Anne meets Africa: Let's build!

Hi Guys,

It’s time for me to ask you, my family, friends, and random good deed enthusiasts, for monetary donations toward the one big building project of my service.

When I first got to site, the project that the village members thought was the most critical was building two classrooms for the village school. I could see their point: the elementary school has 240 students in six full classes, and half of them do not have a proper classroom to learn in. The two worst classrooms are temporary sheds constructed yearly of crentin, a type of wood fencing material, purchased by village parents. Not only do these annually cost money that many families can barely afford, they are poor learning environments. They do not shelter the students from the oppressive heat, dust storms, and constant village distractions, animal and human, that interfere with learning.

These temporary classrooms are the ones that we hope to replace with sturdy cement-block rooms, relatively cool, quiet, and fully functional, that the school and the village can be proud of. The current school director, an especially dedicated man, and the village leaders know that education is crucial to their future – that is, crucial to their children’s future. But the skill and dedication of both the teachers and students is stymied by the poor learning environment. It is known that pride in one’s school is often part of a student’s inspiration to succeed – to break the circle of early drop-out / marriage / kids / fields that their elders are resigned to – especially for the women.

This project requires a particular kind of Peace Corps grant, a PCPP (Peace Corps Partnership Program), relying on outside donations to augment funds the village is prepared to contribute. We are looking for outside donations totaling $8050, to leverage the $3200 that this subsistence farming community of 1500 is able to raise. I know this is a lot of money to ask for, and I’m actually a little nervous to be doing so, but the need is real, and the result would be real and sustainable development via education. Not all of Bira’s schoolchildren share dreams of becoming teachers, or doctors, or the president – but for those of them that do aspire to leave the village and to do something great, I’m not about to let a lack of decent classrooms stand in their way.

So: please consider donating if you support the development of Senegal and/or feel an affinity for adorable African children, and would like to see them lead enriched lives full of more opportunity than their parents could have ever dreamed of.

No pressure, though.

Here is the site where you can donate (remember, tax-deductible!) and where you can read a little more about the project. Please, if you feel that this project has merit, consider sending this along to your friends, neighbors, co-workers, in-laws, and anybody you think could do with a little karmic pick-me-up. We’re going to need all the help we can get!

https://donate.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=donate.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=685-204

And please, if you do donate, send me an email (aschier87@gmail.com) so I can personally send you a thank-you note. Donor lists for PCPP grants are notoriously hard to get hold of, and you all deserve thanks.

Thank you so much for reading, and if you have any questions about the grant or the project, please feel free to email me! I can respond to email about every two weeks when I visit the regional capital (with internet service!) and I would love to hear from you.

PS:

Here is my translation of the appeal letter the school director (and close friend), Monsieur Ndour, has written. From the start of my service, I have been overwhelmed and impressed by his work ethic and commitment to improving education at the village level. He says it best.

From Monsieur Badara NDOUR, director of the school of Bira, Educational Department of Tambacounda

To you who are willing and of good heart, to NGOs, and every person or organization that is occupied with the building of school classrooms:

Messieurs, Mesdames, our school finds itself in a rural zone and welcomes about 250 students. But unfortunately the school has only three constructed classrooms out of the six that we use. We have therefore three temporary structures at the school. The students learn with great difficulty. We do not have the means to construct a new classroom. And we are counting on your help.

Messieurs, Mesdames, please know that the classrooms would be a great help for our students. They will allow them to have a welcoming environment and one favorable to their studies, and therefore help them to thrive in life.

Monsieur Ndour's class, in one of the temporary classrooms, showing off their new pencils and crayons (thanks to a donation by the Visalia Girl Scouts!)