June 2011
Dear Kayla,
It is with joy that Abu and family say thank you for the letter with the lovely pictures in it. The picture of you in the green hat is one he loves most.
Here it is sunny day by day and getting warmer all the time. This is the brushing and felling time; farmers are busy. In fact, some people have burnt the farms and are now waiting for the rains.
Also, the hat you sent him fits him. He is happy and feels proud when he puts the hat on.
The house sports took place in March from the 9th to the 11th. Abu's house, yellow, won again! Yellow had 386, red 350 points, blue 300 points, and green 284 points.
Again, Abu says thank you and prays that God protects you and your family.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Cockroaches
June 2011
Dear Kayla,
Abu says thank you for the lovely letter written on February 8th.
In it, he learnt about the weather in your country. He's sad because of the snow. It sounds strange to hear and know that schools were closed because of snow. In his country they only know of dew and rain and even that only lasts for two months.
He says thank you for the pencils, pencil sharpner, and notebook. Out of the notebook, Abu took two papers to draw a cockroach and an elephant grass.
The cockroach is found in the house while the elephant grass is found in the fields.
Abu and family say thank you and your family for those gifts you sent and pray that God continues to guide and make provision for you all.
Dear Kayla,
Abu says thank you for the lovely letter written on February 8th.
In it, he learnt about the weather in your country. He's sad because of the snow. It sounds strange to hear and know that schools were closed because of snow. In his country they only know of dew and rain and even that only lasts for two months.
He says thank you for the pencils, pencil sharpner, and notebook. Out of the notebook, Abu took two papers to draw a cockroach and an elephant grass.
The cockroach is found in the house while the elephant grass is found in the fields.
Abu and family say thank you and your family for those gifts you sent and pray that God continues to guide and make provision for you all.
News From Sierra Leone in 2010
Sierra Leone's economy grew in 2010 with the help of increased bauxite and rutile mining. News of offshore oil discoveries gives hope for future economic growth. Povery is a major problem in Sierra Leone wiht over 70% of people living below the poverty line and an extremely large income gap between the rich and the poor. About a quarter of the population has limited access to food and around 40% of children under the age of 5 are chronically malnourished. The United Nations removed the last of its sanctions, including an arms embargo against Sierra Leone in September 2010. The sanctions began more than 12 years ago during Sierra Leone's bloody civil conflict that ended in 2002.
Recognizing Bagbo Community Accomplishments
- Monitored children's health and helped sick and malnourished children access medical treatment.
- Distributed treated bed nets to help control the spread of malaria amoung children and pregnant women.
- Partnered with the local health department to immunize and deworm children.
- Worked to reduce malnutrition in children under age 5 by training caregivers in nutrition, treatment of diarrhea, and the importance of breastfeeding.
- Constructed public latrines and renovated wells to improve sanitation and decrease the prevalence of waterborne illness.
- Held camps and retreats to provide spirtual nurture for children.
- Worked with local churches to organize kids' clubs, increasing children's opportunities to learn about God's Word.
- Partnered with communities to build schools and classrooms, improving the learning environment and increasing enrollment.
- Trained school management committees to monitor educational programs and improve school performance.
- Trained community disaster committees to respond to emergencies such as agricultural pest infestations, which threatens food security in the region.
Recognizing Bagbo Community Accomplishments
- Monitored children's health and helped sick and malnourished children access medical treatment.
- Distributed treated bed nets to help control the spread of malaria amoung children and pregnant women.
- Partnered with the local health department to immunize and deworm children.
- Worked to reduce malnutrition in children under age 5 by training caregivers in nutrition, treatment of diarrhea, and the importance of breastfeeding.
- Constructed public latrines and renovated wells to improve sanitation and decrease the prevalence of waterborne illness.
- Held camps and retreats to provide spirtual nurture for children.
- Worked with local churches to organize kids' clubs, increasing children's opportunities to learn about God's Word.
- Partnered with communities to build schools and classrooms, improving the learning environment and increasing enrollment.
- Trained school management committees to monitor educational programs and improve school performance.
- Trained community disaster committees to respond to emergencies such as agricultural pest infestations, which threatens food security in the region.
Puff Cake!
May 2011
Dear Kayla,
On behalf of Abu and family, I say thank you for the letter and the two postcards you sent to him. The two cards are lovely but he loves the stickers on the letter more.
The new year started good and is still going on. It is time for farmers to brush and burn their farms. Since most people are farmers they are working very hard.
There was a short break in the school for house sports. Abu was in the yellow house. The school has four houses - Yellow, Blue, Red, and Green. Abu's house, yellow, came in first! Red second, blue third, and green took the last position. Certificates were awarded to pupils who did best.
