From Fordham Prep to Ghana: A Student Looks to Combat Educational Inequity

Maxwell Owobu is a junior at Fordham Preparatory School and a member of the ultimate frisbee team. Together with his parents and two childhood friends, Owobu started the Yenko Foundation, which seeks to support childhood education in Ghana.

After returning from his Emmaus retreat, Owobu recalled that when he was younger, he often spent summers in Ghana – initially passing the time much like many students do. “All I would do is probably a couple of assignments for work, just really lying around doing nothing,” he shared.

But ahead of his junior year at Fordham Prep, Owobu began to think differently about how he could use his time. “As the responsibilities of junior year were approaching, I thought, ‘I actually want to do something to make a difference.’ So a couple of friends, my parents and I got together and started Yenko Foundation — we just wanted to figure out ways to give back to the community,” he said.

On his first trip back to Ghana after launching the Yenko Foundation, Owobu visited a number of local schools and was struck by the disparities in the quality of education that students were receiving. His research soon became more personal when he spoke with family friends about their children’s experiences.

“My dad’s friend, Joe, works around the house and has a 6-year-old son named Matthew – a very bright and kind kid,” Owobu explained. When Owobu visited Matthew’s school, however, he was shocked by the disconnect between outward appearance and educational outcomes. “On the drive, the physical school looked amazing — it was colorful, with writing and art on the walls and playgrounds,” he said. “But we didn’t see a single child outside.” After speaking with the school’s president, Owobu learned that while it was described as a K-5 School, it only served kindergarten through first grade, and had just one student enrolled in first grade. Owobu and his team realized that investors in the school were being misled and that the students were suffering as a result. When Matthew came to speak with them, Owobu noticed a stark change. The typically joyful child was quiet and subdued. Owobu recalled being “terrified” by the change in his demeanor.

Soon after, Owobu and the Yenko Foundation visited another local elementary school and encountered a dramatically different environment. “At this school, it was the complete opposite —kids were running around, everyone was happy and joyous,” he said. “After I met the president of the school, I knew this was the school we wanted to support with the Yenko Foundation.”

The foundation’s first step was transferring Matthew to the new school. “As soon as I saw a photo of him there, he looked so much happier, and I knew we had made the right decision.” Shortly after, another of Owobu’s father’s friends, Muhammad, began identifying other children who were unable to attend school. “We started there and then began raising money,” Owobu explained.

The Yenko Foundation notes that every $1,000 raised covers the cost of one child attending school, including tuition, uniforms, safe transportation and daily meals. To date, the foundation has raised enough money to enroll more than twelve students for a full year of school, with a goal of supporting at least 15 more.

Owobu’s desire to serve others while enrolled at Fordham Prep exemplifies many of the qualities outlined in the Grad at Grad – a set of characteristics the school seeks to cultivate in its students. Rooted in the Jesuit tradition and articulated in the “Profile of the Graduate of a Jesuit High School at Graduation,” these qualities emphasize intellectual, spiritual and moral development.

His work with the Yenko foundation is a powerful example of being “Committed to Doing Justice,” demonstrating an “ability to recognize the needs of local, national and global communities,” and acting as a compassionate and engaged member of society. It also reflects the Grad at Grad quality of being loving – growing beyond self-interest and self-centeredness, forming meaningful relationships and appreciating people of other races, religions, nationalities and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Maxwell Owobu’s commitment to addressing educational inequity in Ghana through the Yenko Foundation reflects the very mission of Jesuit education — becoming a true Man for and with Others.

You can learn more about the Yenko Foundation or support its mission at Yenkofoundation.org.