Tony Simeon Amara

“I know for a fact that these kids cannot study without supplies, cannot work on an empty stomach, or live happily without adequate clothing. I know this because I was one of these kids in the 1980’s. I went to the very same broken structure of a school and worked on the exact same broken wooden desk that is in place today. The same dilapidated set of equipment has been in place for over 37 years. I only owned one outfit and never owned shoes. During my education, my father could not afford to buy me one book. Some years (if he could afford to) he would buy me one notepad, one pencil and 12 white chalk sticks for the entire school year. I am ashamed and embarrassed to say that I still remember stealing a piece of chalk from a classmate, because I did not have any. I am now 46 years old and living in Los Angeles. I am an accomplished Chef, a caring husband to my wife April, and most importantly the proud father of three amazing children. Watching my children’s ever-expanding educational interests has been my motivation to help these African children. My parents never went to school, never learned French (the prominent Western language in our region) and could barely afford to send my siblings and I to school. During the school year, with no books and minimal supplies, it was almost impossible to learn anything. Not knowing the importance of an education and having minimal finances available, most children in the same situation do not complete an elementary level education, and so become child farmers. Only due to certain circumstances was I able to avoid this fate and write these words. I strongly believe in our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ; I also believe that education is one of the main keys for success in life. I am determined to support and inspire these young kids and to spark in them a realization that hard work and education are extremely important for them to be able to accomplish their life goals.”