School Fees: Please Help
Unfortunately, in many African countries, students are charged tuition for public school. Their families can scarcely afford the cost. Please help by donating a small amount to pay for one promising boy’s tuition. Click here, and read his own interpretation of the events of his life.
Below is a note from him. I have been chronicling his life in Congo in this blog (see almost all entries for the past year). He’s an orphan. He takes care of his little brothers. He can’t afford his own school fees of $40 per term and is being threatened with expulsion. I spent a year with him in his town of Goma. He loves reading, learning, music, fixing cars, and observing people. He is writing me with this explanation below because I keep breaking his balls when he asks me for school fees.
salue Emily
J’eté vraiment heureux de cet roman que vous m’avez envoye.
Vous savez Emily ,l’argent que je trouve son trés peu je gagne par semaine ou moin 5 dolard avec cet argent retire 3dolard pour la nourriture et 2 dolard le garde pour le frais de mes petit frére. parce que la bas primair coute 5dolard par mois ca meme je force pour trouve 5 par semain. vrement Emily je ne pas de l’argent pour mes peyer moàis meme je ne pas d’autre moiyen de trove de l’argent.si je vous demande donc je ne pas je ne suis pas egoiste donc je suis clair.
merci. bon journée
English:
Saluting Emily
I was really happy about the novels you sent me.
You know Emily, the money I find is very little
I earn more or less 5 dollars per week with that money I save 3 for food and 2 for the school tuition of my little brothers
because their school costs 5 dollars per month
truly Emily, I don’t have the money to pay my own school tuition
I have no other way to get money. Therefore if I ask you for it, I am not being greedy, I am being honest
Thank you. have a nice day
A kind soul in Congo used to pay his school fees, but now the person has left the country. School costs $40 per semester. The money you give will go towards his salary as an intern, which he will use to pay for school. I’m currently seeking an unpaid internship for him with a human rights organization. (If you have an organization in Goma, and will consider hiring a 17-year-old stagaire, email me at emilymeehan [at] gmail [dot] com.)
There is no chance this guy can get a paying job, as I explained in a series for Slate.com last year. If you donate, I will email you a receipt from the Western Union transfer to Congo, and also provide you with information about his progress. I must keep his identity private to protect him from predatory adults who may be browsing the internet, you know.
Thanks.
