We are delighted that your school is interested in working with a sister school in Africa. We look forward to your active participation and know that by working together we can dramatically change the lives of thousands of children. It will be an incredible adventure for both American and African students.

 

In order to effectively help schools in Southern Africa, it is necessary to build a sustained and supportive relationship. We see the success of this program rooted in long-term partnerships with clearly defined goals and objectives. To ensure the success of the program, we hope that each school can commit to the following:

1. At least a three-year commitment to a partner school.
    

2. American principals/advisors will establish an ongoing relationship with their African counterpart. As many African schools have no electricity, and therefore no e-mail, some communication will have to be done through local organizations.
    

3. Each school will enlist a faculty advisor who is strongly committed to the program and will coordinate its activities.
    

4. Each school will complete a school profile or scrapbook that will be sent to partnering school. Sometimes individual classes create their own scrapbooks.
    

5. To create a meaningful bond between students of the sister schools; it is important to link the students together on an individual basis. One of USACF’s primary goals is to establish an ongoing pen pal program. Participating students would exchange letters at least twice a year. Pen pal letters should include information on a student’s family, school, neighborhood, hobbies, likes and dislikes, extracurricular activities, etc. Students should also be encouraged to ask their pen pal questions. (See the Pen Pal section of the web site for additional information.)
    

6. Participating American schools should commit to supporting their African partner with books and other educational materials. The U.S.- Africa Children’s Fellowship will pick up and ship these items to Africa. Four 40-foot containers are sent every year.
    

7. After a 45-minute presentation(s) by USACF to an American sister school students, it is hoped that the student body will organize a two- week donation drive. Student donation drives often focus on the collection of children’s books, toys, schools supplies, soap, sports equipment, shoes and clothing.
    

8. It is helpful if participating schools can set up an information bulletin boards in their schools to inform other students about the program and what life is like in their sister school. Perhaps social studies teachers could devote one lesson to the history of their sister school’s country.
    

9. It costs USACF approximately $10,000 to ship one container. If each school in our program could raise $400 a year, it would cover the cost of two shipments. Fund raising is not a mandatory component of this program, but we ask schools to do some fundraising if possible. If schools raise more than $400, the excess money can be directed toward specific needs of their sister school.
    

10. Each summer USACF will be taking groups of teachers to Africa to visit some of our sister schools and to also see some African wildlife while on safari. This year’s trip (August 2009) is to southern Tanzania and will last will last two weeks. It is hoped that each American sister school will send one representative on one of our trips. It will be a trip of lifetime.