Eroret
A highlight was the ceremonial opening of the boarding school. The gratitude of the families – especially the mothers – was overwhelming. 54 girls have already moved in and now have a safe place to live and learn.
The daily routine is clearly structured: early rising, shared breakfast, lessons, sports, study periods – and yet there is still time for community. Particularly interesting were the additional evening study sessions, which were originally intended for the girls in the boarding school but also attracted great interest from the other students at the school. Many of them go home after school but return in the evening to participate as well.
The Eroret School as a whole is also growing. Currently, 322 children attend the Eroret School. The agricultural project and the well are running successfully, and a former student has lovingly landscaped the school grounds. In addition, Christine, a highly committed social worker, has joined the team and can now provide more targeted support to families. Together with the other trained Rainworkers (multipliers), she also conducts workshops in the community on topics such as family planning, FGM, child protection, and much more.
During our home visits, it became clear once again how severe poverty is in the region. Many families live in simple mud huts, and practices such as polygamy, early marriages of girls, and FGM are still widespread. All the more important, therefore, is to keep the children in school for as long as possible.
Two encounters, in particular, touched us deeply:
Alice, 11 years old, now lives in the boarding school. Her mother passed away, and she had to take care of the household from an early age. By chance, one of our teachers noticed her and was able to convince her father to send Alice to school. She now has a chance of education – unlike her younger sister, who was already married at the age of 10.
Roda previously had to walk over an hour to get to school. Her mother was married at a very young age as the third wife to an older man and was left alone with three children after his death. For her, it is a great blessing that Roda can now live in the boarding school and has better opportunities for her future.
Mary Hill
There was also reason to celebrate in Awasi: the new community center and the well were inaugurated. Already, many families regularly collect water, and the joy over the new supply is great.
Another highlight was the Medical Camp. Over two days, we were able to provide basic medical care to around 450 people. It was impressive to see how many people took advantage of the services offered. At the same time, we conducted home visits and were able to accompany women’s groups during their weekly meetings. Many women are making great efforts to support their families through small income opportunities, such as selling seedlings or handicrafts – despite difficult circumstances.
The nursery school is also running very well. The children are learning enthusiastically, and the teachers are already hoping for an expansion so that the youngest can continue attending school nearby.
We return full of gratitude. The projects are growing, children are receiving education and protection, and the local communities are actively involved.
All of this is only possible thanks to your support. Thank you very much for that!
We look forward to sharing even more impressions, photos, and stories with you in person at our donor event in two weeks.
