Key Takeaways
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Max Owobu, an 18-year-old from the Bronx, founded a nonprofit called the Yenko Foundation to sponsor primary school education in Ghana.
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The organization currently supports ten children at Calvary Methodist school in Accra, providing tuition, uniforms, transportation, meals, and supplies.
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Owobu started the charity with his personal allowance after seeing young peers working instead of studying, eventually aiming to help "anyone who needs help in Ghana."
Addressing an educational gap in Accra
While most high school seniors are focused on exams and university applications, 18-year-old Max Owobu from the Bronx is balancing his studies with running an international nonprofit. The teenager founded the Yenko Foundation, an organization dedicated to sponsoring primary education for children in Ghana. His journey began at age 15 during a summer visit to the country where his Nigerian father grew up. During his stay, Owobu noticed that many children were missing out on school due to financial pressures.
Reflecting on what inspired his mission, Owobu shared, “I was seeing kids my age working, just selling things on the street or in shops, working along with the family to try and get by rather than going to school to get an education so they could better their lives for the future”.
Building the Yenko Foundation
Determined to make a difference, the teenager used money saved from his weekly allowance to pay for the schooling of a child named Matthew. This initial act of generosity evolved into the Yenko Foundation, an official 501(c)(3) organization. In Ghana, quality education often requires paying tuition at private institutions, contrasting with the public school system in the United States. Navigating the educational landscape in the busy capital of Accra presented challenges, including avoiding low-quality programs that charge high fees for inadequate care.
With guidance from a local friend, Owobu discovered Calvary Methodist school. A single visit convinced him that this was the ideal location to focus his charity’s efforts. Describing the atmosphere at the school, he noted, “The kids were just so joyous, so enthusiastic, Just so joyful to be going to school.”
Looking toward future growth
The foundation currently funds the K-5 education of 10 children. An annual donation of $1,000 covers a single student’s tuition, uniforms, daily transportation, meals, and academic supplies. Owobu aims to increase the number of sponsored primary students to 15 in the near future. Following this goal, he plans to expand the nonprofit’s reach to support hospitals, orphanages, and “anyone who needs help in Ghana.”
