HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014 to all of you!!!! We wish you all the
best in this year; a year of peace, joy, health, success, prosperity in all
aspect and deep satisfaction for you and your families, and all those who are
dear to you.
As we write you in the midst of Sahel climate, we give
thanks to God for sustaining us through the year and for your interest and
valued support throughout the past years and particularly in 2013.
Thank you so much for all you did by partnering with us in the
work at Grace School.
This year God has entrusted us 60 students in total, which
is below the number we expected. We did some research about why after 3 years the
school is not attracting enough students to make a profit even though
people talk highly about the good quality of the teaching at Grace. Here are
the three main points at the conclusion.
1.
Because of the unrest in the country, many
people have totally or partially lost their income as businesses are idling. So
people reduce their family budget by sending their kids to the free public
schools even though they don’t like the quality there.
2.
The arrival of the 80 % government subsidized
catholic school in Koro.
3.
The lack of regular class rooms for elementary
school at Grace.
We were very surprised by the fact that none mentioned the
Christian aspect of the school, rather they all appreciate the fear of God that
is taught at Grace School.
To relieve these facts, we decided to reduce the tuition and
reduce the salaries of the teachers and to lower all operating expenses.
We are grateful for all the teachers as they understand what the school is
facing and accept the sacrifice.
The challenge is so big and we are not able to face it only
by ourselves.
Mainly the help for education is directed to the public
system while it keeps stumbling down from bad to worse every day.
I want to introduce you a brave student of Grace: Mohamed
Traoré tenderly named Vieux, who joined us after the tragic loss of his mother
Rebecca POUDIOUGO in September;
Vieux’s dad was fatally injured in an artisanal gold mine accident
three years ago in Sikasso obliging this 9 year old little boy to depend only on his
mother Rebecca, who was providing for her family from her critical income by
doing door to door laundries.
In September Mother
Rebecca passed away after one month at the American Christian humanitarian Hospital
in Koutiala. Vieux’s stature changed to a helpless orphan who none clams to be
family with.
As Mother Rebecca was from the same family with my mother,
one of my uncles and my mother were deeply concerned about Vieux’s future. They
brought his story in to our house to confer about how to help him.
I was so touched by his all together long and painful story
that my wife and I asked them if we can get him to stay with us in our house to
give him family, education and anything we can for his good. Our proposal was
quickly accepted and then Vieux joined us making our family grow to 15 members.
We are grateful for the change we can see in Vieux’s life from the time he
arrived to Grace School to today. He has become a happy boy and the third noisiest
in our house just after me and Cathérine my first daughter. Vieux is 12 and
will turn 13 soon and attends 7th grade.
Please thank God with us for:
1.
The safety and health of students and teachers
and administration during the year 2013;
2.
All the students we presently have at Grace;
3.
All the good news we hear about our former
students from their high school teachers.
4.
All our supporters including you who read this
letter.
5.
The easy integration of students in difficult
situation like Ousmane, Vieux and Abdoul.
6.
The acquisition of the land for Grace School.
Please pray with us for:
1.
Godly guidance and protection through this Year
2014 for all teachers and students and particularly for the administration.
2.
True transformation of all the students by the
grace and love of God to because servant, wall restorers and justice makers.
3.
Providence to build classrooms on the new land
of Grace school.
4.
Quick improvement of the economic and financial
situation in Mali.
Thank you and God bless you!!!
Ibrahima Kodio
 |
| Vieux |
