our mission
Since its founding, Africa Education Partnership has always believed that the future success of Africa lies in quality education for all children, regardless of gender, religion, or ethnicity. Our mission is to work with individuals and organizations that share this goal. AEP works to provide funding for construction, renovation, and outfitting of schools in northern Nigeria. In addition, a scholarship program matches sponsors with students to help ensure an education for those who are impoverished.
After more than 15 years of working with our partners, AEP has expanded its vision to serve communities at large. Empowerment centers have been established to provide skills training for marginalized populations. Opportunities to learn trades such as sewing/tailoring, soap/cosmetic making, baking/catering, barbering, leather working, and others are now offered to members of the community including widows, young adults and even some students.
Our newest venture will help bring clean water to community water storage tanks and supply individual homes with a water sanitizing solution to purify water. Educating community members around safe water and sanitation practices is an important facet of this initiative. We hope that this will have a positive impact on overall health by decreasing incidences of water-borne diseases.
Periodic, volunteer-paid trips (when safe to travel) provide opportunities for teacher workshops and site visits to prioritize needs and guide our journey together.
After more than 15 years of working with our partners, AEP has expanded its vision to serve communities at large. Empowerment centers have been established to provide skills training for marginalized populations. Opportunities to learn trades such as sewing/tailoring, soap/cosmetic making, baking/catering, barbering, leather working, and others are now offered to members of the community including widows, young adults and even some students.
Our newest venture will help bring clean water to community water storage tanks and supply individual homes with a water sanitizing solution to purify water. Educating community members around safe water and sanitation practices is an important facet of this initiative. We hope that this will have a positive impact on overall health by decreasing incidences of water-borne diseases.
Periodic, volunteer-paid trips (when safe to travel) provide opportunities for teacher workshops and site visits to prioritize needs and guide our journey together.
our history
Africa Education Partnership, Inc. was started in 2009. The very concept first started as a friendship between founding president Don Ghostlaw and Bishop John Danbinta. Recently appointed as bishop of Gusau, Zamfara, Nigeria, John Danbinta was sent to Connecticut to pursue his Master's Degree in Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary. Christian-Muslim relations are highly volatile and strained in Nigeria, especially in the northern regions of the country.
Nearby, at the adjoining University of Connecticut satellite campus, Don was teaching a law course. Bishop John, needing help with the editing of his thesis, was given Don's name as an editor. It was during their study sessions that Bishop John shared his vision of creating a school where children from all faiths and ethnic backgrounds could grow and learn together, having equal opportunities for a quality education. This encounter forged the first bond between these friends.
After Bishop graduated and returned home, he sent an invitation to Don to come and visit. The folks who would later become founding board members put together a fact-finding group. They embarked on a trip to the capital city of Gusau, Zamfara State in northwestern Nigeria to explore the possibilities of making the dream come to life. After looking at property, exploring costs and investigating the logistics involved, they began work on the first school block funded by AEP.
Through the ensuing years, Graceland International School has become an accredited 4-building campus, home to almost 450 students. It continues to thrive and has changed the face of the community, with positive support of the education provided at the school and a blended school board working cooperatively.
Since that time, AEP's efforts have expanded into Kaduna State, forming another partnership with Bishop Markus Dogo of Kafanchan. Since 2018, this collaboration has produced improvements in Kafanchan, Jagindi Tasha, Kogum River, and Godogodo. The work is ongoing in these areas.
The board of AEP has determined that a deep dive into these two areas of Nigeria is currently the best plan for moving forward. Although a small NGO, AEP has been able to make a big impact in both areas using this strategy.
Africa Education Partnership, Inc. was formally recognized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2012.
Nearby, at the adjoining University of Connecticut satellite campus, Don was teaching a law course. Bishop John, needing help with the editing of his thesis, was given Don's name as an editor. It was during their study sessions that Bishop John shared his vision of creating a school where children from all faiths and ethnic backgrounds could grow and learn together, having equal opportunities for a quality education. This encounter forged the first bond between these friends.
After Bishop graduated and returned home, he sent an invitation to Don to come and visit. The folks who would later become founding board members put together a fact-finding group. They embarked on a trip to the capital city of Gusau, Zamfara State in northwestern Nigeria to explore the possibilities of making the dream come to life. After looking at property, exploring costs and investigating the logistics involved, they began work on the first school block funded by AEP.
