The Good Hope Educational Initiative hosted its fifth annual fundraiser on Nov. 10 at the Columbia Art League. GHEI raises funds to support a primary school in a township in Cape Town, South Africa. The group raised $5,700 to provide support for school fees, supplies, musical instruments and subsidize a lunch program. The University of Missouri has had a relationship with the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town for 28 years, and professors and students from all UM campuses have participated in this collaboration. GHEI is a not-for-profit organization that has sprung from this relationship.
GHEI Fundraiser
On March 3, Professors Uphoff, Levin and Dean Rich Oliver hosted a fundraiser for the Good Hope Education Initiative at a Columbia, MO bar named Harpo's. Invitations were extended to all MU law students who went on the MU Law Study Abroad program at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa from the past 2 summers and the 15 MU students scheduled to travel to South Africa this summer, 2010. Free beer and pizza always attracks a crowd. About thirty-five students and faculty attended and exchanged stories and photos from past trips to South Africa. The connections the law students had with the Kalksteinfontein Primary School students and their families were particularly meaningful and all agreed that the day at the school was one of the highlights of their South African experience. Sharing stories with the students who hadn’t yet gone to South Africa was also fun and helpful. The evening was a success raising nearly $600 for the GHEI!