It is almost a mission impossible to fill the gap he left behind. Now that reality is sinking in, the board has to re-shuffle and fill more or less two vacancies. One a replacement International Coordinator and a Treasurer.

Every year the SmartKids Ghana community is organizing an Annual Meeting in Kumasi. This time the meeting will take place on June 2nd, 2012. Like every year Kees Hoogendijk was the representative of the Board of Management in the Netherlands.

Coming up is the first Annual Meeting without him.

Board member Ruud Nassette will travel to Accra and Kumasi end of May/early June. He will try to fill the absence of the “Father” of the community, also that seems a “Mission Impossible”.

‘As for me, everything is possible. You just have to go for it!’
Kees Hoogendijk 1955- 2012

Until the last moment Kees has always been in de focal point of life. He was always busy with so many things and still had a lot of plans and ideas; he wasn’t ready yet at all. But he managed, in his own way, to get everything out of life there was to get. Kees possessed a constructive life’s philosophy, especially after he had been seriously ill in his twenties. ‘From that moment on I beared in mind that I mostly wanted to do things I really liked’, he told.

“As for me, everything is possible. You just have to go for it!”

Kees Hoogendijk 1955 – 2012

Teaching chess to children was one of these favourite occupations. He taught many children how to play chess. He introduced the local championships for elementary schools and the Dutch National Youth Rapid Chess Championships. Both are still on the calander. During a holiday in China Kees met Wen. They developed a very deep, unique bond and they married in 1988. Wen was a stimulus for him. ‘We had fun, from day one’, Kees told. ‘But at a certain time she found, very ambitious and fanatic herself, that I should work too’ Kees then started to study and deepen his knowledge and skills about computers and computer programs that was at the rise at the time. He used his teaching and didactic talents to teach computer skills to many, many people.

Meanwhile Kees also got himself involved with investing and followed all kinds of investment courses to be successful. Once, during a ‘getting acquainted weekend NLP’ he was lying on the floor in ‘deep reflection mode’ He considered his yet to be executed plans and decided to support poor but very  bright, Ghanaian children who were without any chance of an education. He would help them to go to school with sponsored scholarships. ‘I am absolutely convinced that this idea works: this is the most effective way to fight poverty, to send it to Kingdom come’, Kees said. ‘That is why I persist. In a couple of decennia our Smartkids will help their country develop themselves and the Foundation will be self-supporting’ Momentarily, thanks to Kees’ Foundation 95 very poor, but very bright and highly motivated Ghanaian children are getting a proper, high-quality education. ‘I would not be surprised if one of these kids in 40 years will be the president of Ghana. But I won’t be around to witness that anymore’

Kees has always gone his own, merry, way. Once he won BNN’s ‘National IQ-test’, he visited a shareholders’ meeting of Berkshire Hathaway in Omaha and he shook the hand of Bill Gates. He finished second in the Ghanaian National Chess Championships, he took part in two Chess Olympiads for the Ghanaian national team, 2008 in Dresden, Germany and 2010 in Khanty Mansysk, Siberia. Kees was a source of inspiration to many, just by being himself.

Some of our coming university graduates, pictured in 2010

In 2004 34 Smartkids were selected and 21 of them completed Senior High School in 2007. Out of those 21, 9  were accepted into the university in 2008. In May this year, they will be graduating from the university. The first group of Smart Kids ever to obtain this feat.

Elizabeth Atulley,  AliuAlhassan, Fredrick Baidoo and Isaac Frimpong will be graduating from the University of Cape Coast.

Justice Abakah and Lord Cudjoe will be graduating from the University of Ghana .

Francis Addai and Rahatu Alhasane will be graduating from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Thomas Kangah will be graduating from the University of Education in Winneba.

The 2009 batch of SmartKids selected from the Volta, Northen and Ashanti Regions are writing their final Junior High School exams in April of this year. The group is made up of four boys and eleven girls.