Through the ensuing years, Graceland International School has become an accredited 4-building campus, home to almost 450 students. It continues to thrive and has changed the face of the community, with positive support of the education provided at the school and a blended school board working cooperatively.
Since that time, AEP's efforts have expanded into Kaduna State, forming another partnership with Bishop Markus Dogo of Kafanchan. Since 2018, this collaboration has produced improvements in Kafanchan, Jagindi Tasha, Kogum River, and Godogodo. The work is ongoing in these areas.
The board of AEP has determined that a deep dive into these two areas of Nigeria is currently the best plan for moving forward. Although a small NGO, AEP has been able to make a big impact in both areas using this strategy.
Africa Education Partnership, Inc. was formally recognized as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in 2012.
Why nigeria?
There is little governmental infrastructure for social services. If we in the U.S. need help, we call out to family, friends, community or government resources. In Nigeria, usually family and friends are the choices to call upon for assistance. With many in Nigeria living on about $3.00 per day, resources are stretched thin. There is very limited access to social services within Nigeria, which include food banks, medical care, and child protection services. The educational system is sorely lacking and many are left without access to quality schools.
Physical infrastructure is lacking. Many Nigerians still have limited access to safe drinking water, sanitation infrastructure, reliable electricity, consistent access to food and material items, or assurance of personal safety to carry out the activities of daily life.
Nigeria has the largest population and biggest economy in Africa. It is one of the main political influencers on the continent. It is the fifth largest producer of oil - an incredibly important and lucrative global commodity. What happens in Nigeria reverberates throughout Africa and beyond. It is a country of great potential and resources that must be developed to serve all of its people.
Physical infrastructure is lacking. Many Nigerians still have limited access to safe drinking water, sanitation infrastructure, reliable electricity, consistent access to food and material items, or assurance of personal safety to carry out the activities of daily life.
Nigeria has the largest population and biggest economy in Africa. It is one of the main political influencers on the continent. It is the fifth largest producer of oil - an incredibly important and lucrative global commodity. What happens in Nigeria reverberates throughout Africa and beyond. It is a country of great potential and resources that must be developed to serve all of its people.
JOIn us
AEP was, and continues to be, an organization of dedicated volunteers who have found that intensive, targeted work in specific geographic locations can have a profound and lasting effect on the communities. By working closely with our partners, we jointly prioritize needs that develop into projects for improvement. The results have been quite dramatic. Please click on our Projects tab to explore.
our board
Our board is composed of a dedicated group of folks who have been working together for many years. We all share a love for our partners and a passion for the future of Africa. Members generously share their time, talents, and treasure to support the mission; all serve as unpaid volunteers.
president: don ghostlaw
Don Ghostlaw has been the driving force in the creation of Africa Education Partnership and has served on the AEP Board since its inception in 2009. He has visited Nigeria twice, and has participated in all AEP fund-raising activities.
Don also serves on the Board of The Rob Branham Foundation, a nonprofit organization serving leukemia patients and their families, and is legal guardian for several mentally handicapped adults.
In his work life, Don is a practicing attorney specializing in non-patent intellectual property matters, with a focus on technology clients. Don has a B.S. in Computer Science from Boston College, and a J.D. from Western New England College School of Law. He is a member of the Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York state bars, and has been practicing for over thirty years.
Don is married with one child.
Don also serves on the Board of The Rob Branham Foundation, a nonprofit organization serving leukemia patients and their families, and is legal guardian for several mentally handicapped adults.
In his work life, Don is a practicing attorney specializing in non-patent intellectual property matters, with a focus on technology clients. Don has a B.S. in Computer Science from Boston College, and a J.D. from Western New England College School of Law. He is a member of the Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York state bars, and has been practicing for over thirty years.
Don is married with one child.
secretary: Barbara Hoff
Barbara Hoff is retired from a career in software project management for financial service companies. Supporting education is a passion of hers, from volunteering in classrooms to leading the parent-teacher organization, to advocating for school building projects in her town.
Barbara has served on the board since the organization was started.
treasurer : bob chagnon
Bob has B.S.B.A. from Western New England College majoring in Accounting. Now retired, he served as a controller for several Connecticut companies including Schaller Auto World, Inc. and DATTCO, Inc. both of New Britain, CT, where his last 25 years of employment were enjoyed.
