The AFRICAN EDUCATION PROGRAM was founded in the Radnor High School cafeteria in 2002, when four sophomores decided they wanted to support students affected by poverty and AIDS ravaging Zambia. Founders Hillary Bridges, Sarah Hayes, Christian Mark and Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza started their work with school supplies, computers and clothes they collected, sorted, and shipped. Within two years, AEP was registered as an official 501(c)3 charitable organization. Inspired and assisted by their Radnor High School soccer coach, a native of Zambia, the students and their supporters opened the first community youth resource center in August 2006. Amos Youth Centre (AYC) now supports over 400 youth annually and is a registered non-governmental organization recognized by the Zambian Ministry of Home Affairs. Six years ago, Julie-Anne Savarit-Cosenza came back to lead the nonprofit full-time.
AEP has awarded over 2,400 high school scholarships since 2007, graduated 65 students from universities, and everyday brought over 275 youth through the doors of the educational resource center for academic support and extracurricular programs.
For more information about the program, please visit www.AfricanEducationProgram.org
This story was contributed by Hollie Powers Holt