Welcome friends, and thanks for visiting our Website!
I strongly believe that one of the greatest gifts a person can receive is independence; the act of teaching one to fish, instead of handing them a fish. Each individual has a vision or dream, but to succeed in achieving one’s dream requires support, guidance and empowerment. Twenty years ago, I was searching among the garbage for food when I saw something that brought forth within me a dream that is now, with your help, becoming a reality. Like many kids in Liberia, and most of Africa, I was born into a family of nine kids. My father died when I was two months old. This made it difficult to find or afford food, clothing, healthcare, and education.

At the age of 15, in 1985, I was still in the third grade; they called me third grade grandfather. While going through the garbage for food, I saw a magazine with photos of kids who had back packs and books. I knew that my life would change if I could get a proper education.

I lived through seven years of one of Africa’s bloodiest civil wars (In Liberia West Africa). Over three times I was ordered to be executed, but God protected me. I wanted to learn how to fish, instead of merely expecting someone to give me fish. Twelve years later, I have a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and a master’s degree in Divinity and Education.

To remain faithful to the commitment of returning home, I returned to Liberia a year after I came to the United States for school. We organized and conducted the first VBS/Dream camp with 28 kids in attendance.

After 16 years of war, the death of over 250,00 people, and the destruction of the entire country’s infrastructure, the United States and the United Nations stepped in and helped Liberia. Over 70,000 young fighters were disarmed and in 2005, Liberia, a country established by the American colonization Society for the return of free slaves, had a general election, electing the first African female president.

In an effort to reach out to the thousands of kids who were left hopeless, with the help of some friends and Orchard Park Presbyterian Church I began a VBS/dream camp for youth in 2005. We planned for 300 kids but got over 1,800 young people in attendance. In this last year we had over 6,300 children participating, many of them with big dreams for their families and country.

Among the many topics discussed with the children was the topic of dreams. Ninety percent of the 6,000 youth and children who attended VBS are not in school. The average family makes $27.00 (US) a month. Each family eats a bag of rice a month, which costs twenty-six $26.00 (US), making it impossible for families to send their children to school.

As we interacted with these children and tried to give them hope, we concluded that we would like to have a lasting impact on their lives. Many of these children have to work for their families to eat and to be able to go to school. Some young girls have to sell their bodies to be able to enrich their minds. They would do this solely to be able to pay their school fees and put food on their tables.

The feeding and orphanage programs have helped, but education is the key to a brighter future for African kids. It is upon this belief that the African Dream Academy is being built.

We strongly believe that in order to change their lives, these students must be empowered to achieve their dreams. Upon completion, the African Dream Academy will be an independent, coeducational, and privately endowed world-class Christian educational institution. ADA will provide kindergarten through 12th grade education and technical training.

I invite you to join me in empowering African youth and kids to achieve their dreams through Education.

Hope this site will answer, your questions, if not take a look, and then call, send an email or visit our school.

Sincerely,
Rev. Samuel Enders
Founder and Executive Director