SUPS Africa Foundation Support for the Underprivileged to succeed in Africa
Background
Support for the Underprivileged to Succeed (SUPS) Africa Foundation’s establishment was inspired by the works and experiences of its Founding President, The Rev. Felix Ernest Kwaku Dodor. Rev FEK Dodor was born on Wednesday, 15th February 1956 at Weta in the Ketu District of the Volta Region of Ghana. His parents were Mr. Vincent Yaotse Dodor and Madam Yenutoeva Deku all blessed memory and were separated due to fetish (Trokosi) rites when Rev FEK Dodor was very young. As a result, young Kwaku had to stay with his maternal uncle, Mr. Kwabla Deku (the elder brother of his mother) who brought him up.
Unfortunately, his uncle was not interested in young Kwaku’s formal Education due to the unfavourable relationship between young Kwaku’s father and Mr. Deku, his uncle. This delayed and deprived Felix of starting school early, hence his enrolment in basic school at a very mature age as compared to many of his classmates and GES standards. While in school, Felix was faced with the task of paying his fees and taking care of every bill related to his academics, a situation he was economically unprepared for, so he had to wear tattered school uniform most often to school among other challenges he encountered.
Consequently, Felix had to go on transfer from Weta E.P. school to Ehi L.A. Middle ‘A’ school because he had to choose between paying school fees and getting his own furniture (which was not easy for him) at Weta and paying school fees and getting furniture for free at Ehi. While in Ehi Middle ‘A’ school, The enterprising skills of young Felix (working on people’s farms, hard work in school, weaving kente, etc.)caught the attention of his Headmaster, Mr. P.E.K. Fiawoyipe, who took him as his son and encouraged him to study hard, and also to write the Teacher Training College Entrance Examination to enable him pursue a career in teaching when taken.
This Headmaster, Mr. P.E.K. Fiawoyipe among other people, played a significant role in the life of Felix (a position SUPS currently stands for) by providing financial support and counseling to Felix to help him attain a teaching career through a teacher training college. Specifically, Mr. P.E.K. Fiawoyipe gave Felix money to enable him attend interview after he had passed the entrance examination, and went further, paid his admission fee for his enrolment at the E.P. Training College Amedzofe; while his mother and uncle did not see the need for him to go to school, and not to talk about a Teacher Training college, mainly because of poverty.
These varied experiences and the supports received by young Felix Ernest Kwaku Dodor spurred him on to higher heights, and he worked hard against all odds to become a successful person, a Senior Reverend Minister in the AME Zion Church, a Regional Manager in the Zion Education Unit, A mentor and a Counsellor of good repute to many young people.
The experiences in the life and works of the Rev. Felix Ernest Kwaku Dodor as a Preacher, Mentor, Educator, Counsellor, Motivator and as a Father to many people, providing their daily needs including school fees and daily meals have projected him as significantly impacting lives in communities where he has served. To leap towards greater impact, Rev. Dodor wishes to continue to lead a team of experts to make life more meaningful to a number of underprivileged young people in Ghana and Africa. This is the passion that has resulted in the establishment of this Foundation, based on a number of revelations, reflections, and convictions in the following scriptures among others:
Galatians 6:9, 10
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want.
If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore, I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’