The young shepherd boy's face broke into a brilliant smile as he handed Peter his crooked herding stick. Peter had jokingly asked him to give the stick to him in exchange for something that he might like from the big city, Arusha.
Holding the stick, Peter now asked him what it was that he wanted from the city. "A book," he said immediately. Surprised, Peter asked him if he knew how to read. "No," he replied, "but I want to learn". Peter promised him that he would bring him a book.
As the boy ran off to attend his now wandering goats (with his single piece of worn cloth tied neatly over his right shoulder) Peter couldn't help but smile. That small boy on the dusty plains (with a huge desire to learn) is the future of Africa. Wild Hope is now talking with the elders of his village about just how the close to 200 children there can get the education they need. Our prayer is that that little boy's trade of a herding stick for a book will be the beginning of the equipping of a whole new generation in that area.
Education is key for transformation in Africa!
Recently, when we asked a high level government official how Wild Hope could best serve the community, we were told that thousands of elementary school graduates are not able to attend high school simply because there is not enough room in existing classrooms. "Anything you can do to help with this problem will be a greatly appreciated help."
In Wild Hope's first short year in Tanzania, we've had the pleasure of providing 3-Phase electricity to a local high school and a protective building for their water pump so that they could pump water to the school. We have led several weeks of after school programs in local schools, provided math curriculum to the Engewua Primary School, built on-going partnerships for development with several schools and donated sports equiptment to two others. Additionally, we have assisted the Joshua Teacher's Training College with teaching and the provision of electrical back-up systems to ensure internet connection for the teachers and students at their colleges.
We are delighted to see educational initiatives going forward and greatly blessed to be a part of them!
