Fadima Conde
Saved $8098 toward her children’s college education
My name is Fadima Conde. I’m from Guinea in West Africa and have been living in the United States since 2002. I now live and work in Lynn, Massachusetts. My daughter Fatoumata is 13 years old and my son Sekou is 5 years old.
I started saving with Compass in the fall of 2006. Before then, I didn’t know how to save. Through the Compass program, I have been saving $100 a month for the last two years for my children’s college education. I am proud to say that I have never missed a month of saving over the last two years. When the program is over in August, I will have saved more than $8,000. I will invest this money in college savings accounts for both of my children.
My daughter encouraged me to start the Compass program. I was nervous about doing the program but she really pushed me to try. She studies very hard and wants to go to university. I told her that I don’t have a lot of money but that I would do what I could to help her achieve her dream.
Thank God my daughter pushed me and my heart took this program. I don’t know how to describe what it has done for me. It has given me so many opportunities.
I also wanted to share something my daughter Fatoumata wrote.
“I first found out about the Compass program at my school, the KIPP Academy in Lynn. I wanted my mom to join the group because I knew it would help us in the future.
My mom said she didn’t have much money and didn’t know if she could save an amount each month. I told her to look on the bright side – that what she saves will become bigger in the future. She saved $100 each month and hasn’t missed one month.
I told her all the time not to buy me anything and to continue saving each month. I always encouraged her not to give up when she got tired sometimes.
The Compass program has helped my family get on track for college and is helping others too. My life has changed a lot since the program, and I hope others will feel the same as I do.”