertion of girls’ right to education. Partner, Phillips & Cohen LLP and Director, Although some members of Angelique’s extended family Opportunity Fund Where We’re Going argued that only boys should be educated, Angelique’s Monica Winsor mother, who had been educated herself, fought for her Batonga’s goal is to strengthen and develop initiatives Partner, The Inspired Philanthropy Group daughter’s right to attend school. Angelique, in turn, has currently in place while expanding our programs and ensured that her daughter receives an education. Angel- presence in other African countries. Through identifying, ique has experienced firsthand how educating one girl supporting and learning from the most successful, cost leads to a whole lot more—it initiates a cycle of educa- effective programs in place, we hope ultimately to help tion, and a current of change. them become replicable and self-sustainable.

The average American family spends more on back- The Batonga Foundation to-school supplies than it would cost for Batonga to 1730 M Street NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036 USA send a girl to school in Sierra Leone for one year. 202.478.6550 Phone [email protected] www.BatongaFoundation.org “To educate girls is to reduce poverty” Why Now? The Batonga Foundation works because individuals like “For me, education is so crucial because everything you give their time or resources to make a difference. Former UN Secretary-General For over a decade, the UN Millennium Development Join us in helping girls change Africa. Kofi Annan Goals have focused international support on universal goes with it, like healthy politics and development… primary education. Today, more girls are graduating from Educating girls in Africa gives them the strength and p Please accept my tax deductible contribution in the elementary school in Africa than ever before. the tools they need to be mothers of change.” amount of $ . But prejudice, poverty, travel distance and cultural tradi- tions currently keep fewer than 17 percent of girls in sub- – Batonga Founder, Angelique Kidjo p I would like to become a monthly donor. Please bill Saharan Africa from completing secondary school. Only my credit card $ each month. a handful goes on to university, vocational school or some form of job training. So now, more than ever, there Batonga aims not only to give girls secondary education, p I would like to join the Batonga Foundation is an urgent need for support of secondary and higher but also to provide them with the financial and emotional mailing list. Please send news, updates and education if this progress in elementary education is to support they need to put it to good use. That’s why in take full effect. Batonga is taking steps now that will en- events to addition to building secondary schools, increasing enroll- able girls to improve the future of Africa. Batonga is giving girls a secondary school and higher ment, providing school supplies and granting scholarships, . education so they can take the lead in changing Africa. Our Mission Batonga supports mentor programs, explores alternative Batonga believes that educating girls is the most cost education models and advocates for community aware- Payment Information: Batonga currently operates in five countries:Benin, Cam- ness of the value of education for girls. p p p p effective way to help African nations improve quality eroon, Ethiopia, Mali and Sierra Leone, and is expanding to Check American Express Visa Mastercard of life for their citizens. include others. Batonga believes that helping girls in Africa Our Strategy achieve success depends on more than access to schools. In choosing the individual girls, schools and communities You do the math: to receive support, priority is given to the most disadvan- Card Number taged populations within the target countries. Particular One Girl attention is given to girls who are AIDS orphans or whose Desire to A Batonga Girl can go to school in sub-Saharan families are affected by AIDS. Exp. Date Signature + = Educate Others Africa for one year for less than what it costs a Education Batonga implements its mission at a country level by child to go to private school for in the working in partnership with existing non-governmental One Girl United States for three days. organizations (NGOs) that have successful onsite experi- More ence in girls’ education. Educated Name desire+ to = Girls educate others Address

Higher Economic City Productivity Nanaïssa, Mali Sarah, Sierra Leone Reduced Maternal “I think education is important “I am sure that education is very important State Zip more and Child Mortality educated because it opens the spirit.” for my future. I want to be an accountant.” girls = Improved Family Nutrition and Health Phone The third of five children, Nanaïssa has always Sarah lives in a group home in Freetown; her Increased Prevention of HIV/AIDS loved math. “My proudest moment this past parents were both killed during the civil war and Please mail your completed Donation to: year was when I went from being thirteenth in the first semester, to fifth she was then adopted by an aunt who was unable to care for her. Sarah has c/o The Batonga Foundation We’ve come to one conclusion: in the second semester. This is because I didn’t have the all the books to travel a long distance to school but she says that all her teachers look out 1730 M St NW, Suite 700 or the materials in the first semester.” Nanaïssa dreams of becoming a for her due to her good behavior and academic performance. Sarah says Washington, DC 20036 doctor. It is girls like her who are Batonga Girls in Mali. that being a Batonga Girl will enable her to pursue her academic career. One Girl a Brighter The Batonga Foundation is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(3) Future of the United States Internal Revenue Code. All donations are tax-deductible. Educa+tion = for Africa