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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
July 2001 |
Operation Classroom Report:
Fifty dollars can make many
a scholar in West Africa
By Mary Sue Best
Hoosier UM News Correspondent
When the Rev. Joe and Carolyn Wagner, Operation Classroom directors, were in West Africa in March, the most frequent request was, "We need more scholarships."
Many O.C. students lack the funds to pay tuition because they are self-supporting. Their parents and relatives cannot afford school fees. These families look for help through scholarships. Just $50 provides one scholarship for one year.
For each $50, the donor will receive the student's photograph and bio as school starts. A report card will be sent when classes are over. The student receives, in addition to an education, the opportunity to learn about Jesus. All O.C. schools teach the Bible and hold regular chapel assemblies for worship. O.C. needs a minimum of 1,000 scholarships.
Imagine the difference you could make in the lives of William and Kou, two students enrolled at Ganta school.
At 28, William is in the 11th grade. The war caused him to drop out after the 4th grade. When he was four, William's father died. He is now self-supporting and helps support his seven brothers and sisters. One brother had an arm amputated; another is missing a foot. William has no school uniform, shoes, paper, pencils or funds for next year's tuition.
Kou is 15, and in the 5th grade. Her father has died and her mother is trying to support six children. Kou is the only one attending school. Everything her parents had was taken away by fighters during the war. She has no shoes and only one uniform. "Poor man's children do not go to school," according to Kou.
In addition, O.C. schools in Sierra Leone have experienced many upsets due to the war. Because work in three O.C. schools has been interrupted drastically, both the United Methodist Church there and O.C. have agreed to put these on hold. Hopes that conditions would change have yet to materialize. Now attention is focused on the three functioning schools, partnerships are being formed with groups in Indiana. The needs remain great.
The Marion District will be in partnership with the Fakunya Agricultural and Vocational School, located about 10 miles from Moyamba. The school now has an enrollment of 160 students.
The Huntington District will be in partnership with the Mokanji Agricultural and Vocational School about 35 miles south of Moyabma. Before the war the enrollment was 450; it is now 60. Families are slowly returning to this mining town.
The Bloomington District will partner with a new girls' secondary school in Freetown. In the past, the Hartford School used the building, Hartford students will return to Moyamba this fall. O.C.'s new school will offer opportunities to the girls who cannot afford to go to Moyamba to continue their Christian education. Other openings will be available. This will be the only UMC secondary school in Freetown and as such is a high priority for the Church. Anticipated enrollment is 450.
If you wish to support a child through a scholarship in Liberia, you may choose the school. Send your request to Operation Classroom, PO Box 277, Colfax, Ind. 46035, or ocmission@compuserve.com. You may also wish to purchase school supplies for both Liberia and Sierra Leone. School supplies are always needed. O.C. will provide the dates for the next overseas shipments at a later date.
Last updated on 01/14/2004