i was deeply moved and challenged by the article in the new york times sunday about the move to free primary education in (sub-saharan) africa. the story is remarkable simply because of the absolute starkness of the disparity. One school highlighted is the age of my son's class--6 and 7 year olds, and there are 250 in the class. Isaiah, my son, has 21. These students often can't focus they are so hungry. Isaiah has a paunch and eats what he wants. These students, some of them, are made fun of relentlessly because they cannot afford the meager sum of $4 for a school uniform. Isaiah has clothes stuffed into his two dressers. his dinner costs more than $4 most days. how can things be so profoundly unequal?
yet the story is full of little hopes, full of glimpses of what the world loses and might gain from the gifts of these millions of poor african children who long to escape poverty through education. i know the same sorts of things exist in new haven. i don't have my head in the sand. but the image of millions of african children going to school for the first time as the countries drop the fee structure for primary schools and struggle to implement free education. i'm going to find ways to help organize money to support this historic moment for so many. help me if you find a way, preferably through reliable church-related aid agencies.
anon, and +peace
- I just wanted to say, I enjoyed your post about equality. I went to Africa a few years ago and I have been changed forever by the things I saw there, the poverty, the need, the pain and the smiles of the children...I have a son that started school this year and he has everything he needs, all the attention, food, relationships, etc. I want him to learn with me about reaching out to stop the injustices of the world and sharing love and resources.
Peace
Posted by: Brian | November 01, 2004 at 10:35 PM