A chance purchase of postcards in early 2000 has developed into a fundraising success story that has built some 44 schools in the West African country of Sierra Leone.
And tonight at El Rio, the nonprofit behind the effort, Schools for Salone, will hold its 14th annual fundraiser in order to build its 45th.
Pam Bowman, the wife of a Sierra Leone native, purchased the postcards that set the effort in motion after coming across them online while searching for organizations supporting the country. They were made by kids and sold by Cindy Nofziger, who was, at the time, hoping to raise money for the country where she had worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in the late 1980s. Her time in Sierra Leone had been transformative, she said.
“Sierra Leone gave me back my life,” she said, noting that her father had just died, and she had had other demons that she was running from. “I can’t imagine my life without having been there and having experienced the love, the joy and generosity of the Sierra Leoneans.”
Bowman and her husband, James Mannah, who both live in the Mission, had a different connection to Sierra Leone. Mannah had been studying in the United States as he watched the 1991 to 2002 civil war that resulted in 50,000 casualties and the destruction of the country’s infrastructure, including schools. The memory of that made him anxious to do something for his home country.
Once introduced to Nofziger, who had set up the nonprofit, the couple stayed in touch with her. When they traveled to Sierra Leone in 2004, they wanted to know what they could do. “She suggested a soccer clinic at the schools. So we did,” said Mannah.
The couple organized and quickly won the support of local stores, such as Sunset Soccer. Mannah said the memory of delivering uniforms, socks and soccer balls to those children at schools is one he treasures.
“The joy on their faces was just amazing. In fact, the kids put on the soccer uniforms right away and then did an exhibition match with us,” said Mannah.
When Bowman and Mannah returned, they wanted to continue the relationship with Nofziger’s nonprofit. A childhood friend of Bowman’s, Pat Bregant, who was also raising funds, volunteered to arrange the first charity event at El Rio in 2008, and they haven’t stopped since.
In the last 16 years, the couple and Bregant have raised enough money to help build 44 schools in Sierra Leone. Each school costs anywhere between $50,000 and $55,000 to build. Most of the schools are fully furnished and consist of four classrooms, a teacher’s office, a storeroom, latrine and a water well.
In the period ending December 2022, the nonprofit gave out $292,945, according to its 990.
Nofziger remains the nonprofit’s executive director, and Mannah is one of 12 members of the board.
“These are resources that allow children to be educated, provide menstrual supplies so girls can actually go to school when they’re menstruating, soccer jerseys and clean water and plumbing.” said Bregant.
Mannah said that opening a new school is special. “The feeling is touching, because we focus on rural areas, villages mostly. Sometimes the whole village just stops, you know, to do a celebration with us … in honor of our visit,” said Mannah.
The event will feature two different bands and the sale of African artisanal goods and Senegalese cuisine by local restaurant Bissap Baobab. One of the bands is comprised of a group of men who met playing soccer with Mannah at Hamilton Park.
The fundraiser tomorrow will try to raise between $20,000 to $25,000 for the nonprofit’s general fund.
Schools for Salone’s fundraiser will take place on Saturday, July 6, 2024 at El Rio (3158 Mission St.) from 3 to 8 p.m.