_In 2008 in my junior year at Williams College, I traveled abroad to Ghana in search of adventure, and something to change my perspective on the world.

It took some time to adjust to the food, the weather, and the language, but after a few weeks I was smitten by Ghanaian culture and had begun to embrace their care free, hospitable attitude and particular outlook on life. Just prior to leaving the village after a two week stay, I was approached by the elders.  The men said that they had recognized my energy, and formally asked me if I would be willing to help out Ampento after I left.  I asked them specifically what they needed, and the chief of the village told me:

    "Our school is broken down, the cement is crumbling, the lights don't work, and the
    roof has holes, so when the rain comes, the students cannot come to school and learn.  We
    would ask that you would help us support the reconstruction of the school building"

I thought for a moment to myself, "this is probably something I could do," and without thinking about it too much more, I agreed. Two months passed and I was back in the States. After a few months, and an internship at a microfinance organization in New York, the idea for 5Cee hit me.  I would get my friends to donate their old clothes, and sell the clothes on the Internet and at events.  With enough donations, the right attitude, and the right contacts, I figured that I'd be able to scrape the money together to rebuild the school.

I spent the rest of the summer organizing the company, and planning out an array of fundraisers that I would host at Williams in my senior year.  After a year of putting my nose to the grindstone, I managed to get enough money together to get a plane ticket back to Ghana, a few hundred dollars to put a contractor on retainer, and enough cash to support one of Ampento's 8th graders to continue his education in high school.

While in Ghana I met a contractor through my home-stay family in Kumasi, who put together an estimate and a set of blueprints for the reconstruction of the school.  In Ampento, I met with the elders, informed them that I had a plan, and would help to rebuild their school, and that in the meanwhile I would support one of their 8th graders to continue their education. 

Since then, I've been supporting Kwaku Albert at Wesley Presbyterian High School in Bekwai Ghana, and am continuing to raise money for the re-construction of the school. You can help me to fulfill my commitment to the village of Ampento by purchasing the items for sale on this site, donating clothing or artwork to 5Cee, or attending 5Cee events.  

For more information, see the 5Cee Facebook Page, or email us at 5CeeClothing@gmail.com

-John Dingee