By Sylvia Costantini | Chief Executive Officer
Over the years, generous supporters like you have helped us build a classroom, fund our teachers and turned our hoped of providing a better future for the children here at the Murakaza school into a reality.
This year, it is only because of the help we've received from people all over the UK - and indeed the world - that we have been able to provide every pupil with a daily mug of fortified porridge. It is only one very simple snack, but it means everything to children at the school.
Before we began the porridge project last year, children would arrive at school hungry and tired. Some walk 5 kilometres to get here - and with empty tummies had no energy to get through the school day. They couldn't concentrate and the hungriest would fall asleep in class.
One day, our teacher Protais was called on his cell phone because passerbys had found one of our students who had literally collapsed on the side of the road from hunger. People were able to identify the child thanks to our very colourful uniforms (everybody recognises us around here). Protais called Francoise, the director, who immediately came to the location. The child was conscious and was feeling better after receiving water and a bit of sugar. Francoise took him to the doctor nonetheless, to check everything was alright.
But since we've implemented the porridge project ("Indyia" in the local Kirundi language), things couldn't be different:
A daily mug of porridge gives children the energy to study in class and achieve better grades. They get sick less often, so attendance has improved dramatically. And what fills our hearts with joy is seeing them run around and play like children should be able to. Every mug really is full of hope!
Little By Little Campaign: your donation goes the extra mile
This week, and this week only, GlobalGiving is running the Little By Little campaign. Every donation you make until March 27th to the Murakaza school, will be matched 50% by GlobalGiving. For example, if you give £20, that's £30 that will go to providing a daily snack to malnourished children in Burundi, at no extra cost to you.
I know you probably have a lot on your mind right now, but I hope you'll consider making a small gift. Your support means everything to us. Without it, we cannot continue to provide these children with the nutrition they need to stay healthy and happy.
Children at our school don't ask for much and it never ceases to amaze me how happy and grateful they are when we put a warm mug of porridge in their hands.
Thank you for your continued trust and support.
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