AFTER SCHOOL TUTORING PROGRAM: Kpani Addy with youth members of GaGbekebii    For several years Mr. Kpani Addy, Cypress Knight and Comice Addy have been performing and teaching the traditional music, arts and cultures of Ghana to children and adults throughout the state of Oregon, and now in Illinois. We have taught and performed in public schools, after school programs, Migrant Head Starts, prisons, at-risk youth programs, colleges, and community education programs.    At the end of 2000, Mr. Addy organized a Cultural Music and Dance Company in his native land called Ga Gbeke Bii “Children of Ghana”. It is comprised of youth from the ages of 7 to 24 years who live in the ghetto of Accra Central. Professional musicians, dancers, and acrobats direct and train the youth as well as perform with them.  The youth are very talented performing artist whose families struggle with poverty, lack of education and lack of health care. Many attend school irregularly and several not at all because they do not have money to pay school fees. Mr. Addy arranged for a tutor to work with both the children and adults on basic reading, writing and math skills. We support the troupe with daily meals as well as classes and we pay as many school fees as we can get donations for. Each morning at 5:00 am the children come to the training grounds to have a “koko” drink made of corn and chili pepper before attending classes. After class they have rehearsals and then stay for their evening meal before returning to their families. Some children, who are homeless, sleep at the training grounds cared for by adult members of the group. The Cultural Music and Dance Company provides the youth with a safe haven where they can interact and learn from positive role models. By giving these children our time and commitment we have seen them blossom into an exceptional performance troupe. In return for our modest support the troupe has shown remarkable dedication, enthusiasm and positive spirit – practicing five hours a day, six days a week. Furthermore, our efforts have united the community in bringing many Master musicians, dancers and medicine people to donate their time and talents for the youth-- training them in numerous traditional customs, songs and dances.  Ga Gbeke Bii, Children of Ghana has gained considerable recognition in the last year having performed for Ghanaian President John Agyekum Kufuor and at numerous cultural events in and around Accra. Kpani Addy also sponsors and has the troupe perform for HIV /Aids Awareness Dance and Music Competitions.    We have been working with great patience, hope and effort to sustain and train this very special group of talented young people. Against all odds, through the grace of God, and with a few generous contributions, our efforts have been sustained thus-far. We have purchased an oven and materials to create a small baked goods market. We were also able to create an outdoor music venue where we sponsor Friday night music competitions at the training grounds of the GaGbekebii "Children of Ghana" culture troupe. One of our greatest dreams is to bring fifteen members of the Ga Gbeke Bii “Children of Ghana” troupe to tour and perform with us throughout the United States. To accomplish this we need both financial support and the appropriate professional contacts. With financial backing Ga Gbeke Bii members could also provide free arts-in-education programs at public schools in the cities they visit.  We are looking for help from someone like yourself to accomplish this goal. A tour such as this will touch many lives. It will also bring each troupe member the pride and financial support to change their families’ lives for the better. And it will bring American audiences an appreciation for the positive spirit of Ghanaian people and their cultures. Their inspiring talent will bring good spirit and lift the hearts of many American youth. We present to you the Children of Ghana in hopes that you will find a way for us to share our gifts with you. We look forward with great anticipation for the day we make contact with you and move forward together. We would love to meet you and tell you more of our story. We have videos of Ga Gbeke Bii and our accomplishments both here and in Ghana. Please contact us for a copy of these so you can see a glimpse of what we do. With Sincere Respect, Cypress Knight, Kpani Addy and Comice Addy. Contact Information: (708) 503-6942 kpaniiaddy@yahoo.com cypressnightss@yahoo.com 208 Westwood Dr., Park Forest, Il. 60466	Youth dancers enjoying a nutritious meal at the training grounds.   YOU CAN HELP TOO!  ALL DONATIONS GO DIRECTLY TO SUPPORTING GA GBEKE BII "CHILDREN OF GHANA": Your generous contributions support : • nutritious daily meals Lease training grounds for the school and culture troupe. Maintain shelters at the training grounds for save haven. •Maintain  kitchen, and storage room for drums and equipment  Maintain performance stage. Provide seed money for Troupe's bread/cookie/ ice kenkey enterprise. Provide school supplies. Emergency fund for health care needs Please keep up the support and tell your friends and relations about our efforts. For a gift of $20 or more we will send you beautiful photos of Ga Gbeke Bii "Children of Ghana" performing and practicing at the training grounds as well as letters from troupe members.
Donations can be made to Kpani Addy 208 Westwood Dr. Park Forest, Ill. 60466 Comice Addy with Girl Dancers
Kpani Addy teaching African culture to at-risk American youth to enhance their ethnic pride and multicultural understanding. Portland, Oregon: Gladys McCoy Academy (alternative high school).	Comice Addy helps out with Ga Gbeke Bii's begining cooking enterprise 2005 - Ghana, West Africa