<div>Imagine an elementary school with a single teacher for all grades . . . and kids with <strong>no textbooks, no pencils, no rulers, no paper</strong>—really, nothing that we expect all schools to provide.
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<div>The Beng Community Fund (BCF) is now offering these supplies to the elementary school in the village of Kossandougou in the rainforest of West Africa's
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<div>Ivory Coast.
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<div>We've recently sent over enough supplies for every one of the 200 students attending this elementary school this year. The children were amazed to receive these supplies—all packed into the first backpacks they'd ever seen.
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<div><strong>But, because of government budget shortfalls, this entire elementary school still has only one teacher for all 200 students!</strong>
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<div>Last year, two young men assisted the head teacher, for the promise of a very modest salary. These two young men have agreed to help the head teacher again, optimistic that they will finally be paid. <strong>With your help, we will pay these teaching assistants a modest monthly stipend for the rest of the school year, and we'll use the remaining donations to build up a fund to buy next year's school supplies.</strong>
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<div>The project is already a great success. Here are some details.
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<div>This past fall, the BCF In-Country Correspondent, Dr. Bertin Kouadio, and his assistant, Mosart, negotiated prices to buy a year's worth of textbooks and school supplies for the 200 students at several shops in the nation's economic capital, Abidjan. Then, they traveled up to the village, heading a delegation that included several government school officials, to deliver the supplies.
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<div>With great joy, the entire village gathered to accept the donation. The BCF delegation oversaw the distribution, noting the name of every student receiving a backpack filled with books and supplies. After each child accepted the backpack, an assembled group of elders clapped and congratulated the student.
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<div>The festive event was accompanied by many speeches of thanks and blessings — including an invocation of the ancestors, accompanied by offerings of alcohol spilled on the ground.
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<div>In addition to speeches by elders, a student representative offered a charming speech of thanks on behalf of all the students. He promised that he and all his schoolmates would work hard on their studies all year, to deserve the gift of their backpacks, books, and supplies.
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<div>Check out the linked videos on YouTube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@bengcommunityfund/featured" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>!
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<div>Below, we offer an English translation of the village Chief's speech (which was spoken in the Beng language) offered to thank the BCF for the donation of this year's school supplies. The Chief's speech was given by his spokesperson, Yacouba Kouadio Bah.
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<div>Following that is an English translation of a short speech of thanks to the BCF (in French) by Yannick Akoundo Kouassi, representing the students.
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<div>Again, you can enjoy a video of these two speeches on YouTube, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@bengcommunityfund/featured" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. There, we have also uploaded additional short videos showing an overview of the village, and a clip from the backpack distribution process.
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<div>1. CHIEF'S SPEECH OF THANKS:
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<div>"Speaking through me, the Chief of the village greets and thanks the BCF.
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<div>The Chief also greets Dr. Bertin Kouadio’s father and the memory of his mother—who together, made enormous efforts to ensure that Dr. Kouadio could attend school, despite financial, ethical, and social obstacles at the time, when one could count on the fingers of one hand the number of schools in the region.
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<div>Dr. Kouadio's desire to help the village by approaching the BCF is hereditary. When the nation’s first political party, the PDCI-RDA, required membership fees of all villages, the financial situation of the village was very difficult, and it was Dr. Kouadio’s grandfather, Aba Asa, who paid the required Party membership fee for the whole village. Today, it is his grandson who offers donations to the village, through the support of the BCF. So, Dr. Kouadio still continues the fight that his grandfather started. He has the support and blessings of the village.
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<div>Today, with Dr. Kouadio’s efforts, we have benefited from school supply kits donated by the BCF. The Chief also thanks the Education Inspector, the Education Advisor, and the Director of the village school for their presence here, in support of the village.
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<div>The Chief also asked me to point out that the single water pump in the village cannot provide enough clean drinking water for the village, including the school. The schoolteacher suffers from this lack and thus asks students to fetch water for him.
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<div>In closing, the Chief offers his blessings to the BCF and thanks the BCF for continuing to advocate for the village."
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<div>2. YANNICK AKOUNDO KOUASSI — STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE, SPEECH OF THANKS:
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<div>"Sir and Madame Donors:
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<div>We will greatly benefit from these school supply packs. We say 'Thank you' for all that you have just offered us. May God keep you in good health. We promise you that we will work even harder in the coming year. Thank you to everyone!"
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Elementary School Kids Need Books and Teachers!

Just $95$ to go! Make an impact.

Elementary School Kids Need Books and Teachers!

Just $95 to go!
Make an impact.