The Equal Opportunity Trust

The Equal Opportunity TrustThe Equal Opportunity TrustThe Equal Opportunity Trust
Home
The Team
Our Content
Our Journey
About The Project

The Equal Opportunity Trust

The Equal Opportunity TrustThe Equal Opportunity TrustThe Equal Opportunity Trust
Home
The Team
Our Content
Our Journey
About The Project
More
  • Home
  • The Team
  • Our Content
  • Our Journey
  • About The Project
  • Home
  • The Team
  • Our Content
  • Our Journey
  • About The Project

The Equal Opportunity Trust's Journey

February 2024 - Eric Comes Up With The Idea of A Financial Education Initiative.

In February 2024, while trying to come up with a possible research thesis for a research project he wanted to start, he came across the financial literacy rates in Ghana-his home country. The figure was about 30%, so instead of going forward with research on it, Eric wanted to change this number entirely. Not knowing where to start, Eric decided he wanted to create a financial education initiative that makes such education accessible to all students in Africa, starting in his home country.

February 2024 - Eric Pitches His Idea to Kathy Pondy at the Arizona Council on Economic Education.

Not knowing where to start, Eric went to the AP Microeconomics teacher at his high school. He was inspired by the idea, and coincidentally, he was the husband of Kathy Pondy, the Director of Student and Teacher Services at the Arizona Council on Economic Education. Mr. Pondy set a meeting up with Eric and Mrs. Pondy, and Eric pitched his ambitious idea. Mrs. Pondy, inspired by the idea, offered Eric notable guidance in selecting the name of the project, the mission, and executing the project. She gave Eric lots of pointers in project management, which helped him grow the initiative. 

March 2024 - The Equal Opportunity Trust is Coined, and Eric Partners Up With His Finance Teacher.

After the meeting with Mrs. Pondy, Eric coined the name "The Equal Opportunity Trust," an all inclusive name that encapsulates the mission to provide African students with equal opportunity to learn financial concepts to increase financial literacy. Eric then pitched his idea to Finance teacher Mr. Naber, who let him access archives of finance lessons and lectures he did in class to tweak for Ghanaian contexts.

April 2024 - Eric Reaches Out To Guide Educational Foundation.

Eric, desperate to get his idea out there, cold emailed every single education foundation under the sun in Ghana. His light dimmed, until Florence Nketia (CEO of Guide Educational Foundation) responded and gave him a chance. 

May 2024 - TEOT and Guide Educational Foundation Become Business Partners.

After weeks of communication, and project planning, Florence Nketia and the staff at Guide Educational Foundation officially partner up. The Equal Opportunity Trust would be responsible for curating the lessons, and Guide Educational Foundation will be responsible for distributing them and ensuring they reach schools in Ghana. This partnership was monumental to the project, as this partnership meant the project had the ability to establish itself in Ghana. 

June to July 2024 - Eric Constructs the Curriculum and Works Extensively to Create Course Materials.

With loads of free time due to summer holidays from school, Eric decided to use his time to formulate the curriculum in its entirety. He took all the lessons he learned in his finance class, and virtually converted them into Ghanaian finance lessons with a bit of external research. This process was long and extensive, but was crucial to the initiative as a whole. This time also saw the official creation of the TEOT logo.

June to July 2024 - Eric Goes on a Humanitarian Project in Kenya leaves Inspired.

Eric was selected as a Global Ambassador for the Crutches 4 Africa organization, where he along with 4 other ambassadors would distribute thousands of mobility devices, school supplies, and materials for people in need in Kenya. During this trip, Eric volunteered at 4 schools, got a first-hand insight in the modern African education system, and even had the opportunity to teach Year 6 mathematics to a class. These experiences lit a flame of determination in Eric, to make this project work no matter what. 

September 2024 - Guide Educational Foundation Connects Eric to 4 Schools.

When the curriculum was nearing completion, Guide Educational Foundation connected The Equal Opportunity Trust to 4 partner schools: The Step Academy, Great Leaders Educational Complex, Living Foundation International School, and Agape International School. These schools welcomed the financial education initiative, and what followed was extensive planning. We surveyed them, found out their class sizes, and discussed logistics of the incoming program.

December 2024 - Alhassan Huzeifa Joins the TEOT Team as a Global Ambassador.

As TEOT neared its launch date and officially finished the curriculum, it needed a person to distribute the program, and have physical contact with the schools. Alhassan, a Guide Educational Foundation employee, offered to take on this responsibility. She made frequent trips to the schools, and created plans on when the programs will be received and taught. The pictures below are of school children receiving the program, taken by Alhassan Huzeifa. 

January 2025 - The First Lessons are Distributed at Great Leaders Educational Complex

After extensive planning, wire transfers, and communication, Eric wired money to Guide Educational Foundation to print out the first lessons. The first lessons (the middle of the gallery) were given to the teachers at Great Leaders Educational Complex, equipping 153 students with financial education. 

March 2025 - The Rest of The Schools Receive First Lessons and Start Curriculum Entirely.

By March 2025, we were able to get all of our lessons into all 4 of our partner schools, including video lessons to Living Foundation. This marked a pivotal point in TEOT, as consistent schedules for teaching the lessons were established, and now over 430 students had access to financial education. The goal was reached, however, the mission wasn't over. 

June 2025 to Now - Eric Starts Development of Seminars.

With TEOT now consistently in schools for 4 months, Eric sought to expand the potential for TEOT. Currently, Eric is exploring and brainstorming ways to connect the schools to have financial education seminars, and have expos where students can share their learning of finance concepts.

Through the Lens of Service: The Equal Opportunity Trust in Pictures

Copyright © 2025 The Equal Opportunity Trust - All Rights Reserved.

Powered by

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting the use of cookies, we are able to remember information about your visit and enhance your experience.

Accept