SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE
“Education is a human right with immense power to transform.” Koffi Annan
About Us
We are a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization made up of resolute volunteers. We are a small, diverse, and passionate group of men and women of all nationalities and walks of life eager to plant the seeds of knowledge in under-resourced communities. We are accountants, businesspeople, college professors, executives, homemakers, schoolteachers, graduate, undergraduate, high school, and middle school students, all committed to making a difference in the lives of under-resourced children. Although our roots are grounded in Benin, it is because of our resolute volunteers that we have been able to successfully impact students in Ethiopia, Haiti, Ivory Coast, and Senegal.
Our Mission
We are a 501(c) 3 organization. Our mission is to promote literacy and to provide educational opportunities for under-resourced school students in Africa. By partnering with parents, teachers, and local school officials in under-resourced rural areas we accomplish our mission through our :
- School Supplies Donation Program
- We donate school supplies, activity books and textbooks to elementary school children.
- TACS (Textbooks Assistance and Community Service Program) for High School Students.
- Selected students receive textbooks in exchange for community service.
- Library Construction/Literacy Programs
- We build modest libraries (either from scratch or by refurbishing older existing structures) on school ground to ensure students can read and develop a love for reading at an early age.
- A variety of literacy activities are implemented in our libraries.
Selected Initiatives
- Summer Academic Programs
- Bookmobile
- Clean Water Initiative
- Vocational Sewing program for Orphan Girls
Meet Our Founder
Dr. Lucie VIAKINOU BRINSON
In the summer of 2003, I was asked to serve as a consultant on the TAGS (Textbooks for A Global Society) project, a component of the Bush administration Africa Education Initiative (AEI) program to improve educational opportunities for Africa’s children. As a native of Benin, I assisted the TAGS representatives in conceptualizing and writing supplemental reading materials that were later distributed to Benin children. We traveled to Benin to observe the educational situation. I was shocked and disheartened by the deterioration in infrastructure yet encouraged by students and teachers’ attitude.
Despite the lack and absence of basic school supplies, textbooks, students’ desks, and dire learning conditions students were still eager to learn and teachers ready to teach. Upon my return to the States, I decided to do something to transform the lives of the children. I remained in touch with teachers, principals, and trusted local organizations to provide funds for textbooks, school supplies, and academic programs for the children.
Following SOW’s inaugural fundraising event in February 2008, we began to help children on a larger scale. Today, thanks to our generous donors, over 12000 underserved school children have benefited from SOW not only in Benin, but also in Ivory Coast, Senegal and Ethiopia. We are humbled and grateful for their sustained support! Thank you to all of you for believing in us!
Contacts
Seeds of Knowledge, Inc
P.O. Box 3351 Peachtree City, GA 30269
Seedsowers@comcast.net