A message from Mama:  One of the most beautiful (and unexpected) collateral benefits of presenting in schools, churches, personal residences, etc. in this part of the world is how people empathize immediately with the struggles of the desperately poor.  This is especially true when I visit schools here and share stories of students in genuine need.

I will share our immediate need to build toilets (Cost $4,518.00) and restore a classroom dedicated to math (Cost $2,725.00) at a local government school; and that, until we brought one, the school had NO math teacher . . . (Cost – $3,947.00 annually)

I will share how many children will fail their mandatory national exams (and drop out) of primary school in September, and how we want to better prepare the incoming first year secondary students so they will have a greater understanding of math and English.  We will do this by hosting a free ‘Pre-Form One” program for the three primary schools feeding into our Nshupu Secondary . . . (Our Cost – $1,776.00)

I will share how we have constructed a hostel for the senior students and how this hostel has improved grades dramatically in a year, BUT, how, because of financial constraints, these students eat the same food, EVERY DAY and how we’d like to change that up a bit.  (Cost – $9,868.00 annually)

I will share how we have been approached by many, MANY students whose performance is outstanding, especially considering the school(s) they come from but that without some financial support they won’t be able to advance in their studies. (Ongoing and dependent upon funding but about $350.00 per student.)

Only about 4% of children graduate from secondary school.  Of that 4% only 11.5% finish school with any proficiency in math or science!  We need to change that and so we pay the salaries for 4 math/science teachers AND provide their teaching needs, seminars, etc.  This all costs money.  2019 Teacher Needs and Salaries budget – $17,441.00.

These numbers at first seems a bit overwhelming but if we could find just 25 schools to raise $1,000.00, or 13 schools to raise $2,000.00 we can do it!  Our Tumaini mantra is “with hope, everything is possible”.  We can do it!

There are many stories.  There are many needs.  But one of the best results is what I see at THIS end of the world.  I see empathy, real understanding of the plight of poor children.  I see a change in perspectives for many kids here, who, previously may have had their priorities mixed up.  I see children adjusting their lenses and sometimes, reevaluating their futures and redirecting their energies in an entirely new direction.  I see new relationships develop, and travel to new places, and I see students here, communicating with students on the other side of the world and I think that’s pretty cool!

Many children cannot conceive of helping others until they realize just how manageable their own life is!  This is perhaps one of the most beautiful surprises I never anticipated in doing this work.

Student+>Student – I’ve seen it at work and it’s awesome!