05 Feb New Year Letter by SEYI OBAKIN
Dear Friends, a very Happy New Year to you and all your loved ones.
The last couple of years have been unprecedented and challenging for everyone. During that time, the Tobi Adeyemi Foundation stepped back from events but our work with children and young people have continued and we are delighted with what we achieved.
As we enter yet another uncertain year, we wanted to share some of the highlights of the last 18 months and look ahead to what’s to come in 2022.
Last 18 months
As we look back, we are encouraged by what we were able to do. First, we supported 31 TAF International scholars with the following outcomes:
• 2 scholars graduated from university or polytechnic;
• 8 scholars progressed into university or polytechnic;
• 3 scholars were awaiting the outcome of their application for higher education;
• 15 scholars made progress in their secondary school education;
• 3 Scholars dropped out of the scholarship programme for various reasons.
Second, we admitted a second UK scholar. I am delighted to say both are thriving and we are delighted with the progress they made.
Third, we deepened our strategic partnership with African Child Trust by committing to support TAF scholars beyond secondary education and right through to completion of their university education. This will help ensure they don’t drop out at that cliff edge, and thus, they are able to lift themselves and their immediate families out of poverty.
The credit for touching and changing these lives belongs to you as much as to us. We are grateful to all of you who continued to give regularly to the Foundation, and to Mr Bioye Ashimolowo and Nigeria-UK Golfing Association both of whom organised golf events to raise funds during the year. Your support enabled us to keep supporting TAF Scholars.
Looking to 2022
A new year offers a fresh canvas for new beginnings. For the Tobi Adeyemi Foundation, we plan to restart our usual events, in Covid secure ways. Thus, our annual spring and dinner golf classic will take place on Thursday 5th May 2022 at Surrey National Golf Course. Golf tees off at 10-11am, followed by dinner at 7pm. Please join us for a day of fun, and an evening of laughter and a scrumptious meal among friends.
We also plan to host our popular annual lecture and dinner on either Saturday 8th or 15th October 2022. We would be grateful if you would please hold both dates for the time being and we hope shortly to be able to confirm one of them.
We will consider how we might run a virtual career fete in the second half of the year and I would be in touch with details as soon as we have completed arrangements for it.
We are looking forward, with optimism, to the progress our scholars will make this year, and to admitting more scholars. In the light of this, please would you consider a one off or regular gift – perhaps monthly – for Tobi Adeyemi Foundation? The most effective way to do this is through JustGiving buy clicking this link. As the Foundation does not employ any staff, 100% of your donation will help change a young person’s life, perhaps irrevocably.
Friends, I thank you for your continuing support which is invaluable to us, and more so to the children and young people whose stories are changed by it.
Best wishes,
Seyi Obakin OBE
Chair