Last year many of you donated generously to an orphanage in Guinea that is very dear to my heart. The orphanage is located in a neighborhood of Conakry where I have spent three of my most recent visits to Guinea.
Started by a man from neighboring Sierra Leone for refuge children left in Guinea during that conflict, the orphanage currently has roughly 30 children from Guinea and Sierra Leone living and being schooled there. Michael Kargbo, the orphanage director, his wife, Michaela, and two teachers do their best to care for these young children. They provide meals, lessons in French and English and a safe place to live.
Last year, Michael searched for a long time and finally found a wonderful new location for the children. Through our financial support we:
~Paid rent for the new home for the orphanage for 1 year
~Bought bunk beds, mattresses and mosquito nets for the children
~Assisted with medicine and medical treatment
~Gave several food donations throughout the year, including many bags of rice and a few laying hens.
~Donated a used laptop computer
~Purchased clothing and uniforms for the children
~Provided a cooking water supply
~Paid for teachers
Right now the rent for the upcoming year is due … $120/month to house and school all the children. It’s really so little here in the U.S., relatively speaking….but it’s a tall figure to tackle for our young friends and their teachers and caretakers in Guinea.
I know this has been a difficult financial year here in the United States for many of you, but life continues to be difficult in Guinea. Your generosity has helped land these children in what is very likely the most stable and safe situation in their young lives. Despite the incredible odds against them, they are now eating regular meals, sleeping in beds protected from malarial mosquitoes, and getting an education.
Right now, the chief concern is that the children can stay in the wonderful house that we helped them secure. By our standards, $120 for a house that shelters and schools more than 30 people seems too cheap to be true. For 30 Guinean orphans and their devoted caretakers, the sum seems insurmountable.
Any help you can give is greatly appreciated by me and certainly by all the children.
I’ve posted a few pictures to show you how your support has already made a difference.
Thank you for your help!
Liz
Posted by Rachel Gogan 
