Odyssey Programs
The Foundation provides scholarships, as well as educational, cultural and supportive programs to assist students and future leaders to gain confidence and develop leadership abilities. We are available to discuss unique and special ways that you can be involved with our foundation to help provide financial support, as well as counseling, educational opportunities, and mentorship to young men and women who desire to attend college and/or medical school.
The Gibson Griggs Fund also recognizes that travel provides invaluable learning opportunities and cultural awareness. One of our newer projects is an educational and cultural exchange program between African American and African young people, i.e., the Odyssey 2016 Summer Exchange Program, where 11 – 16 year old students will spend two - three weeks in Cote d’Ivoire West Africa learning and exploring African cultural and history. This experience will promote educational awareness and cultural understanding, and partnerships between American and African young students. Our hope is that by creating these travel opportunities we can help the students get to really know Africa and its peoples, and to one day become global ambassadors and make a difference in these communities. Travel inspires a world vision and the opportunity to make lifelong friends and bridge permanent connections with Africa.
The goal of our medical mission trip is to provide free medical care to the poor and underserved villages of Taki Salekro and Dubo/Kpato in Cote d’Ivorie West Africa and to bring needed medical supplies to the villages. During our trip in August 2016 we will bring a volunteer medical team to provide a week of free medical care to the villagers.
The Gibson Griggs Fund is devoted to the educational empowerment of the individual and currently offers two health care programs: Certified Nursing Assistant and Hemodialysis Technician. The goal of the educational center is to train qualified individuals for gainful employment as certified nurse assistants and hemodialysis technicians. Day and evening classes are available as well as financial aid and tuition payment plans. Job placement assistance is also available.
Odyssey also envisions establishing a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program in the villages of Taki Salekro and Dubo/Kpato in Cote d’Ivorie West Africa.
The Odyssey New Beginning Tots daycare program is celebrating its one year anniversary. The daycare centered opened on February 26, 2015 and provides a clean and safe learning environment for infants and children, ages 6 weeks to 4 years, from 6:00a.m. to 7:00 p.m.