Each year, the SmarKids foundation produces some of the best students for our partner school, Joy Standard College.  Last two years, one of our students (Gordon Putota) was the overall best student in the school. Last year, the 2^nd best student was awarded to Smartkid Addison Gyabaah. It is our hope that our Smart kids will put up an exceptional performance once again to sweep away a lot of awards this year.

Jackalia Nuhu, a native of Fian in the Upper West Region, Ghana, is now a science student at Kumasi Academy. I was highly elated when I was placed in this school to pursue my favourite program.

I found it hard when I was in my village attending school. I did not have any hope for achieving my dream. Now me, Daniel Issah, I am in the pipe line towards achieving my dream. Thanks be to God and the Smart kids’ foundation.

Being in a village full of fighting and disobedience could have undermined my dream”. Kumasi Academy is a school I hoped to be, and now here I am”. I have now found the mantle. Sumeseg Osman who was calm and hopeless during our interview with him is now climbing the ladder high.

Appiah Frederick is my name. Another successful season has come my way. What a way to escape poverty. I know I would definitely be up there. The sky is my limit. Sooner than later, I would become my family’s bread winner.

Together, we will help build a better ghana. Thanks to the SmartKids Foundation

Gyameah Charlotte is my name. I felt disappointed when I was sacked by headmaster for not coming early when school was in its admission process. Nevertheless, I am now a disciple (student of Anglican secondary). I am very happy because it is my first choice school and I was given my favourite course, general arts. Thanks be to the smart kids foundation.

Sarpong Peter is my name. I am extremely delighted to be in this institution pursuing my favourite programme, General Arts. A school I dreamt to be in, but due to lack of funds I kept on thinking whether it will become a reality. Everything is obvious looking at my new uniform. Thanks be to the smart kids foundation.

My name is John Maa-Ire. I come from Wa in the Upper West region of Ghana. Though I was placed at Jaakye Pramso Secondary School, I now had another opportunity being admitted into St. Hubert Seminary/Secondary, an institution affiliated to Opoku Ware Secondary School (one of the first class schools in Ghana). I am offering business as my favourite programme. I like this school, because, it has a very conducive environment suitable for learning.

My name is Gyabaah Addison. I am also a student of St. Hubert Seminary/Secondary. I thank the smart kids for sponsoring me up to this level. I know that my dream would finally be realized.

Zinpena Lawrencia and Mohammed Yusif are in Asanteman Secondary School. Both of them are pursuing general arts. Victoria Ankra and Ranius Taduri are in Jaakye Pramso Secondary School pursuing general arts and visual arts respectively and Obour Emmanuel in Opoku Ware also pursuing science. So far all smart kids who just completed J.H.S are in school with each pursuing his or favourite programme.

Report by SmartKids Ghana, Smith Baidoo and Samuel Yakubu.

KUMASI, NOVEMBER 2011.

I went to the Joy Standard School this Monday, they are all faring well. Smart kids who are now in form three will be having their school selection before vacation which is on the 8th of December, 2011. Actually there is no problem for them. We have to make a list of schools (grade A, B, C, schools) for them to select from. This time around, some smart kids preferred to choose a school in their village instead of here in Kumasi.
The computer internet courses were organized for the ones that completed Junior High, but not separately for smart kids.(i.e. they have it as a class lesson with other non smart kids)
The group that completed this year has had their school placement. The admission date is already up, but most of the smart kids are not yet in school. Below is the placement list for them.
Maximum marks are 500. So what every smart kid had is out of 500. Addison was number two of all the BECE candidates at Joy Standard School.
Smart kids in JHS 2 are all now in school with their fees paid (term fees, house dues and books) Their report cards have been given to our coordinator. Some we did not receive because we have to go there and get them personally.

Joy Standard School Award Ceremony 2011, some of the Smart Kids present.

Joy Standard School Award Ceremony 2011, some more Smart Kids

Joy Standard School Award Ceremony 2011, Frederick Antwi Appiah surrounded by his peers.

