Letter from Sandra

I am just back from a visit to the wonderful school that your kind donations helped build in Mbour, Senegal.  The school is fully operational and there are now over 500 children ages 4 years to 10 years of age.  They are now taking classes in French – reading, speaking and writing.  The school is both attractive and extremely well organized and the children seem to be very effectively educated.  They appear to be happy and very engaged in the process of learning, they are organized into age appropriate class rooms and all have little desks and smock style school uniforms that give the school a real sense of order and cohesion.

The school has been operational for a full now and is running very smoothly.  The children are receiving a nutritious lunch and juice every day.  Attending school seems to be a delight for them and they all seem happy.  A great part of this is due to Marie, the head mistress, who is one of the more organized people I have met.  She is wonderful to work with and very on top of everything at the school.  Elena Malagoh, who founded the school, is there most of the time and so there are many overseers and people make sure all goes smoothly.

It give me great pleasure to be able to report such great success!

I would also like address the new projects underway and in development:

1. There are three new classroom under construction as demand for the school is very great.
2. A mothers’ craft room has been established where garments, table-wares, handbags and other textile goods are being made and marketed.
3. Landscaping around the school is an ongoing project done by the parent volunteers as it is obvious the community is very proud of the school.  This provides a lovely environment for the students.
4. Another worthwhile project that is in the works: a plot of land not far from the school has been purchased and the mothers are growing wheat for a nutritious cereal.  The cereal is being sold in shops in Mbour and this cereal is also a core component of the hot lunch the children are served every school day.  It would be wonderful to expand this project.
5. Mango trees have also been planted and the Mothers of the students are making jams and jellies which are also being sold in Mbour.

Now that the school is fairly well established we are hoping to expand the school ad establish more community project for parents of the students.  Poverty is still a very big issue in this area.

Please know how much we appreciate your support and how far your dollars have gone.  There is always such much more to do and funds required to keep the existing projects vibrant.  Every dollar you spend goes directly to the school and makes a large impact.  Please do continue to give generously.

Sincerely,

Sandra de Saint Phalle