More than $22,000 raised from the sale of used jewelry will go towards helping more than 60 girls receive an education in West Africa.
Marilyn Pottage of the Tools for Schools Africa Foundation said that final tallies from the Sept. 27 event called Shine! showed how much of a success it really was.
“We will use those funds to secure matching funding so in the end Tools for Schools Africa Foundation will benefit by approximately $45,000 from donations of used jewelry from the Central Alberta community,” said Pottage.
Most of the money will go towards scholarships in Ghana.
A portion may be used to help with a building project in May 2013, with the help of students and faculty from University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Architecture. The university board has supported the construction project as a credit course for architecture students, giving them experience in mud block construction.
Pottage said that Shine! is already being planned for next year.
The public can continue dropping off used jewelry to Artistry in Gold at 5001 50th St. Next year’s event will include gently used purses and silk scarves, which will be collected beginning next summer.