High school students from Oakton, VA, decided to work on a mission trip to Burkina Faso. Pinnacle Academy Early College students started working on a fundraising project around six months ago and were able to raise $32,000.00 from the local communities and organizations via bake sales, presentations and social media outlet communications. Pinnacle Academy Early College students established the Blossom Together Association and being full time college students they are at the Northern Virginia Community College, they were able to replicate the association at the college grounds for more awareness on the project and its grand goal. Blossom Together Association students planned to utilize the funding for opening drinkable water wells, distributing meal packages, student uniforms, toys and school supplies in the most needy areas of the country. The Blossom Together Project was supported by the Northern Virginia Community College, the World Bank Burkina Faso Office, the Annandale Rotary Club, the International Horizon High School in Burkina Faso and the Pinnacle Academy-Oakton.
“Our students were able to meet the local people in Burkina Faso and hand deliver the best help they can do to those who really needed it. I believe it allowed them to have a very different view than just hearing and seeing things through internet,” said Principal Kandil at Pinnacle Academy. During their visit, students were able to visit our Embassy in Ouagadougou, capital city of Burkina Faso, the World Bank Country Manager Mr. Cheick Fantamady Kante, and received letters of recognitions from the Ministry of Security Cabinet, the Ministry of Education Cabinet, and the International Horizon School executives on their services to the people of Burkina Faso.
