Education Project- Reply to Advisory Notes II

Thank you very much for you input. Your Advisory Notes (red colour will be used as a World Wide Web-www- link to the mentioned item throughout) are pertinent and are consistent with the Project Management Cycle.

However, this project, unlike others with bigger funds, is relying only on £30 (30, 000 FRW) a month); and its success does not depend on the funds but rather on the contribution from parents and children involved.

There are no donnors to rely on: We have only £30/month! So, we all have to think on how to optimize the use of this money in feeding the initial 12 children; and how we can enrol more kids on the scheme.

Whereas our initial calculations showed we could feed 12 kids without a problem with this amount, without the involvement of the parents we cannot take on any more kids.

Rice fields and parental help would ensure more poor kids have a chance. And in village where more people are poor, taking only 12, without envisaging the prospects of increasing the number one day, may lead to instability, tensions and conflicts (between those who are enrolled and those who aren't)

So, although a brilliant idea, boarding school style is impossible, because it would require feeding kids 3 times a day. And the funds we have (£30 or 30,000 FRW each month) are only for ONE meal a day.

So, lets please continue our consultations along this philosophy: Since no bigger funds are to be expected:

First, how do we use £30 par month to feed the initial 12 kids and enroll more kids over time?

Second, how do we get the parents to own the project (so that it becomes theirs- and not another cash handout from Whites)?

We thought working in rice fields would address both of these questions: it would help them feel they effectively OWN the project (and indeed they do because their work is worth more than the aid provided ) and enrol further poor kids on the scheme.

In summary, more hands are needed in order to rescue these children who have no hope or future:

First, unwaving and firm committments from willing volunteers to work as managers; second, the Church to provide the kitchen and crockery; third, the shcool to provide a teacher helping to run the vegetable garden; and fourth the parents providing labour in the rice fields.

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