Bob is married to Elaine and they have two children, Andrea and Nathaniel, son-in-law Brad and three wonderful granddaughters.
Bob has served as Senior Warden, Assistant Treasurer and several other leadership roles at his church. Bob's experiences have included
traveling to and observing distant villages, establishing accountability with Nigerian partners, working numerous roles in medical outreach programs, and visiting school sites with Elaine.
In 2009, he traveled with Don Ghostlaw and Peter Dewberry to assist with the start-up of Africa Education Partnership in Gusau, Nigeria. In January 2021, Bob accepted the role of treasurer for Africa Education Partnership.
Bob is married to Elaine and they have two children, Andrea and Nathaniel, son-in-law Brad and three wonderful granddaughters.
Bob has served as Senior Warden, Assistant Treasurer and several other leadership roles at his church. Bob's experiences have included
traveling to and observing distant villages, establishing accountability with Nigerian partners, working numerous roles in medical outreach programs, and visiting school sites with Elaine.
In 2009, he traveled with Don Ghostlaw and Peter Dewberry to assist with the start-up of Africa Education Partnership in Gusau, Nigeria. In January 2021, Bob accepted the role of treasurer for Africa Education Partnership.
project manager : elaine chagnon
Elaine has a Master's Degree in Special Education from Westfield State University. She served as a Special Education teacher and an Educational Consultant for grades 7-12, working both for the Granby Public School system and the Capitol Education Resource Council in Connecticut. She is retired after 35 years in education.
She has been married to Bob (above) for almost 50 years. They have two children, Nathaniel and Andrea, son-in-law Brad, and three granddaughters.
She is involved in church choir, loves horses, and has a passion for Nigeria. In the past, Elaine completed 10 trips. She became involved with AEP shortly after the start-up of the organization.
She has been married to Bob (above) for almost 50 years. They have two children, Nathaniel and Andrea, son-in-law Brad, and three granddaughters.
She is involved in church choir, loves horses, and has a passion for Nigeria. In the past, Elaine completed 10 trips. She became involved with AEP shortly after the start-up of the organization.
Board: Rev. Dr. Shaw Mudge
Shaw's background includes formerly serving as a business executive and board member in a family-owned international business, with licensing arrangements in England, Mexico, and Brazil, a manufacturing operation in Singapore, and agents around the world. His main emphasis was overall management and included an emphasis on African and Middle Eastern affairs.
As a subsequent career, Shaw became Episcopal (Anglican) clergy, and during this latter role, he has also served as Secretary of a diocese and subsequently became a missionary to Peru, made two short-term mission trips to East Africa, and established an online theological college for the Church in Belize (with permission of the Archbishop of the Church in the Province of the West Indies).
As a boy, Shaw was inspired by his father's Sunday School presentation about Dr. Frank Laubach's African work with the "Each one teach one" literacy program, his elementary schools print shop director who was a missionary to West Africa, and his maternal grandparents who were phenomenal teachers. When one of his grandfather's former students had been elected President of the United States, the former student telephoned Shaw's grandfather and said "remember when you said..." alluding to Shaw's grandfather's inspiration. Over the years, Shaw has maintained a vision for helping people in Africa to achieve their goals, particularly through education.
In addition, Shaw has served on a state employment and training commission, on a national advisory council to a federal government agency, on the board of one of the largest state business associations in the country, on a local government neighborhood planning task force, and has served as a diocesan advisor, consultant, and educator. In Belize, he was briefly a chaplain to three diocesan Anglican schools at the same time. Shaw's doctoral thesis (D. Min.) concerned his creating and teaching the diocesan deacon-formation-program curriculum in the diocese where he was resident.
As a subsequent career, Shaw became Episcopal (Anglican) clergy, and during this latter role, he has also served as Secretary of a diocese and subsequently became a missionary to Peru, made two short-term mission trips to East Africa, and established an online theological college for the Church in Belize (with permission of the Archbishop of the Church in the Province of the West Indies).
