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Neither sleet nor rain nor giant mud puddle…

ericIt can be a challenge to visit sponsored orphans during the rainy season! We visit each sponsored child, either at home or at school, once each year to check in and share your messages of support. The rains have come early this year, with monsoonal downpours that turn the dirt roads into more than just a challenge for humans, animals, and the few vehicles that even attempt to travel them.  We try to plan our visits to minimize being marooned in a distant location, mostly with success. Last week we met Eric Gardian at Nkoanrua Secondary School, where the Second Head of School vacated his office to facilitate our visit.

Eric is an 18 year old orphan in his 4th year of secondary school. He lives with 3 other secondary school aged orphans in a rented 2 room house, where they share the costs, food and any support they receive from extended family or the community. At present Eric is number 4 in his class of 180, and is prefect of his class. He has never ranked lower than number 10.

How does sponsorship make a difference to Eric? He told me “When all you can think about is school fees, you can’t think about your education.” This amazingly motivated young man would like to become a university professor in the sciences, and we have no doubt that he will reach his goal. Eric is sponsored by the Rutledge family of Portland, Oregon.