When your child watched the card with beignets, he felt like eating some. Such dough in deep friend in his community is called "Puff-Cake."
Once more, Abu and family say thank you and your family and prays that relationships between both families last longer.
Dear Kayla,
On behalf of Abu and family, I say thank you for the letter and the two postcards you sent to him. The two cards are lovely but he loves the stickers on the letter more.
The new year started good and is still going on. It is time for farmers to brush and burn their farms. Since most people are farmers they are working very hard.
There was a short break in the school for house sports. Abu was in the yellow house. The school has four houses - Yellow, Blue, Red, and Green. Abu's house, yellow, came in first! Red second, blue third, and green took the last position. Certificates were awarded to pupils who did best.
When your child watched the card with beignets, he felt like eating some. Such dough in deep friend in his community is called "Puff-Cake."
Once more, Abu and family say thank you and your family and prays that relationships between both families last longer.
Pray For the New Year
April 2011
Dear Kayla,
Your letter written on November 8th reached here on January 19th. It was much appreciated by him and his grandparents. He enjoys the decorations on it, especially the one that looks like a small boy.
Abu and friends had a great time playing games and making fun. His favorite is the fast ball game.
The weather here is colder. Leaves are changing colors the farmers are brushing forests to make farms. The sky is blue and flowers are dying slowly.
Schools are now in session. Abu and friends go to school Monday to Friday and rest on Saturday and Sunday every week.
Again Abu and parents say thank you for the lovely picture and stickers you sent for him and pray the new year brings you all joy and success in everything you do.
Dear Kayla,
Your letter written on November 8th reached here on January 19th. It was much appreciated by him and his grandparents. He enjoys the decorations on it, especially the one that looks like a small boy.
Abu and friends had a great time playing games and making fun. His favorite is the fast ball game.
The weather here is colder. Leaves are changing colors the farmers are brushing forests to make farms. The sky is blue and flowers are dying slowly.
Schools are now in session. Abu and friends go to school Monday to Friday and rest on Saturday and Sunday every week.
Again Abu and parents say thank you for the lovely picture and stickers you sent for him and pray the new year brings you all joy and success in everything you do.
Thanks For The Lovely Gifts
April 2011
Dear Kayla,
Abu got the letter you wrote in October just after the new year. The decorated stickers on his letter were lovely.
His grandparents told him to say thank you for the lovely gifts for his friends. The stickers portrayed the Halloween fun.
Schools were closed for two weeks and reopened last week after Christmas and new year.
Abu is back in school with his friends and teachers.
It is getting cooler slowly here and farmers are starting to work in their farms. The river beds are going down slowly. Birds sing every day in the forest.
Abu's grandmother was sick but she is recovering now.
Once again, Abu's grandparents want to thank you even more for your kindness.
Dear Kayla,
Abu got the letter you wrote in October just after the new year. The decorated stickers on his letter were lovely.
His grandparents told him to say thank you for the lovely gifts for his friends. The stickers portrayed the Halloween fun.
Schools were closed for two weeks and reopened last week after Christmas and new year.
Abu is back in school with his friends and teachers.
It is getting cooler slowly here and farmers are starting to work in their farms. The river beds are going down slowly. Birds sing every day in the forest.
Abu's grandmother was sick but she is recovering now.
Once again, Abu's grandparents want to thank you even more for your kindness.
Knowing More About You
December 2010
Dear Kayla,
Abu is happy to get a letter from you and to know more about you and your country.
He is happy to know that you have 22 students in your class some of which are his age.
Abu is is learning how to add, subtract, and multiply numbers and about the kinds of food they eat.
It is now raining in his country every day. The trees are green and some will soon give flowers. Schools were closed in July and will reopen in September. Abu has fun with his friends even though it rains sometimes. They go to the field to play football and hand ball.
Once more, Abu and grandparents say thank you and pray that God continues to bless you and your family.
Dear Kayla,
Abu is happy to get a letter from you and to know more about you and your country.
He is happy to know that you have 22 students in your class some of which are his age.
Abu is is learning how to add, subtract, and multiply numbers and about the kinds of food they eat.
It is now raining in his country every day. The trees are green and some will soon give flowers. Schools were closed in July and will reopen in September. Abu has fun with his friends even though it rains sometimes. They go to the field to play football and hand ball.
Once more, Abu and grandparents say thank you and pray that God continues to bless you and your family.
