Reflecting on 2002
January 1, 2003

This past year has been one of much growth sprinkled with some challenges for us at Eduwatch. We have experienced an expansion of our programs to Imo State. Through collaborative efforts, we have been able to provide six sea containers of books for distribution to needy schools in Nigeria. As a result of individual contributions, we have been able to provide funding toward a school restoration project in Ondo, Oyo State. We provided education grants to qualified needy students at our partner schools in Nigeria. None of these services could have been possible without the help of many caring and determined people of goodwill both in Nigeria and the United States, who continue to support our work even in these economically uncertain times.

We have been blessed with growth in our overall number of volunteers and we recognize and appreciate the special energy and spirit these volunteers bring to the table. The numbers of inquiries about our organization and its services have also increased over the last year. We continue to receive emails, letters and phone calls that inquire about our work. We appreciate the growing interest that people all over the globe continue to have in our work of providing the necessary tools for Nigerian children to be a productive and responsible part of the global citizenry.

We are grateful for the growing strength of our board of directors and their willingness and readiness to take leadership in moving the organization forward. We are particularly grateful to our board chair, Dr. Victor Jegede, who tirelessly and vigorously oversees many functions well beyond his job description to ensure the smooth running of our very young organization. This year will continue to be characterized by the increased visibility of Dr. Jegede and some of our other board members in the affairs of Eduwatch, in both the United States and Nigeria.

In our effort to increase our level of transparency, we have joined about 850,000 other organizations at GuideStar, an organization that collects and offers data on all IRS-registered 501(C)(3) nonprofit organizations eligible to accept tax-deductible contributions. You can view a detailed report about Eduwatch at GuideStar by visiting http://www.guidestar.org and searching for Eduwatch.

We have not been without challenges. However, our challenges have served to strengthen our organization. The Eduwatch Team continues to work together to produce seamless delivery of services to Nigerian children in a display of highly professional work ethic.

We look forward to 2003 with great hope as we plan to intensify our efforts to increase awareness of our organization so that we can expand our funding sources and increase our level of delivery of program services to our current partner schools in Nigeria. We anticipate the implementation of our Read-Aloud project and the strengthening of the Meet A Nigerian Author and Nigerian Reads projects. We at Eduwatch thank all our friends and faithful supporters and we invite those yet to know us to inquire about us and to join hands with us in our work as we radiate light, bring vision and deliver hope to Nigerian schools in the form of access to appropriate educational resources and opportunities.

On behalf of the Eduwatch Team, I wish you hope and success in the New Year!

Enitan Doherty-Mason
Founder/Executive Director
Eduwatch