During the past five years, both the school and our work in Colombia have grown considerably. Today, we have 309 children in the school in ten classes, taught by 12 teachers. The school at present is situated in a large old rented bungalow with little or no sanitation and some classes have to be held outdoors in the shade of a tree or under canvas.
We are desperately in need of a ‘new’ building to use as a school. We have been offered a building that, with lots of hard work, would be really good. It needs a new concrete floor throughout and a brand new roof. We are waiting to confirm some legalities and then we hope to proceed with this exciting project.
Every day the children turn up for school, sometimes they forget their books! However, there is something they never forget; their bowls and spoons for their hot lunch. For many kids, this is their only meal of the day. On a recent visit to Colombia, David Spurdle, our Executive Director, witnessed children collecting their dinner, eating just a little and taking the remainder home to share with their family.
How your money will be used
At the present time none of the children we care for in Colombia are sponsored so in order to provide them with an education and a daily meal we rely on donations. Your support will help us to give the children a good education, nutritious food, medical care and occasional trips and treats. We will need to renovate and paint our new school, provide toilets and showers, plus a kitchen and all the facilities and utensils associated with cooking for 309 children each day! We will also need cupboards, chairs, tables and benches as well as educational resources such as paper, pens, blackboards and of course fans to keep the students cool as they learn.
We have 12 very committed teachers at our school in Guacamayal and although the Colombian government are supposed to pay them, they rarely do, yet each day they faithfully turn up to teach the children. We cannot afford to pay them wages but with your help we can provide a much deserved and needed gratuity.
There is anticipation and excitement in the village of Guacamayal like never before. Since the arrival of Kids Alive, the children here feel they have a future and a hope. Once we have our own school building renovated and equipped, and are able to sponsor the kids of Colombia, we expect the children of Guacamayal to achieve amazing results in their educational, physical and spiritual development. Children in our school are ‘walking tall’; thank you for making that happen.