Progress Report #3
Child's Name: Abu-Bakarr Kanu
My health is: Satisfactory
My height is: 119 cm (3' 10")
My weight is: 20 kg (44 pounds)
I am in: Primary School
I am: Retained in grade 1 for academic weakness (Very sad day)
My favorite subject is: Physical Education
When I grow up I want to be: A Teacher
My personality is: Shy, Kind, and Friendly
Many Thanks
September 2010 (because of the three months it takes the letter to get there and then the three months it takes to get back, sometimes our letter topics don't fit with the time of the year)
Dear Kayla,
Abu received your letter in June with many thanks to your and your family.
His Christmas day was spent with his grandparents as Abu's parents were away from home. Food was in abundance and thef amily friends came to them in the evening to dance the nature dance. Drinks were served and joyfully the day went by.
After Christmas came the Easter holidays for two weeks. Abu stayed home with friends playing games like football and Ludo (anybody know what this is?)
Schools are now taking final exams for this academic year, which started in September and will end in July. Abu hopes to go to a new class next year.
Abu and his family say thank you and pray that you live large.
Dear Kayla,
Abu received your letter in June with many thanks to your and your family.
His Christmas day was spent with his grandparents as Abu's parents were away from home. Food was in abundance and thef amily friends came to them in the evening to dance the nature dance. Drinks were served and joyfully the day went by.
After Christmas came the Easter holidays for two weeks. Abu stayed home with friends playing games like football and Ludo (anybody know what this is?)
Schools are now taking final exams for this academic year, which started in September and will end in July. Abu hopes to go to a new class next year.
Abu and his family say thank you and pray that you live large.
News From Sierra Leone in 2009
Between the last year's news and 2009's news is when I didn't receive any letters from Abu. (It's so different now! I get like one a month now!)
In 2009, the UN declared that efforts to restore peace and prosperity following the 2002 conclusion to Sierra Leone's decade-long war were still fragile, despite effective rebuilding steps. The country remains near the bottom of the Human Development Index, with 7 in 10 people living below the poverty line. Income distribution is extremely uneven, and unemployment is an ongoing problem. Two in three Sierra Leoneans engage in subsistence farming, but poor agricultural practices limit production, contributing to food insecurity. Economic policy has shifted from post-conflict stabilization to poverty-reduction efforts, including a focus on job creation and food security. Progress depends on the maintenance of internal peace and significant foreign assisstance to offset trade and supplement government revenues.
Bagbo Community Accomplishments
- Provided training for 40 Sunday school teachers, strengthening their ability to give spiritual guidance to children.
- Celebrated birthdays with more than 2,600 children, distributing gifts of biscuits, snacks, and soft drinks.
- Trained 30 church leaders through Channels of Hope, educating them about HIV and encouraging compassionate responses.
- Facilitated immunizations for 1,500 children, helping to protect them from diseases.
- Coordinated deworming of 6,694 children, contributing to improved health.
- Educated 6,694 students on basic hygiene, encouraging healthy lifestyles.
- Supplied schools with teaching and learning materials.
- Built ramps at schools to provide disabled children and teachers with access to education.
- Contructed a school, providing an improved learning environment for than 400 new students.
- Supplied a school with 60 new desks and 60 new benches.
- Constructed a latrine and protected a water sources, helping to reduce the risks of waterborne diseases.
In 2009, the UN declared that efforts to restore peace and prosperity following the 2002 conclusion to Sierra Leone's decade-long war were still fragile, despite effective rebuilding steps. The country remains near the bottom of the Human Development Index, with 7 in 10 people living below the poverty line. Income distribution is extremely uneven, and unemployment is an ongoing problem. Two in three Sierra Leoneans engage in subsistence farming, but poor agricultural practices limit production, contributing to food insecurity. Economic policy has shifted from post-conflict stabilization to poverty-reduction efforts, including a focus on job creation and food security. Progress depends on the maintenance of internal peace and significant foreign assisstance to offset trade and supplement government revenues.
Bagbo Community Accomplishments
- Provided training for 40 Sunday school teachers, strengthening their ability to give spiritual guidance to children.
- Celebrated birthdays with more than 2,600 children, distributing gifts of biscuits, snacks, and soft drinks.
- Trained 30 church leaders through Channels of Hope, educating them about HIV and encouraging compassionate responses.
- Facilitated immunizations for 1,500 children, helping to protect them from diseases.
- Coordinated deworming of 6,694 children, contributing to improved health.
- Educated 6,694 students on basic hygiene, encouraging healthy lifestyles.
- Supplied schools with teaching and learning materials.
- Built ramps at schools to provide disabled children and teachers with access to education.
- Contructed a school, providing an improved learning environment for than 400 new students.
- Supplied a school with 60 new desks and 60 new benches.
- Constructed a latrine and protected a water sources, helping to reduce the risks of waterborne diseases.
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