Kyle’s Impact with Pencils of Promise
When Kyle Fogg joined the PoP Family, he immediately made a huge impact. A standout basketball player, determined and inspired to make a difference, Kyle recognized the potential of quality education and made it his personal mission to support education in communities that are in need of everyday resources like safe school structures.
After reading Adam Braun’s book, “The Promise of a Pencil,” Kyle realized that he did not want to wait any longer to make an impact in the lives of students around the world. Joining our PoP family in 2016, he set a campaign goal of raising enough money to help fund two schools in Ghana.
After the completion of these two schools, Kyle raised the bar even higher and has set out to help fund another school build—this time in Laos. To accomplish this goal, he has continued to match every donation given to his fundraising campaign!
Kyle, our Pencils of Promise team is so grateful for all that you have provided to our students and communities. Your generosity will impact thousands of students and we thank you for partnering with us to make quality education possible for students who need it most.
Impact Updates
Thanks to Kyle’s support, we’ve completed construction on two schools in Ghana and one school in Laos!
An update from Na Nouan, Laos…
Previously, the students of Na Nouan in first, second and third grade experienced severe overcrowding. There were no permanent classroom buildings for these grades; therefore, students were learning in wooden, temporary and provisional community-built classrooms. These conditions posed a hazard to student safety and wellbeing, as well as to engagement and learning. You recognized and responded to the needs of Na Nouan by helping PoP and the community complete a new three-classroom school in May 2018. The new classrooms provide the kindergarten through third grade students with more space and light for a proper learning environment. The school now has formal blackboards, benches, desks, doors, walls and windows. Teachers, parents and community members were dedicated and committed to the project, and contributed 20 percent of resources and labor. The Ministry of Education was also supportive throughout the build. You made this school build for the students of Na Nouan possible by creating a safe, strong foundation where they’ll be able to learn and realize their full potential and promise. The students are so excited to have a school that will provide a safe and appropriate learning environment!
An update from Likpe Todome, Ghana…
Previously, kindergarten students of Likpe Todome had no access to formal classrooms. Instead, they were taught in a dilapidated structure that was built in the 1950s by the community, and made of clay, bamboo and tin. The walls had large cracks and the door was made of wire, conditions which left students exposed to the elements and outside distractions. The aged building showed severe signs of decay, evidenced by mold marks on the wooden windows, posts and doors, as well as rust on the corrugated metal roof. The walls were in such disrepair that they were in danger of collapsing. These conditions posed a severe hazard to the safety of the students. Through your support, PoP was able to partner with the Likpe Todome community to build a two-classroom school. The Likpe Todome build allows for formal classrooms for all kindergarten students. These classrooms now provide adequate shelter for all students and include proper doors and windows, as well as classroom furniture, blackboards, ceiling fans and desks for the teachers. The community completed construction and inaugurated Likpe Todome MA Primary School in 2017. The entire community is enthusiastic knowing that their students now have access to a higher quality learning environment.
An update from Adaklu Kpetsu, Ghana…
Previously, preprimary and primary school students of Adaklu Kpetsu didn’t have access to quality classroom spaces. Kindergarten and first grade students had no classrooms and were instead taught under shaded outdoor areas in the community. The constant exposure to the outside elements created a distracting environment for the students. Additionally, the older students attended class inside an unfinished pavilion; the absence of doors, lack of formal flooring and exposure to the environment was not conducive to student productivity. Before formal learning structures were built, many students chose to stay home, leading to irregular student attendance. Through your support, PoP was able to partner with the Adaklu Kpetsu community to complete construction on an eight-classroom school. The Adaklu Kpetsu build broke ground at the end of January 2017 and is now complete, thanks in large part to the involvement of the community. The students, parents, teachers and Adaklu Kpetsu community remained engaged throughout the build process, contributing 20 percent of the labor and materials required for construction. We completed construction during the last half of 2017, and inaugurated the school shortly thereafter. The community is enthusiastic knowing that their students now have access to a learning environment that supports everyone’s potential and promise!
