Support Send-A-Child to High School in Jamaica

Support Send-A-Child to High School in Jamaica ​ This campaign is raising funds on behalf of Caribbean Education Foundation, a verified nonprofit. The campaign does not necessarily reflect the views of the nonprofit or have any formal association with it. All contributions are considered unrestricted gifts and can't be specified for any particular purpose.
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - - Nelson Mandela.
Become a part of our efforts to invest in a poor child's education and help Change the World!  If our video moves you; if you agree that education is a  solid investment; that this project benefits all of us (because educated, happy, confident children really CAN change our world for the better), then please CONTRIBUTE what you can; and SHARE this Campaign with your networks!
OUR GOAL:
Our overall goal is to raise $50,000 to send 25 poor children to high school in Jamaica for 2013-2014 school year.  This Indiegogo Campaign is part of the overall fundraising effort.  Every dollar counts!  A $5 gift provides lunch for one child for one day.  A $20,000 gift funds 13 students!
WHO WE ARE:
CARIBBEAN EDUCATION FOUNDATION, INC. (CEF) is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organization based in the United States.  We are dedicated to helping poor children receive meaningful access to quality education.  Our current mission country is Jamaica. 
WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
Public High Schools are NOT FREE in Jamaica!  High school starts in Grade 7. It costs at least $1,500 U.S. to send 1 child to public high school each year.  Children must pay school fees, textbooks, transportation and lunch, including the usual uniforms and school supplies!  The minimum wage is $50 U.S. per week for a 40 hour work week or $200 U.S. dollars per month. 
As you can imagine, it is practically impossible for working poor families to regularly send their children to high school.  The dismal situation is depriving an entire generation of brilliant children of meaningful access to education.
HIGH SCHOOL - A CRITICAL PROBLEM (Jamaica Education Report by the Ministry of Education)
Over 30% of urban youth and 50% of rural youth have little to no High School attendance.   Low attendance rates are due to a lack of bus fare to attend school. 50% of students are below their grade level.  By Grade 9, hundreds of thousands of students, especially boys, cannot read or write. Chronic poor attendance at all levels is the major cause of the high illiteracy rate, as well as a lack of text books to learn lessons taught. 80% of secondary graduates did not have the requisite qualification for meaningful employment or university programmes.
WHAT HAVE WE DONE?
Since its inception in April 2007, CEF has awarded over 40 student scholarships in excess of $50,000 U.S. dollars to brilliant, poor children to attend school.  Our Paul Bogle Scholarships students' pay school fees, textbooks, school supplies, transportation and lunch.  Scholarships are based on academic merit and financial need.  Scholarships are renewed each year, if the student attends school regularly and maintains good grades.
Our goal is to help 25 children go back to school in September 2013!  CEF currenlty has 18 children who need scholarship renewals, so they may return to high school in September 2013 and enter Grades 8, 9, and 10.  We have 7 new students who need to enter Grade 7. 
Take a moment to check it out on Indiegogo and also share it with your friends. All the tools are there. Get perks, make a contribution, or simply follow updates. If enough of us get behind it, we can make 'Send-A-Child to High School in Jamaica' happen!
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/send-a-child-to-high-school-in-jamaica