FCU and Macdellar Sons of Grace School
Several years back, Susan Tordella, chair of the FCU Council of Social Justice, was introduced to Mark Tillah, founder and director of the Macdellar Sons of Grace School in the Volta region of Ghana. She, with others from FCU, began to organize fundraiser events for the school, where students in need receive a tuition-free education. Susan created a 501(c)3 organization, Learning Up, so that people could make donations directly to the school.
Rev. Lara Hoke began to volunteer for the school in 2022 in the form of fundraising, and then in 2023 she became their volunteer webmaster (their website is here.) During her 2024 sabbatical, Rev. Lara spent a month at the school as a mission trip, volunteering her time as needed. She is now on the Board of Learning Up.
Mark Tillah, the principal and founder of the Sons of Grace MacDellar Preparatory School in Ghana received this high honor from the Torkor Region, which would be similar to a statewide recognition in the USA. The award was presented on March 6, which is their July 4, the day that Ghana received independence from Great Britain in 1957.
FCU supports the school through a task force, frequent donations, intercultural events and an upcoming tour of Ghana, Togo and Benin. Rev. Lara Hoke spent nearly a month of her 2023 Sabbatical at the school. THANK YOU FCU for being part of this dynamic man's life and contributions to his community.
With appreciation, Susan Tordella, and the Learning Up board of directors -- Bob Williams, Lynn and Peter Cina and Lara, as well as Sos Zinsouply of Benin and Lancaster, Mass.
It took 9 months to complete this project of gathering and delivering brass instruments and guitars to the Sons of Grace MacDellar Preparatory School. Now the fun is just starting as you can see in the video. It took many hands to get there.
- People donated instruments - including Callie Henriques and Rev. Lara Hoke.
- Bob and I bought some brass instruments on FaceBook marketplace.
- New England Brassworks in Nashua, NH gave us half price to tune up and clean the instruments.
- Learning Up Board members Lynn and Peter Cina, delivered the instruments from Westford on her way to NYC to Samuel Awumey, a Ghanaian who lives in Waterbury, Conn.
- Samuel donated the packing and overseas shipping.
- Samuel's brother, Simon Awumey, arranged to receive the instruments in Ghana as a Rotary International member. Because Rotary is a non-profit, we avoided import taxes.
- The boat ride and delivery took 4-5 months.
- Principal Mark Tillah traveled to Accra, by a 2 hour a tro-tro [minivan bus independently operated] ride each way, to pick up the instruments.
- It takes a village!
- Mark, the multi-talented school founder, plays trumpet and other instruments, now instructs the children.
THANKS to all involved for the contributions to enrich the lives of young people with the gift of music.
