Executive Director

I. ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

A. Brief summary of organization history, including the date your organization was established.

Buusa Gonofa International or BGI was established in August 2005 as a vehicle to assist African immigrant youth succeed in elementary, middle, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions in the Twin City area. The organization was founded by Dr. Abdi Galgalo Gonjobe, an experienced teacher and medical doctor, who speaks six languages and is currently pursuing U.S. Medical Licensure, while also teaching foreign language and providing leadership at BGI. The organization’s name, “Buusa Gonofa” originates from Oromo language, and refers to a self-help mechanism whereby families under duress receive the support of the community to get back on their feet within a relatively short time period.

Since August 2005, BGI has been implementing its Teach & Teach Project at the Dar Al Farooq Community Center (1983 17th Avenue Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55414). As the Teach & Teach Project has grown in popularity, BGI has begun pursuing a dual strategy of applying for 501 c3 status with the IRS (the application should be mailed in January 2007) and expanding the program to include weekday after-school hours and adding other academically orientated services.

B. Brief summary of organization mission and goals.

With a mission of assisting African immigrant youth become productive and contributing members of their community, BGI strives to close the educational achievement gap of African immigrant students by offering a continuum of culturally appropriate educational support services that are designed to achieve goals of: (1) improving basic skills in reading, writing and math; (2) encouraging greater parental involvement with their children’s schools; (3) improving access into post-secondary educational institutions; and (4) developing youth’s leadership skills. As a relatively new organization, BGI is also committed to developing a high performing and sustainable non-profit organization that serves as a model for other African-led non-profits committed to the educational advancement of our East African youth.

C. Brief description of organization’s current programs and activities.

BGI’s current programming includes its Teach & Teach Project that provides 6 hours of weekly educational programming (9am-noon on Saturdays and 1-4pm on Sundays) to 95 mainly East African youth (ages 4-15). The program serves roughly equal numbers of Somali and Oromo youth (approximately 50% Minneapolis and 50% St. Paul residents), and is currently financed through monthly participation fees that are paid by mostly low-income parents. Each three hour day includes an hour of cultural education and four (30 minute) education segments (e.g. reading, writing, language, cultural arts, etc).

At this point in time, with the Teach & Teach Project at capacity, BGI heads into 2007 with three organizational areas of focus including:

1) Expanding our Teach and Teach Project to include weekday after-school hours
2) Enhancing BGI’s organizational effectiveness and sustainability – e.g. getting key systems solidly in place in preparation for soliciting charitable contributions
3) Upon succeeding in the above endeavors, expand BGI programming to include post-secondary and parent advocacy services.

D. Organization’s role/relationship relative to other organizations working with similar missions.

BGI rents space from the Dar Al-Farooq Community Center, and is building relationships with a variety of schools, mosques and African agencies to more effectively serve East African youth with a continuum of educational support services including: Tawfiq Islamic Center; Twin Cities International Elementary School; Higher Ground Academy; American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa.

E. Number of board members, full-time paid staff, part-time paid staff and volunteers.

BGI is currently governed by a newly created six-member board of directors comprised of highly educated East African community leaders who view education as the key to success for East African youth. The organization currently operates with an uncompensated Executive Director (Dr. Gonjobe) and 12 weekend Teachers (all part-time) that are each paid a $250/monthly stipend for their involvement with the Teach and Teach Project. BGI also currently utilizes the services of 8 volunteers who, do help as Tutors, Librarians, Teacher Assistants and Supervisors.