As a boy, Shaw was inspired by his father's Sunday School presentation about Dr. Frank Laubach's African work with the "Each one teach one" literacy program, his elementary schools print shop director who was a missionary to West Africa, and his maternal grandparents who were phenomenal teachers. When one of his grandfather's former students had been elected President of the United States, the former student telephoned Shaw's grandfather and said "remember when you said..." alluding to Shaw's grandfather's inspiration. Over the years, Shaw has maintained a vision for helping people in Africa to achieve their goals, particularly through education.
In addition, Shaw has served on a state employment and training commission, on a national advisory council to a federal government agency, on the board of one of the largest state business associations in the country, on a local government neighborhood planning task force, and has served as a diocesan advisor, consultant, and educator. In Belize, he was briefly a chaplain to three diocesan Anglican schools at the same time. Shaw's doctoral thesis (D. Min.) concerned his creating and teaching the diocesan deacon-formation-program curriculum in the diocese where he was resident.
board : angela dimezza
Angela trained in the UK as a RN and subsequently worked in medical clinics in Akron for 24 years. After retiring in 2006, Angela volunteered with Hospice, parish nursing, community meals and Stephen Ministry to name a few.
She has had a special interest in Africa since she was a young girl in England. In 2011 she traveled with a humanitarian team to Nigeria. Her first week with the team was spent in the medical clinic in Kateri, Kaduna State. In the second week she joined another group and traveled to Gusau in Zamfara State, to learn more about the educational needs of the region and to view the progress of the building of Graceland International School.
Angela has served on the AEP board since 2014. She is married to Peter, a cognitive-behavioral therapist in Akron. She has two sons, Matthew and Daniel, and two grandchildren.
She has had a special interest in Africa since she was a young girl in England. In 2011 she traveled with a humanitarian team to Nigeria. Her first week with the team was spent in the medical clinic in Kateri, Kaduna State. In the second week she joined another group and traveled to Gusau in Zamfara State, to learn more about the educational needs of the region and to view the progress of the building of Graceland International School.
Angela has served on the AEP board since 2014. She is married to Peter, a cognitive-behavioral therapist in Akron. She has two sons, Matthew and Daniel, and two grandchildren.
Wendy BEllmore
I am an APRN, Family Nurse Practitioner retired from hospital practice. I am honored to have served in humanitarian missions in Central America and Native American lands with the US Army Nurse Corps, and Madagascar with SAMS. I serve on the East Shore District Health Department Board of Directors, and during the epidemic volunteered in community health centers and clinics. I had the opportunity to travel to Gusau, Nigeria, prior to the epidemic. Mrs. Helen Danbinta, wife of AEP partner Bishop John Danbinta, and the Diocese of Gusau Women’s Guild and Mothers Union presented a strong vision of mission in support of a vocational center. We are all grateful for the support that has contributed to building this program for our partners in Gusau.
Emeritus: the Rev. peter dewberry
The Rev. Peter Dewberry was born in South Africa. After Seminary, he received ordination from the Baptist Union of Southern Africa. In 1971 he began a Church planting ministry. During the next 32 years, he planted and pastored four churches including two in South Africa-Goodwood Baptist Church, in the suburbs of Cape Town and Emmanuel Baptist Church in Durban.
In 1985 Peter and his family moved to the USA. He became the founding pastor of White Marsh Baptist Church in Gloucester County, Virginia. In 1992, Peter became the founding pastor of NewLife Christian Fellowship in Glastonbury, Connecticut. In the summer of 2003 Peter founded Free Inside, a non-profit charity working for the rehabilitation of prisoners facilitating their reintegration into society.
Peter is married and has three children, a son and two daughters, and seven grandchildren. He traveled to Gusau, Nigeria in 2009 with Don Ghostlaw and Bob Chagnon to help establish AEP and has served on the board since that time.
In 1985 Peter and his family moved to the USA. He became the founding pastor of White Marsh Baptist Church in Gloucester County, Virginia. In 1992, Peter became the founding pastor of NewLife Christian Fellowship in Glastonbury, Connecticut. In the summer of 2003 Peter founded Free Inside, a non-profit charity working for the rehabilitation of prisoners facilitating their reintegration into society.
Peter is married and has three children, a son and two daughters, and seven grandchildren. He traveled to Gusau, Nigeria in 2009 with Don Ghostlaw and Bob Chagnon to help establish AEP and has served on the board since that time.