The Impact of the Gift of Light
WE’RE ALMOST THERE!
We need your help! This holiday season, please donate to help Girls To School close on our $15,000 Community Center goal. We are only $6,000 away from making this center a reality for the 96 girls in our program in Nouakchott, Mauritania. When we hit our goal, we will begin to build and furnish the center — and then, the lights will go on! The girls will finally have a safe place with electricity to study (most of their homes do not) and play with other girls. This Gift of Light will be a powerful source of transformation and opportunity in our program and in making this community center happen.
HISTORY:
The idea for the center came from the girls and women themselves. They desired a safe place where they could meet and gain strength from each other. They wanted a place where they could learn computers and have support to help with homework. They wanted a place that had electricity for lights in the evenings so they can study and the mothers’ microfinance groups could meet. In addition, they wanted a place to have peace and to have fun.
MARIEME’S STORY:
One of the girls who wanted a community center Marieme. Marieme has 45 brothers and sisters, and her mother is the fourth wife in the family. Marieme’s mother could only afford to rent one small room furnished with thin mats so most of her children had to find other places to sleep, including the street. Yet despite these struggles, Marieme’s mother was determined to give her an education and Marieme was determined to succeed.
Because of the support of Girls to School, Marieme and one of her sisters had the opportunity to go to school. This is an enormous opportunity in a country where girls are regularly kept out of school.
But Marieme’s home had no electricity, no light and no room for her to study. Each night Marieme would go out to the street light to do her school work. Despite the odds she rose to the top of her class. Two years ago, she became the first sponsored girl to finish high school!
We want to replicate Marieme’s success with all of our girls.But they should not have to go out to a street light to study. These girls need a safe place with electricity to do their school work, as well as play and have some fun.
WHERE WE’RE AT:
Last year we began process of creating the center. From a combination of generous small donors and grants we were able to purchase land and the architectural design of the center. Now we need to continue the process and raise the funds to start construction.
THANK YOU!
We can’t do this important work without you. Thank you for joining us and investing in these amazing girls so that they may have new opportunities, hope, and tools for their future.