The Ivory Coast of Africa has many impoverished communities and HOPE worldwide is actively helping orphans and vulnerable children thanks to Rotarians for Fighting AIDS and the ANCHOR program. In the closing months of 2006, 353 children were directly touched by the generosity of Rotarians. For 37 of these children, RFFA funds paid school fees or apprenticeship costs. Another 228 received school kits containing text books, supplies and bags. And 25 young girls (all under the age of 17) are studying dressmaking with the help of RFFA funded sewing kits and notebooks.

Hope worldwide facilitators accompanied each child or his parent to schools to directly make payments and arranged for ceremonies (with representatives of the local Rotary Club) to present the school kits. While school payments were often only enough to cover the first payment, the enormous gratitude of the children and their parents for a way to start the school year was touching.

These are all children who would have gone without education or schoolbooks without the support of caring Rotarians through RFFA. As you read their stories and their personal notes of thanks, consider whether you can give more to help these children and the many others for whom there wasn't enough money to help.
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Shaka Sountoura -- renewed hope after time of trials

Shaka, a very intelligent boy, started to lose his orientation when his mother died a few years ago. Deserted by most of the members of his family, Shaka and his father found themselves desperately alone. Soon after, his father started to fall seriously ill. Shaka stayed at his fatherís side continually during his long decline, even sleeping in the same bed until his death. After his fatherís death, Shaka lost all hope for his future. He frequently missed school and became withdrawn. When the new school year started, Shaka didnít have the means to go school, and became aggressive and even more distant. It was his paternal uncle that took him in and introduced him to the ANCHOR support group. This has helped change his outlook and behavior and the gift he received for this yearís inscription has given Shaka a complete new look on life and confidence for the future.

Dear Aunties and Uncles at HOPE and Rotary,

I want to thank you sincerely for the great thing you have done for me. I don't even know how to begin to say "Thank you" for all that you have done; thank you for the Kids' Camp 2006, may the Lord open the way for Camp 2007! ... You have a heart of compassion and full of love and generosity. May God repay you a hundred times!

Humble ... that is what you are!
Omitting ... your own interests, you are like parents!
Passionate ... for your children, you never stop
Encouraging us by the great deeds that you do!

- Shaka Sountoura, 17
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Nadia Deboh - shining in the face of many challenges

Nadia is a very intelligent little girl of six. Last year she was third in her class. As you can see she and her little sister are joyful and positive children in spite of the many difficulties faced by their family. The Deboh family was hard hit by the civil war here in the Ivory Coast. They fled their home region, losing everything they had. Here in Abidjan, the family of five live in one room in an impoverished almost rural area of the city. To make matters worst, both Nadia's parents are infected with HIV. Neither has been able to find work since coming to Abidjan. It is difficult most days to even provide one meal a day for the children. This is why Nadia's father fell on his knees and cried with joy when Nadia's HOPE/ANCHOR worker presented him with the 15 000 F ($30 US) from RFFA's Orphan Rescue fund needed to pay last year's school debt and the fees for this year. Indeed the entire family is filled with elation to see the bright little Nadia get the chance she so richly deserves.

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Thanks from the Children of the Ivory Coast

"I don't know how to express to you my gratitude! It can only be the Lord who could have inspired you to such noble and intelligent deeds on our behalf! A thousand "Thank you's."
- Irene Koffi, 17 years old, high school sophomore. Eldest of five being raised by widowed mother.

"What you have done touches me deeply and I am very grateful to you."
- A. Anne Koyaye

"If you weren't there, I would have remained at home!"
- Yves Ngeussan

"Without you, all that was left for me was to back go to the village."
- Ange Irie Bi

"It is my great joy and pleasure to write to you because I was at home (unable to go to school) when HOPE came and gave me the money from RFFA for my school registration. I am delighted and I hope that my work will satisfy you. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. May God bless you that you may help many other children in my situation."
- Matini Dosso

"You give me a taste for life!"
- Cecilia Fabunmi, 12 years old, 7th grade (double orphan)