Sponsor's update from N’Zérékoré, Guinea

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village N’Zérékoré, Guinea from Summer 2008.

As the second semester draws to an end, we would like, on behalf of our SOS Children’s Village N’Zérékoré and its projects to extend our thanks and appreciations for your continuous sponsorship and share with you the many activities that occurred in our Village and its ancillary projects.

Village
The mothers and aunties under went training on cake and yogurts making organised by Nuns of Samoé on the 3rd of December 2007. Our mothers actively participated this training and appreciated it as well. On December 25 Christmas for All was celebrated with the neighbouring community. The children and their visiting friends enjoyed their food and juices they had for the celebration. At mid-night they exchanged Christmas wishes. A mid-nigh party for held the Village and the community.

On March 8th 2008, our SOS mother and aunties joined other women in the community to celebrate the Women’s Day along with females students from the University of N’Zérékoré. This day was honoured by the presence many authority including the Prefect of N’Zérékoré. Amongst the activities there were speeches and conference on women and democracy, sketches, household violence, early marriage and handle of employment matters.

Our mother counsellor made an effigy of a woman holding a flaming touch up high. This motivated many guests and she was offered a present of 100.000 Guinean Francs by the Prefect.

Our SOS Children’s Village hosted the workshop for the preparation of the National Child Parliament Meeting in the Forest Region of Guinea on the 30th and 31st of March 2008. Junior Deputies and Supervisors were hosted by the Village for the time of the meeting.
On Easter holiday some of our SOS Children were invited to the Samoé a Village situated 7km far by their friends. Since the introduction of our children to the community life is one of our objectives we encouraged them to open relationship with neighbouring community. Some Christian children were baptized during this ceremony.

Training
Our SOS mothers and Aunties received training program the important of varying foods and theirs functions, nutrition deficiency and prevention for a good hygiene. The conservation of foodstuff was also covered as last topic.

Projects caring for children in N’Zérékoré, Guinea

FSP
The Family Strengthening Programme continues to develop its impact by adding more children and adults in need. It covers actually 350 children a total of 78 families benefiting from this program in other help stop the increased number poverty.

School
On February 2nd 2008, the SOS Nursery School celebrated the birthday party of children born from December to February. More 100 participants took part to the ceremony held at the Nursery School. Children celebrating their birthday party received gifts from their parents and they blow the candles. They finally used this occasion to award teachers who had done good job during this period.

Our SOS Nursery School children received a construction of Toboggan toys in their school play ground which was inaugurated on the 22nd of February 2008. A Montessori class is also undergoing construction. The National Co-ordinator visited our schools in view to improve our school results and their quality evaluations. She also controlled the last period exam results.

Sports/Cultural activities
Sports and cultural activities were organised such as Writing Competition during which many talented children were discovered. The school took part to an Inter-School League organised in Samoé. During this league our SOS girls went against the girls from Samoé Junior High school and won the final 1-0. After this league our SOS girls team was selected as one of the teams to play the Regional League organised in N’Zérékoré.

Donation
On March 15th our SOS Children’s Village received an important various school toys from Canadian children through a Non Governmental Organisation known as “Operation Enfants de Nöel’ represented in the Forest Region by the Association of Protestant Evangelistic Mission in Guinea. Remarks of thanks and appreciations for this gift were made by the school director.

Political and Economical Situation
Preparations for the Legislative Elections are underway. The Chief of the National Election Commission has visited many regions in order to explain electoral processes and sensitised the population for a free and fair election to come. All political parties concerned are also meeting their members and undergoing sensitizations for a high participation to the electoral process. The appointment of a new Primer Minister on May 20th 2008 wasn’t welcomed by some citizens while others appreciated the nomination and jubilated.
The depreciation of the Guinean Franc has been maintained since the appointment of the new Finance Minister. Notwithstanding, foodstuffs and other commodities are rarely seeing on the market; thus increasing their prices. Other improvements have been noticed like improved telecommunication systems and infrastructural constructions (roads and bridges).

Knowing that without your generous support, nothing of our dreams to help these children shape their own lives would become true, we would like, once again, to extend our thanks and appreciations for all your kindest support during this period and all that you continue doing.