Education is something many Americans take for granted. But for pharmacy technician Florence Aleh, an education did not come easy, and wants to make sure other kids get the best and is getting help from her co-workers.
Aleh, who works at WellStar Cobb Hospital, is successful and well-respected by her co-workers.
"She's just loving, caring. She'll always go the extra mile to try to help anyone, anytime," said co-worker Naijah Holley.
The Cameroon native is completing classes to be a pharmacist. She says the struggles of her past are never far from her memory. Her mother was widowed and had to raise her and her three sisters alone.
"She struggled with us to send us to school. I grew up in a family where chicken and beef was life luxury," said Aleh.
A public school education in Cameroon costs about $6 a year. Aleh says she always wanted to go to private school as a child. Her co-workers were shocked to hear it would cost only $200 a year.
"For the whole year? Like the entire school year? She said yes, that was it. I thought, wow. We pay more for daycare a week here than it would take to send a child to school there," said Holley.
"So everybody was like wow. Let's do this thing. Let's put money together and send some of these kids to private school," said Aleh.
That's exactly what they did. Seven students are now receiving a private school education, including meals, for a year because of the pharmacy.
"I am so happy. I don't even know how to thank them. Very, very, grateful," said Aleh.
The children chosen share Aleh's background; from poor neighborhoods, and being raised by single parents. According to the thank you letters she receives all the time, they no longer have just a single parent.
"The kids, they all call me mommy, some of them call me aunty. I don't have kids yet. I'm looking forward to having kids and all of them are my kids," said Aleh.
Most importantly, Aleh says her Cameroon kids appreciate her American friends.
"The smiles on their faces make me very, very happy," Aleh said.
Aleh is hoping to sponsor more children in the coming school year. She also hopes to help with the cost of books and uniforms. If you would like to help, click here!
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:37 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:37:15 GMT
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person.
You've seen us handing out Good Day Gas Money for weeks now, and Gurvir and Karen have met plenty of those lucky winners in person. But Paul turned up the heat when he enlisted the help of two actresses from the new movie Operation Heat to play a little prank on his unsuspecting coworkers.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:30 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:30:53 GMT
Does your summer road trip include mouth-watering stops at mom-and-pop eateries? Ours does, and it'll be even better with the help of a new Southern Living book!
Off the Eaten Path: Second Helpings is dedicated to finding the best meals in the south-- and it features some great restaurants right here in north Georgia. Good Day's Paul Milliken checked out two of those gems-- The Hil in Serenbe, and Weaver D's in Athens! As usual, he didn't leave hungry.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 10:17 AM EDT2013-05-22 14:17:14 GMT
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show.
The new season of Masterchef features a local contestant from the metro area! Jessie Lysiak is from Social Circle, and she's about to make her big debut on the hit FOX show. But first, she stopped by Good Day to cook us up one of her favorite recipes.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:56 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:56:24 GMT
Americans are known for their pearly whites, but we pay for it—and it isn't cheap.
Americans are known for their pearly whites, but we pay for it—and it isn't cheap. If you have more than one child who needs braces, you have quite an expense on your hands—but FOX 5 I-Team reporter Dana Fowle found some ways to make it a little more manageable.
This week's Good Day Casting Call is loaded with opportunities! Whether you're a jock, a hipster, or a funky-looking worker (WHAT?), there's a job on the big screen for you!
This week's Good Day Casting Call is loaded with opportunities! Whether you're a jock, a hipster, or a funky-looking worker (WHAT?), there's a job on the big screen for you!
Our own Katie Beasley is about to get hitched! She's finally finished planning her big day, and she did lots of it herself. She let us in on her DIY secrets on Good Day!
Our own Katie Beasley is about to get hitched! She's finally finished planning her big day, and she did lots of it herself. She let us in on her DIY secrets on Good Day!
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:29 AM EDT2013-05-22 13:29:22 GMT
Summer is almost here, and that means lots of people will be hitting the roads on vacation. But before you go, don't forget to give your car a little TLC to get it ready for the highway.
Summer is almost here, and that means lots of people will be hitting the roads on vacation. But before you go, don't forget to give your car a little TLC to get it ready for the highway.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:51 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:51:47 GMT
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy.
Chances are your child or someone in your child's class has at least one food allergy. A study by the CDC released last week shows that one in every 20 kids is dealing with food allergies. It's a challenge, but doctors say it's important that kids get diagnosed and treated.