BECE  Scores

Kids supported by ASML Foundation

ASML Foundation sponsored our class of 2007 before, all through Junior High School from 2007 to 2009. Now they have decided to help this group once more and of course everyone at the SmartKids Foundation is very happy about that.

Kids supported by the Turing Foundation up till now and by the ASN Foundation from now on.

The ASN Foudation is a new supporter of our organisation; the funds they made available will be used to support the class of 2008. The Turing Foundation supported this group all through their Junior High years and now ASN Bank will do the same for their Senior High years.

The ASN Foudation is connected to the ASN Bank.  A summarized translation of the previous post (in Dutch) about the ASN Bank:

 

 

 

“The ASN Bank is committed to the sustainability of society, which is a leading motif in our economic activity. Economic growth should not be at the expense of the environment, nature, vulnerable groups or otherwise passed on to future generations. In the Netherlands the ASN Bank is a pioneer in sustainable banking since 1960. The bank is active in investments, savings, payments and sustainable financing. The ASN Bank has nearly 540,000 customers and total assets of over € 10 billion.”

Henk van Engelen of ASML Foundation (right) and Kees Hoogendijk of the SmartKids Foundation sign the donation agreement at ASML headquarters in Veldhoven, The Netherlands. Source: ASML Foundation

De ASNBank zet zich in om de duurzaamheid van de samenleving te bevorderen en laat zich daar in haar economisch handelen door leiden. Economische groei mag volgens de ASNBank niet ten koste gaan van het milieu, de natuur, kwetsbare bevolkingsgroepen of anderszins worden afgewenteld op toekomstige generaties. In Nederland is de ASNBank sinds 1960 voorloper op het gebied van duurzaam bankieren. De bank is actief op het gebied van beleggen, sparen, betalingsverkeer en duurzame financieringen. De ASNBank heeft bijna 540.000 klanten en een totaal beheerd vermogen van ruim € 10 miljard.

De ASNBank maakt deel uit van SNS REAAL.

  Meer informatie over de ASNbank : click hier

Meer informatie over de ASN Foundation : click hier

In navolging van groepen, die worden ondersteunt door foundations van ASML, Achmea/Eureko  en de Turing Foundation, zal er een ASN bank groep van 15 SmartKids ontstaan, die direct zal worden ondersteunt.

Het bestuur van de SmartKids Foundation is onverminderd op zoek naar organisaties, die dit zeer goede voorbeeld zullen gaan volgen.

In the summer of 2004 the SmartKids Foundation started its work in Ghana by selecting the first batch of 34 bright and needy children. At that time 24 of this group were admitted to the first grade of Senior High School (SHS), 5 started in Junior High 2 (JHS) and 5 started in Junior High 1.
After selection, all signed our Pledge, a written promise in which it is  stated among other things  “to be co-responsible for the SmartKids program from that moment on” and to “donate at least 1% of my income to the SmartKids Foundation as soon as I start making money”.

Of the 24 older selectees 2 dropped out while in SHS, for personal reasons. The 22 others completed SHS in 2007, most with very good grades.

In 2008 out of those 22, 11 started at universities and polytechnics. 7 more followed in 2009-2011. We have not heard from the other 4 after they completed SHS.

In 2010 5 more SK’s graduated from SHS; Rashid Abdullai made 6 A’s on his final exam, making him number two in the country. 3 of those 5 are now in University, Rashid is studying Medicine. The other two are awaiting placement and sponsorship.

The youngest group (of 6) that started in 2004, are waiting for their SHS final exam results at the moment.

Some of the first selected smart kids, in 2004

In 2007 we selected a second group of kids, this time 16. Fifteen of them started at the JHS1 level, one at SHS 1. In 2010, those 15 completed JHS; half of them had excellent grades and were placed at Class A Secondary Schools, 5 had very good grades and went to Class B schools and 3  just had good grades and were placed in Class C schools.  At the moment those 15 are all in the final phases of SHS1. The one 2007 selectee that started in SHS1 is waiting for her SHS exam results at this moment.

