Thursday, December 15, 2011

Top 10 Highlights of 2011

In 2011, the KGSA Foundation had quite an amazing year!  Take a moment and read about our accomplishments during this last year and share this link with a friend!

In no particular order of importance...

10)  A shipment of 2,000 books from Books for Africa arrives and completely fills our library for the first time.  This was made possible through the help and support of Dr. Robert Jones and the University of Minnesota's Study Abroad Learning Center that came to Kenya and visited the Academy the previous year.   


9)  KGSA Foundation partners with Jamie McAlpine and the Umbrella Tree who provide the financial support to hire Christine Wanjiru Gakiu, our first female principal at KGSA!  When asked to write about her thoughts on education and women she said,   
“I strongly believe in education as the key to success for girls who have in the past suffered under the African chauvinistic society.  It is my dream that one day everyone will have education within their reach and be liberated from poverty.”

8)  Ryan Sarafolean receives the Forward under 40 Award from the University of Wisconsin - Madison.  This award honors UW grads under the age of 40 who are making an impact in the state, nation and beyond.  To read more, visit www.forwardunder40.com 

7) Jake Naughton, the Foundation's Director of Technology & Media Production travels to Kenya to report on water issues in Kibera for World Water Day (March 22nd).  Click HERE to view the film.

Facts on Water:
* In just one day, more than 200 million hours of women’s time is consumed collecting water for domestic use.
* In the developing world, 24,000 children under the age of five die every day from preventable causes like diarrhea contracted from unclean water.

* 827 million people live in slums around the world, most lacking safe access to clean water.
* According to the UN, someone living in a Nairobi slum pays 5 to 7 times more for 1 liter of water than the average North American citizen.



 6)  KGSA Foundation's 501c3 status is approved from the IRS!  Financial contributions to the KGSA Foundation can now be a tax deductible donation.



5)  Chelsea Geraghty and Julia Jones, two graduates from the University of Denver's Master of Social Work program, organize an annual 5K walk/race-a-thon to raise money for the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy.  Together, they raised just under $10,000!



4)  The Street Team is formed!  KGSA Foundation partners with Cretin- Derham Hall and establishes an internship with ten seniors that focuses on becoming a responsible, more effective grassroots organizer.  The Street Team played a crucial role in this year's annual benefit and helped raise over $13,000 for the Foundation.

3)  Thanks to Margery and Ian Punnett, Abdul Kassim and Ryan Sarafolean were featured on Channel 5 MN News through an episode of 'On the Road with Jason Davis.'  The episode connected with thousands of viewers across Minnesota and passed along the inspiring story of Abdul and the work of KGSA. 



2)  Ellie Roscher, author of 'How Coffee Saved My Life,' has committed to writing her next book on the story of Abdul Kassim and the work of the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy.  Ellie will travel to Kenya next June to begin interviews with Abdul, the students, and staff at KGSA.

1)  Two of KGSA's very own students and soccer players, Commando and Achieng, qualified for the Kenyan national team for the Homeless World Cup tournament.  They traveled to Paris this August competed against the Netherlands, Brazil, Uruguay, and Mexico and ended up winning the entire championship 4-3 against Mexico!  The Homeless World Cup Foundation works with 70+ national grassroots organizations to promote their unique “homeless-to-work” model to policy makers, key influencers, the media and the public to shift the attitudes and policies towards individuals experiencing degrees of homelessness around the globe.


**If you would like to make a Holiday contribution to the KGSA Foundation, please visit our donation page HERE.  All donations are tax-deductible.  Thank you, we appreciate your support and generosity.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Happiest of Happy Hours!

The Kibera Girls Soccer Academy & KGSA Foundation have been able to provide a 120 young women each year in the Kibera slums with a free secondary education, artistic programming, and athletic opportunities.

Join us as we celebrate our accomplishments and goals for the upcoming new year! 

We will be hosting a Happiest of Happy Hours with appetizers, live jazz, and a cash bar.  Bring your friends and family, this will be a great way to start your December!

Thursday, December 1st, 2011
420 Summit Avenue, Saint Paul, MN - University Club
5:30pm - 7:30pm (brief presentation starting at 6:15pm) 


Can't join, but still want to support us?


Visit our website at www.KGSAFoundation.org to find out ways to show your support.  KGSA Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, all donations are tax-deductible.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

watch our recent news coverage!

Check out the recent 'On the Road with Jason Davis' from Channel 5 News as they do a story on the KGSA Foundation and the work that we are doing with the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy in Nairobi, Kenya.   http://kstp.com/article/stories/S2124308.shtml?cat=26

Friday, May 13, 2011

Kick it for Kenya - 5K Walk / Race-athon

Join us in the Kick it for Kenya walk / race-athon as we raise funding to support the operational costs of the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy.
 
Where: Cheesman Park, Denver Colorado
 
When: Sunday, June 26th @ 9:00am
 
Register Now:   www.kickitforkenya.com
 
More Information:  The Kick it for Kenya walk/race is a fundraiser for the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy, which is a free secondary school for young women living in the Kibera Slums of Nairobi, Kenya.  Not only does the school provide free education, but offers a host of athletic opportunities and artistic programming. Secondary education in Kenya is not free, and in areas like Kibera, women are not afforded the opportunity to pursue high school the same way men do.  Only 8% of women in Kibera ever attend a high school as the gender inequalities are that drastic.  Kibera Girls Soccer Academy addresses the gender gaps and empowers young women to become the leaders of their communities and Kenya.
 

You can register to run, register as a virtual runner, sign up to volunteer, or donate from the website. 
Contact Information:
Chelsea Geraghty, email: chelseam29@gmail.com
Ryan Sarafolean, email: rmsarafolean@gmail.com
 

 

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Forward Under 40 Award!

Recently, Ryan Sarafolean was awarded the Forward Under 40 Award from the University of Wisconsin Madison for his work with the KGSA Foundation.  This award honors UW grads under the age of 40 who are making an impact on the world by living the Wisconsin Idea, the inspiration for this award.  Read more about it at www.forwardunder40.com

Sunday, May 1, 2011

On the Road with Jason Davis

Just over two months ago, Jason Davis from channel 5 news, flew to Kenya with Ryan Sarafolean from KGSA Foundation and filmed a story about the work we are doing with the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy in the Kibera slums of Nairobi, Kenya.  The filming went incredibly well and we are all excited to see the final product.  We just organized a viewing party at Kieran's Irish Pub in Downtown Minneapolis on Block E.  We will be there from 9pm-11:30pm and the show airs at 11:00pm on Channel 5.  Please come down to Kieran's on Sunday May 22nd and join us and watch a great story!


Date: Sunday May 22nd, 11:00pm
Location:Kieran's Irish Pub  - 601 1st Avenue North, Minneapolis
Channel 5 News