Meet Kwame |
"Today, a dream is set before
you; the destinies of others are
also set before you."
you; the destinies of others are
also set before you."
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Kwame comes from Ghana in the western part of Africa. He was born in Sunyani, located in the Brong-Ahafo
region of Ghana. He is the oldest son of four children born to Kofi and Grace Sakyi. For about six years he and
his two sisters lived with an aunt and uncle while his parents lived in England trying to raise money to support
their family. When his parents returned they worked hard to teach their children the importance of a good
education and the need to support the future of their country. Kofi used his savings to purchase a small brick
making company. As with most family owned businesses, the company used most of their financial resources.
Still, Kofi and Grace made sure Kwame and his sisters and now a small brother received a good education. In
Ghana, this meant going to private schools; another hefty expense for the family but one that was a high priority.
Kwame attended Christ International School during his junior high years and enrolled in Presbyterian Boys’
Secondary School in Accra for high school. This distinguished Christian school seeks to train the mind, the heart
and the hand of students. It has the motto: “In thy Light we shall see Light.” This also meant that Kwame was
again away from his parents as this was a boarding school. But the difficulty was kept in focus of the importance
of education and what a good education could offer him, and through him, his country.
In high school, he assumed many leadership roles. He was selected as a deacon; toaking care of Christian
related events for the school. Taking turns with the other Deacons his responsibilities included: morning
devotions, and teaching a three month confirmation class to students ready to join the church. This teaching
lasted for about three months. In the confirmation class, he taught students the fundamental Presbyterian beliefs
like baptism, Lord’s Supper, Apostles’ Creed and many others. They were also in charge of setting out
communion for about 1,200 students in the boarding house. He and the other Deacons counseled students on
problems they faced in their lives; among these problems were homosexuality, sexual immorality, family instability
and many others.
In 9th grade, he was awarded the overall best student. He had A’s in four subjects and B in the remaining
subjects in their National Examinations. He signed up to become an exchange student in his final year of school.
After graduation he came to the United States where he met and lived with Paul and Nancy Tomlinson, both
pastors in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He expressed his desire to attend college and medical school in our
country and then to return to Ghana to be a pediatrician and open an orphanage for abandoned children and
HIV/AIDS orphans. The Tomlinsons, and the First Presbyterian Churches of McBain, Lake City and Cadillac took
on the challenge of helping him fulfill that dream.
And so his story continues. . .
region of Ghana. He is the oldest son of four children born to Kofi and Grace Sakyi. For about six years he and
his two sisters lived with an aunt and uncle while his parents lived in England trying to raise money to support
their family. When his parents returned they worked hard to teach their children the importance of a good
education and the need to support the future of their country. Kofi used his savings to purchase a small brick
making company. As with most family owned businesses, the company used most of their financial resources.
Still, Kofi and Grace made sure Kwame and his sisters and now a small brother received a good education. In
Ghana, this meant going to private schools; another hefty expense for the family but one that was a high priority.
Kwame attended Christ International School during his junior high years and enrolled in Presbyterian Boys’
Secondary School in Accra for high school. This distinguished Christian school seeks to train the mind, the heart
and the hand of students. It has the motto: “In thy Light we shall see Light.” This also meant that Kwame was
again away from his parents as this was a boarding school. But the difficulty was kept in focus of the importance
of education and what a good education could offer him, and through him, his country.
In high school, he assumed many leadership roles. He was selected as a deacon; toaking care of Christian
related events for the school. Taking turns with the other Deacons his responsibilities included: morning
devotions, and teaching a three month confirmation class to students ready to join the church. This teaching
lasted for about three months. In the confirmation class, he taught students the fundamental Presbyterian beliefs
like baptism, Lord’s Supper, Apostles’ Creed and many others. They were also in charge of setting out
communion for about 1,200 students in the boarding house. He and the other Deacons counseled students on
problems they faced in their lives; among these problems were homosexuality, sexual immorality, family instability
and many others.
In 9th grade, he was awarded the overall best student. He had A’s in four subjects and B in the remaining
subjects in their National Examinations. He signed up to become an exchange student in his final year of school.
After graduation he came to the United States where he met and lived with Paul and Nancy Tomlinson, both
pastors in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He expressed his desire to attend college and medical school in our
country and then to return to Ghana to be a pediatrician and open an orphanage for abandoned children and
HIV/AIDS orphans. The Tomlinsons, and the First Presbyterian Churches of McBain, Lake City and Cadillac took
on the challenge of helping him fulfill that dream.
And so his story continues. . .