Guy in the UK donated a CPU for the school. Unfortunately, some things went wrong and what arrived here in Dakar via Paris was not the CPU but a printer. Well, it will be used anyway.
Mr Diatta has been encouraged to put in a new funding request at Dakar Women's Group, and he has done so. The school is asking for school books for the 6th grade. Until now, the school books are bought second hand by the families. If the school has its own books and rents them out to the family for a small fee, the families will spend less money and the school will be able to renew the books little by little. But for this project to work, the school needs to buy the books. Hopefully, the DWG will be able to help.
I have also found a company that is considering a donation for a pharmacy cupboard. If the company doesn't follow through, I will have to find other funds for the pharmacy and first aid kit.
I've received few donations since May. A couple of dictionaries, some money for the sponsoring fund. So far, the monthly contribution to the sponsoring fund is roughly 50.000 CFA (76€ or 105US$), which is more than half way to the 90.000 CFA/month I am aiming at.
I must admit I'm not confortable at all with asking people for money. I tell them about the school, and if they offer to help, great. If they don't, I'm not going to beg.
We've been back in Dakar for over 3 weeks now, and we have witnessed a lot of deterioration. The rains have been heavy this year. The whole area around the school was flooded. Mr Diatta managed to protect the school buildings, but people's homes have been flooded several times. The floods are also the reason why I haven't driven over yet. I couldn't have accessed the school.
Also, food prices have gone up. In less than two years the price for rice has doubled - rice is the main food here in Senegal, the change of price is a huge weight in a family's budget. Many people are ill with malaria but don't go to see a doctor. That's why it's so important that the children attend school and get an education.
Classes haven't started yet, but they will soon. The sponsoring money for July, August and September will help the families to buy their kids' school books. Next year, when hopefully at least two classes have books provided by the school, the summer money will go towards the school book fund.
I will finally be moving back to France this year at Christmas. But there will be a local contact here who will hand over the money every month.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
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