WELIFT FOUNDATION, INC
WeLift Foundation, Inc was established to join our voice to the chorus of voices around the world, who felt called to lift their voices and rolled up their sleeves to render much needed services or assistance to uplift their fellow human beings who were (or are) in need. In case you are wondering, why the need for another organization such as WeLift? Well by simply, looking around the world, it becomes all too apparent that there is still a great need for more of such organizations to join in the fight against injustice, poverty, illiteracy, hunger, unemployment, crime, poor housing, desperate migration, environmental degradation etc. And surely, just as we need more of such organizations, we need more creative people joining in the fight to improve how we serve humanity through non-profit organizations or NGOs (Non-governmental Organizations).
Speaking of creativity, consider the fact that there was a time when the world did not know about computers (or laptops), phones (or smart phones), the internet, Facebook, YouTube, Tweeter (or X), TikTok etc. How did we get these things? Creative people (although for profit) added their voices to the world of technology. What if they did not? Moreover, for profit and non-profit organizations use these platforms to raise awareness, generate resources and funding.
At WeLift, we believe that we are called to join our voice with those who are championing the cause and welfare of our fellow brothers and sisters needing a helping hand to help them rise and stand on their feet, as we need one another to navigate through life and live to our full potential. It is the duty of the strong to help the weak; likewise, it is the duty of the weak who have become strong to help the weak. And by so doing, our world will become a better place - in the spirit of ubuntu.
At WeLift, we believe in the spirit of ubuntu. That is, as humans, we are bound up with one another – we are interdependent and count on each other to exist and make it through life. Regarding ubuntu, Bishop Desmond Tutu, who was a great inspiration to so many people around the world wrote, “It speaks of the fact that my humanity is caught up and inextricably bound up in yours. I am human because I belong. It speaks about wholeness; it speaks about compassion. A person with ubuntu is welcoming, hospitable, warm and generous, willing to share” (page 26 – God Has A Dream – A Vision of Hope for Our Time). We hope these words inspire you as they have inspired us to endeavor to help uplift someone, inspire change, and help someone realize their God given potential.
Some statistics from the perspective of youths regarding education (a fundamental aspect of life – without it, there can be no vibrant community and society) in Africa.2023 UNICEF survey among African youths from throughout the continent. This survey was conducted among 600,000 youths:1. Almost half of youth respondents do not feel safe at schools.
2. Female respondents were 24 percent more likely to drop out of school either before or during the pandemic, or to have never gone to school. Male respondents, on the other hand, were 31 percent more likely to have finished their studies and had a 31 per cent higher share with tertiary education.
3. Eighty-two percent of young people consider that the government should provide more support for learning basic reading and mathematics in primary school.
4. Almost half of young respondents consider that their teachers need more teaching material.
5. Almost three out of five young people consider that schools should use their financial resources to hire more teachers or pay them better.
6. More than half of youth respondents expressed having no knowledge of online safety, despite a high percentage of them having access to the internet.
7. Twenty-seven percent of respondents do not have access to the internet at school. Outside of school, more than half of youth respondents expressed that internet access is costly in their community.
8. Forty percent of young people expressed that education is not affordable or that it is costly for them.
9. Two out of three respondents think that their schools need more desks and chairs. 1 out of 3 participants wants more classrooms at schools, and 1 in 4 wants working toilets (with female respondents 27 percent more interested than males).
Citing these statistics is not intended to elicit mere sympathy but, more so, to bring awareness to the challenges our young people, who are our future leaders, are facing. If these young people are our future leaders and growing in population (60 percent of the population of Africa is under the age of 25, and the median age is nineteen – African is the youngest land in the world according to the United Nations), then they need to be taken seriously and be properly equipped to compete and lead successfully. Alas, because our founder is of African descent, WeLift has a personal stake in seeing a reversal in these statistics and other challenges our communities are facing. Through our vision and goals, we intend to tackle some of these major challenges. We intend to do our part.
Speaking of creativity, consider the fact that there was a time when the world did not know about computers (or laptops), phones (or smart phones), the internet, Facebook, YouTube, Tweeter (or X), TikTok etc. How did we get these things? Creative people (although for profit) added their voices to the world of technology. What if they did not? Moreover, for profit and non-profit organizations use these platforms to raise awareness, generate resources and funding.
At WeLift, we believe that we are called to join our voice with those who are championing the cause and welfare of our fellow brothers and sisters needing a helping hand to help them rise and stand on their feet, as we need one another to navigate through life and live to our full potential. It is the duty of the strong to help the weak; likewise, it is the duty of the weak who have become strong to help the weak. And by so doing, our world will become a better place - in the spirit of ubuntu.
At WeLift, we believe in the spirit of ubuntu. That is, as humans, we are bound up with one another – we are interdependent and count on each other to exist and make it through life. Regarding ubuntu, Bishop Desmond Tutu, who was a great inspiration to so many people around the world wrote, “It speaks of the fact that my humanity is caught up and inextricably bound up in yours. I am human because I belong. It speaks about wholeness; it speaks about compassion. A person with ubuntu is welcoming, hospitable, warm and generous, willing to share” (page 26 – God Has A Dream – A Vision of Hope for Our Time). We hope these words inspire you as they have inspired us to endeavor to help uplift someone, inspire change, and help someone realize their God given potential.
Some statistics from the perspective of youths regarding education (a fundamental aspect of life – without it, there can be no vibrant community and society) in Africa.2023 UNICEF survey among African youths from throughout the continent. This survey was conducted among 600,000 youths:1. Almost half of youth respondents do not feel safe at schools.
2. Female respondents were 24 percent more likely to drop out of school either before or during the pandemic, or to have never gone to school. Male respondents, on the other hand, were 31 percent more likely to have finished their studies and had a 31 per cent higher share with tertiary education.
3. Eighty-two percent of young people consider that the government should provide more support for learning basic reading and mathematics in primary school.
4. Almost half of young respondents consider that their teachers need more teaching material.
5. Almost three out of five young people consider that schools should use their financial resources to hire more teachers or pay them better.
6. More than half of youth respondents expressed having no knowledge of online safety, despite a high percentage of them having access to the internet.
7. Twenty-seven percent of respondents do not have access to the internet at school. Outside of school, more than half of youth respondents expressed that internet access is costly in their community.
8. Forty percent of young people expressed that education is not affordable or that it is costly for them.
9. Two out of three respondents think that their schools need more desks and chairs. 1 out of 3 participants wants more classrooms at schools, and 1 in 4 wants working toilets (with female respondents 27 percent more interested than males).
Citing these statistics is not intended to elicit mere sympathy but, more so, to bring awareness to the challenges our young people, who are our future leaders, are facing. If these young people are our future leaders and growing in population (60 percent of the population of Africa is under the age of 25, and the median age is nineteen – African is the youngest land in the world according to the United Nations), then they need to be taken seriously and be properly equipped to compete and lead successfully. Alas, because our founder is of African descent, WeLift has a personal stake in seeing a reversal in these statistics and other challenges our communities are facing. Through our vision and goals, we intend to tackle some of these major challenges. We intend to do our part.