Hello Everyone,
Today we took our camera’s and toured the local elementary and high school. I am still left not knowing exactly how to put into words what I saw. Imagine the drive to Las Vegas, take an old condemned building and placing a sign on the outside that said, “Primary School”. Paint the inside classroom walls black to be used as a chalk board – old scrap wood for desks – and then you have a place to provide quality education. . .
Yet, as you walk through their school there is a since of pride. They are prideful for the fact that children are receiving an education, learning about the world. It is a is a priceless and life saving gift in this area.
We spoke to their school principal who told us some students walk 7K to school every morning. School starts at 7:00 am – 5:00 pm. In order to attend high school, they must wear the high school uniform. Several students are unable to attend school due to the fact that they are unable to afford the uniform . . . it only cost $8.00.
Each classroom is lined with desks, wall to wall. The classroom we sat in had light fixtures dangling from the ceiling. The teacher said, “Hopefully soon we will be able to fix that”. We asked Virginia, the business teacher, how many students she has, “This year I have 45 students, last year I had 60 in a class”. The government funds the school less than $3 per student per year. The high school we visited has over 600 students.
The high school works really hard to feed the students everyday while they are attending school. To help provide vegetables for the students they have cultivated some land next to the student. “Some students only eat once a day, and this may be their only meal”.
I mentioned to the principal that we are present because of all the kindness of individuals in our community. Our job is to hear their story – to find out ways that we can further assist them and their needs. He said, like many others, “Keep us in your prayers”. I told him that we would.
The United States will spends thousands of dollars on the education for every child in the country, and even more for at-risk, disabled, mentally retarded, or foster child. Students spend countless hours with tutors, mentors, and have access to computers, dvd’s, books, and libraries full of educational material to fit their learning style. Each child has stacks of recently published books. Yet, we still find ways to complain. However, I am now able to place things in perspective.
As a high school student I vividly remember at the end of every year wheeling the trash can down the hall to my locker. Taking every extra pin, notepad, used binder, and paper and tossing it away. It was a celebration “YES ONE MORE YEAR DONE!” – I, like thousands of others, took good items and tossed them.
Now I have traveled around the globe to see students share pencils, teachers use chalk till their nails scratch the walls, and notebooks – almost non-existent. Books from the U.S. published in the 70’s – it truly is a different world.
To every teacher reading this email, save your items. Make a drop box in your school and I will make sure you know exactly where to send them. They WILL be cherished, utilized, and blessed.
I told one of the elders today that sometimes I feel bad for having so much back home. She said, “as an American, you cannot feel bad about the opportunities and resources that you are given. Yet, you need to feel thankful that you are given the opportunity and blessing to use your recourses to help others.” So many people think it takes money to help someone, whereas – no, far from it. It can be as simple as a pen, pencil, pair of shoes, or even a prayer.
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I just got interrupted by a student as I was writing the above. His name is Joseph, he is 18 years old and a senior in high school. He politely came to the iron gated door and asked, “Brian do you mind if I speak to you for a second.” Of course I invited him in. He sat down and started small talk. Biting his lip I asked what was really on his mind. He told me that he wanted me to know his story.
He was from a small neighborhood around the corner. Both of his parents left him and his little brother. His grandmother was the only one around to care for him. She raised them through the 6th grade and she became ill and unable to continue providing care. After a week of almost no food, he came to knock on the orphanage door. “I knew children here had food and maybe they would help me”. They invited him and his brother to stay. Now, years later – he is almost graduating high school and will have to leave. He said he does not want to leave his brother – and he has no place to go. His grandma is 80 and works for farmers for 100 schillings a day. (72 schilling = $1), and he wants to go to college but there is no way for him to afford it. He said he is scared, lost, and losing hope.
The conversation became silent – I am still left not knowing what I should have said at that moment. I knew he was fighting tears, I knew this took a lot of courage, his voice was soft spoken and shaky. Tomorrow we will speak some more.
With Kindness,
Brian Williams
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