The
Village-to-Village Story
It
has been seven years since we began fundraising for Ecole Ade, the school in
the village of Thiaroye that we encountered on our 2008 homeschool expedition
to Senegal. With your help the school has stayed open and extended into junior
high school years. We have repaired the roof, built desks, funded books and
paid teachers' salaries. The wonderful thing about funding Ecole Ade is
that costs are very low relative to the U.S. (for just $12 a month, we can keep
a child in school). At this point we are targeting the school's rent. The cost
is a little over 500,000 CFA, or 1000$. We can do this!
Who
We Are
We are a family-A Professor of Music (NYU), a Teaching Artist (Marquis
Studios), and two kids studying at NYU and Friends Seminary.
In
2008, as part of our homeschool expedition, we stopped in Senegal to stay with
master musician Fode Sissoko, with whom we had been performing for several
years as members of the Vanaver Caravan. There we visited the community school,
Ecole Ade. We learned that community schools are not funded by the
government. Students are unable to afford tuition required to support the
essentials: teachers, space and materials. Without community schools,
kids in villages like Thiaroye would receive no education. When we
returned to the United States, we gathered musician friends in a benefit
concert to raise funds to put 20 kids to school at Ecole Ade for 5 years. Now,
we are committed to ongoing support.
Our
Progress
We have continued to
fund Ecole Ade each year through small contributions from friends. The
school has grown, and now has nearly 250 students. In addition to their needs
for teacher salaries, books, desks, and other basics, the urgent request at
this moment is in regard to paying their rent. We come to you with this
Indiegogo Campaign in the hopes of gathering more support and getting the
school through the year.
A Little Bit Goes a Long Way!
We're grateful to our past supporters, who include:
Mary
Cossette, Sean Curran, Roya Darroudi, Joanne Davidson, Carolyn Dorfman and Greg
Gallick, Chris Forte, Elizabeth Frankel, Lisa Gutkin, Gary Margolis,
David Marquis, Cindy Rosenthal, Helen Russell, Toby Stover, Jason Teirstein,
Alice Teirstein, Andreas Thienel, Taryn Vanderhoop, Amanda Vanderoef,
Andrew Warshaw, and Eva Young.
The
Impact
It is rare to be able to know that funds will go directly to
support a project, and to have met the people on the ground. We feel honored to
have such a direct, hands-on connection with the school, Ecole Ade, and to know
the principal and founder, Djibril Sane. Your funds will enable the
survival of this important little school in the village of Thiaroye.
Other
Ways you Can Help
Help us spread the
word. Tell your friends and link folks to our campaign. On behalf of the
children of Thiaroye, thank you!
