Soul of a Servant (SOS)

Impact Statement

Sisters in The Journey (SIJ) a 501c3 organization is commemorating our 15-year anniversary by initiating the Soul of a Servant Award (SOS). With the help of faithful contributors, we are desiring to raise 25K over the next 5 years. The SOS Award is being birthed out of a response to the distress calls of those in need, including our next generation (children and youth), those promoting economic empowerment, academic and health equity among the marginalized populations. Individuals and organizations with a passion and vision to respond to these distress calls, symbolized by the well-known morse code SOS, meaning “send help” will align with the purpose of this award.

Sisters In the Journey will commit to leveraging funds as the faithful servants dedicate their time and energy to serve those in need and build them to live out a quality and productive life.

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Help us build a brighter future for Bridge Kids International School in Dawhenya, Ghana 

2025-2026 Soul of a Servant Winner

Jamille Barnes

Jamille Watkins-Barnes was born and raised on the south side of Chicago and educated in Chicago public schools.  She earned a master’s degree in communications in 1989 from Northwestern University. She is a widow who shared 28 years in marriage to Alvin Barnes, and together they parented 5 children.

Her career highlights include 15 years’ experience with AT&T corporation where she travelled globally as a business development manager. Following that assignment, she became the director of a literacy program in Ghana West Africa (2010 – 2014). In this capacity sponsored by USAID, she spent 4 years directing the development of textbooks, learning materials and teacher training support for primary schools throughout Ghana. At that time, she established friendships, family and business relationships.

Today, she pursues entrepreneurial activity in Ghana and in the US. She is a property owner in Ghana and provides leadership and support to a church ministry, a primary school, and the diaspora community in Ghana. She is also a land and market development advocate promoting international investment opportunities. She is a firm believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ and is a teacher of the Word of God. She continues to teach and press forward toward her calling, to advance the kingdom of God.

Soul of a Servant Funding Initiatives 2025

Bridge Kids International Primary School and Susu Jaama

 Computer Lab Implementation and Tracking

• Support the Lab set-up infrastructure
• Support culturally specific Curriculum Development
• Support the local Ghanaian educators and instruction and oversight team

Cultural Exchange Through Technology

• Support use technology to connect children in Ghana with students in Chicago through a classroom exchange program.
• Creating t-shirts for the students to symbolize cultural bridge, through the “Art You Can Wear” division of Susu Jaama.
• The initiative aims to share historical stories, particularly focusing on African civilization and history that has been overlooked in colonial education.

African Heritage Storytelling Business Model

• Support the business model centered on preserving African heritage through storytelling and cultural exchange, focusing on bridging ancient traditions with modern expression.
• Create opportunities for empowering communities, particularly youth, by fostering creative economic opportunities from Ghana to Chicago. The initiative aims to support local educators and contribute to community uplift through curriculum design, artist engagement, and creative workshops, embodying a humanitarian commitment to education, identity, and creative empowerment.
• Stories will be captured and shared to demonstrate the transformational power of elevating the voices of our youth and young adults

Bridge Kids International School in DAWHENYA, GHANA –2025

Our Pledge

We are proud to see Bridge Kids grow from its humble beginning to a thriving institution. We are grateful for our parents, teachers, and staff. Good people are supporting this school because they know the need for education is so great. As the school grows, we will continue to build and grow the school in curriculum, programming, furnishings, books, supplies and healthy meals. Together, with the love and support of our friends, we will bridge these beautiful little children into a future where they are equipped to confront the challenges of their lives.

Persistence pays off!  Brick by brick, Bridge Kids Ghana has been building their school for 6 years.  What started as a literacy project in one corner of a church, it soon evolved into a one-story facility. Today it has grown into a 3-story facility with indoor toilets and a computer lab. In 7 years, Bridge Kids Ghana now has 182 students (Pre-K to 8th grade). With the new space, there are new classrooms, a library, a computer room, administrative offices, and more.

We are so grateful to everyone who has contributed to the project, especially our friends at Bridge Kids International, a 501c3 from Kentucky in the United States, the Rotary Club of Prospect Goshen, and the Rotary International Service Project led by the South Oldham Rotary Club, and Sisters in the Journey from Chicago Illinois which  provided the equipment and support that will complete the vision of a vibrant school serving the wider community.