News

When the PROFESA Academy opened the doors to its new building in January of 2009, students were thrilled with the gorgeous classrooms and spacious computer lab.  

However, due to a lack of funds the students had to go without desks for the next 18 months.

Even though it was hot, it ended up being a wonderful day from beginning to end. As the day went on the games got better and better with a few going into extra innings. We'd like to thank all 60 players who participated this year. Congratulations to our tournament champions, team Pelletier & Mirza LLP. They defeated Team New England in a game that ended under the lights. Tom Mirza was named MVP of the final game after leading his team too victory by driving in four runs.

The founder of the Indian grassroots agency ARV, Ravi Kumar, will be traveling to Japan to complete a 2-week long speaking tour. Both ARV and Longitude feel this is a great opportunity to build new partnerships, meet potential donors, expand the Japan-based volunteer network, and increase awareness of Dalit issues. Ravi is scheduled to visit both Osaka and Tokyo in efforts to further develop ARV’s capacity through these speaking events. Past volunteers have already collaborated to generously provide the plane ticket for Ravi’s flight to Japan.

On a recent hot June night in Central Falls, RI the Ghana Association of Rhode Island hosted its first ever Kente Cloth Celebration and Longitude was a featured guest. Board member Kwaku Afful and Longitude President Shawn Rubin were in attendance to dance and celebrate, but first there was an important presentation from GAORI president Kwasi Asante.

Students at PROFESA Academy, a non-profit vocational training school in Ghana, have begun writing their first semester's exams- check out the pictures below. As you can see, many of the students have to share desks due to lack of supplies. Please see our Friends of PROFESA monthly giving campaign in which you can sign up through the website to donate $10 a month taken directly from your account to aid in the education and future of these students. Click here to donate.

The PROFESA School aims to marry the business community’s growing need for computer networking with the need of local women for sustainable employment. PROFESA is a Ghanian NGO founded in 2000 to provide vocational training to undereducated and impoverished Ghanian girls and women. 

PROFESA's goal in the coming years is to improve and expand existing secretarial training by creating a new Computer Networking certification and computer training program.

Below is the breakdown of the 40 students currently enrolled at the PROFESA Academy.

Special thanks to John Lavall and Jonathan Beller for capturing the fun, comraderie, and basketball that makes Lonitude's annual 3-on-3 Tournament so incredible. This year was the best year yet as 15 teams competed for the coveted title and trophies. Check out the video, and then be sure to get out there and play in 2011.

The PROFESA Academy, a non-profit vocational training school in Abeka, Ghana, is booming with activity and learning.  After changing the school's focus in January of 2010 to give a greater emphasis to computer and technology training, the academy saw an initial dip in enrollment.  The students did not stay away long however, and currently the school is back to serving more than 40 young men and women.