In 2008 we selected another 15 new smart kids. In the summer of 2011 they await their JHS exam results (BECE).

In 2009 and 2010 again we selected 15 and 16 kids respectively. They are now in JHS 1 and 2.

around 75 smart kids at annual meeting in June of 2011

All in all, from 2004 to 2010, the SmartKids Foundation selected 96 children of which 2 dropped out prematurely.  The selected kids are from all over Ghana, as can be seen on the map below (click to enlarge).

Ghana map with all smart kids, selected from 2004 to 2011

Organizational

Our organization consists of an International Board (in Holland and all Dutch, for fund finding and policy making), a board of recommendation, a National Board in Ghana (hardly active any more, except for some individual members) a Junior Board in Ghana (see below) and a National Coordinator (the only hired hand the foundation has).

One of the promises smart kids make signing the pledge when they enter our program is “to be co-responsible for the SmartKids program from this moment on”. This means that the leadership of the foundation hands over more and more responsibilities to the kids. The older they get, the more they should take over. Combined with the other major promise in the pledge – I will donate at least 1% of my income to the SmartKids Foundation as soon as I start making money – this should lead (if the beneficiaries stick to their promises) to total self sustainability in the future. Which is one of the main aims of our Foundation.

4 members of the SmartKids Junior Board and coordinators in 2011

In 2007 a Junior Board was elected by the smart kids themselves, consisting of 5 older members. They took over responsibilities from that moment on. From 2008 on they organized the Annual Meetings and the selecting of new beneficiaries. With the help of many other smart kids. From 2010, they are also made responsible for the Ghanaian part of the content of our website. From September 2011, they promised be responsible for our newsletter.  Some smart kids, mainly those in Kumasi, have also been assisting the National Coordinator with her duties. While more beneficiaries were selected, the organizational workload has been growing.  That is why in the spring of 2011, when hiring a new National Coordinator, we decided to hire an Assistant National Coordinator as well. Both work on a part time basis.

Financial

From 2004 to 2010 the foundation paid all school related bills for our beneficiaries in JHS and SHS; school fees, boarding fees, feeding, uniforms and in many cases even travel expenses. And although we consider secondary education our “core business” (this is where the major drop out happens in countries like Ghana), we were able to support some of our older kids attending university. From 2008 to 2011 five smart kids were supported with a full scholarship (study fees, boarding, materials and feeding), while 7 received partial support. Despite of the fact that we were not able to help everyone, nearly all continued their education at the tertiary level.

In 2011 this will be changing both at the secondary and the tertiary level. Due to our inability to find enough funds to continue our policy of selecting 15 new kids every year, we already decided to skip the selection for 2011-2012. If that won’t bring enough financial relief, we will have to cut on our tertiary sponsorship expenses.

For our existing JHS and SHS program we will try our utmost for all smart kids to complete their education at the institute they are in at the moment. In case of having to cut on these expenses too, we will  do so according to the following guidelines:

1. Academic Performance (decided upon by the educational institute)
2. Relative Poverty among peers (decided upon by the kids themselves)
3. Smartkidsness (personal contribution to the foundation, decided upon by the leadership)

This will result in 3 order lists per peer group; the combination of those three list will decide in which order our kids will be supported, in case of lack of financial means.

Our 2010 selection, for which we didn't find a sponsor yet. You want to support them?

If you want to help us support our kids in continuing their education, you can do so with a financial contribution. Click here to get to our donations page: http://www.smartkidsfoundation.nl/what-can-you-do/322-2

(For now transfers will be made to an account that is in one of our board members name, Ruud Nassette. From this account money will be transferred to the SmartKids Foundation account.)

Major challenges

1. Funding.
2. Will the smart kids stick to their promises?
3. Will it be possible to keep the selecting process objective? In other words, how can we make sure the brightest and poorest kids will be selected in the future, instead of brothers, cousins or other members of their community?

Any suggestions on how to deal with these challenges best, especially 2 and 3?