Kogum River nursery / Primary School

12/4/2018

Early on Friday morning, October 19, the school van arrived at Bishop Markus’s home. We had eaten earlier and now accompanied our group to board. Several armed police officers were already waiting for us. We headed out on rural roads, far out of Kafanchan center, to the village of Kogum River to view the nursery/primary school, constructed in 1972.

On our way, we passed much farmland and large herds of long-horned cattle.

After about an hour and a half, we came to a sign pointing down a narrow dirt road- to Kagon River.

After another 15 minutes down the narrow dirt road, we came to a small clearing where two small school buildings stood. They were full of young students, aged three to about ten years of age, with teachers who were working hard to deliver instruction in very tough conditions.

As a teacher, it was heartbreaking for me to see the struggles faced by these dedicated teachers and students each and every day. When asked what was most needed, the head teacher replied, “Teaching aides so that we can engage the students”. I knew then that we needed to act. There is so much need...and a finite amount of funding that is never enough to address everything on a big list...