About Tools for Schools Africa Foundation

TFS-Africa Foundation, based in Red Deer, Alberta and Shine Sisters Society, based in Accra, are registered charities who work together to support educational opportunities for girls from north Ghana. Both NGO's became registered charities in 2008-9.

Our history in Ghana goes back to 1968 when Marilyn and her family lived in Damongo where her father worked with CIDA on an agricultural project. All our projects have been based in the same village of Damongo.

Our educational work in Africa began in September 2003 when Marilyn was hired by the Association of International Schools of Africa to do a teaching tour. She visited five African countries, including Ghana. After the tour, Ghanaian teachers wrote to express their thanks but also to ask for school resources, especially books.

Two forty foot containers of school supplies were shipped in 2006, the start of a larger program of long term support. In 2007-2008, 800 teachers participated in six professional development conferences. With the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba, a boarding house for junior high girls was built in 2010. In 2011 and 2012 we published and delivered two 48 page hard cover books, free of charge, to northern area schools. These books filled a void as little reading material was available which represented their culture or their communities. Over the years we have set up three libraries and in 2013, again with the University of Manitoba, we completed the building of a library, computer lab and administration block at the Damongo Presbyterian School.

The greatest support has been offered through an ongoing scholarship program. Beginning in 2008, tuition has been paid for close to 200 girls at the junior and senior high levels. For the past decade tuition, room and board, and a book allowance has been paid for approximately 25 girls a year to attend the post secondary institutions of their choice in Ghana. The scholarship program continues, and the girls who have benefitted from this program are listed elsewhere on this website.

We wish to thank all individuals and organizations who have offered financial support, the most important of which is the Alberta Teachers Association. They have contributed annually to the scholarship fund for several years.

Our mentors are all professional educators who have volunteered their time, the most significant contributor being Madame Gabriella Wumnaya who first presented the idea of a scholarship program.

We also wish to acknowledge the significant contribution made by our executive director, Francisca Amoako, and her two assistants, Sophia D and Jemima M.