FIVE YEARS OF SPLENDID YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN LESS PRIVILEGED COMMUNITIES

'We cannot build our own future without helping others to build theirs.' - Bill Clinton (42nd President of the United States of America)

It's been a dream driven by the strong desire to bring to reality the inalienable aspirations and burning desires of many youth to excel in life. With this, the now flagship youth development NGO called the Beyonders Foundation commenced in 2009. The Beyonders Foundation is a youth focused, non-profit organization registered with the Registrar General's Department of the Republic of Ghana. We believe with conviction that youth development is at the heart of those concerned about the future of a healthy humanity because in this 21st Century, young people need a sense of direction and inspiration to be able to make it in life.

Indeed, five years in the life of every great organisation is a milestone worthy of celebration. In line with her vision of inspiring Young People to discover and pursue their God-given potentials, the Foundation had held many value added, life-enriching, highly educative and informative programmes including human development seminars and provision of financial assistance to poor but really needy students.

Over the last five years, our programmes and projects have reached about three thousand young people mostly in less privileged communities. These programmes namely the Startrite®, Focus®, Choice®, Visioneer® and the Library® were held for participants from Sogakope Senior High School (SOGASCO), Adidome Senior High School (ADISEC), Mafi-Kumase Senior High School (MASEC), Christian Youth Groups in Mepe, Tefle Junior High Senior, Sogakope Junior High Senior 'B', Manna Mission School (Teshie), Ebenezer Senior High School (Dansoman), Sogakope Junior High Senior 'A', Mafi-Gborkope Junior High Senior and Christian Youth Groups of Mafi-Kumase. Participants at these programmes are making great strides in various fields of human endeavours. They have on countless occasions commended the Foundation for assisting them to make better, bigger and brighter choices at some vital stages in their lives. Bringing smiles onto the faces of these young people is what has kept us going over the last five years. What else could be more rewarding and a lifetime achievement than to see a young man or woman approach you in a place you think you won't know anyone and s/he goes: 'You have inspired me. Since that day in our School, my life has changed for the better and I am here because of that experience at your Seminar'!

In marking our 5th Anniversary, I cannot forget that one thing which has driven us to this immeasurable height: our Principles. Our incontrovertible believe in our unmatched core Principles of God-given Purpose, the Potency of Inspiration, Diligence, Integrity, Creativity and Serviceability still reigns high.

The Anniversary which starts this Saturday, 5 July, 2014 will be climaxed on Saturday, 12 July, 2014 with a durbar @ the District Assembly Hall, Sogakope in the Volta Region @ 11am. Various activities including blood donation, donation of stationery and medical equipment, and seminar will be held during the week of celebration.

Yet to see the day light is one of our heartbeat projects: the Skills Training Centre which will train young people who do not have the privilege of following formal education to discover their vast potentials that the world has been earnestly waiting for. Learners at the Centre shall be taken through a series of courses that will prepare them to be efficient managers of small businesses that they will set up from the development of their skills. The inability to get this through in the last few years is as a result of inadequate funds. As we aspire to attain a decade in the next five years, we believe with conviction that this Centre will be set up and will become the Centre of Excellence in Skills Training in the Country and beyond.

Certainly, the much assistance offered by each and every one during the 1st 5 years of our operation is well appreciated. We thank you and look forward to an even greater and better cooperation as we help develop our fellow young people.

To my comrades who have lighted this flame some five years ago, I salute you this day for standing out to be counted as those who in the passage of time felt touched by the plight of humanity especially those who live in the forgotten corners of our world. Dear ones, let's in this atmosphere of deserving celebration and uncontrollable ecstasy renew our unflinching support, commitment, dedication and the ever present burning desire to attain even greater heights in the next five years. You are, indeed, awesome!
To God be the Glory!
Congratulations on our 5th Anniversary.

Long Live Beyonders Foundation,
Long Live the Youth of Tongu,
Long Live Ghana.