By Tim Rosche | English Language Correspondent
This year, as is the tradition since the foundation of the group, Grupo Ussoforal participated in the colorful and frenzied atmosphere of the annual Mardi Gras parade in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau. Over 200 of the group's members paraded through the streets along with dozens of other cultural and neighborhood organizations, all vying for the attention of the judges as well as the spectators that lined both sides of the streets through the entire downtown area. The media was also out in full force, and Ussoforal managed to get aired on the evening news broadcast of the local television station.
Prior to Carnaval, Sadio Diatta Rosché, the group's founder, was making her way back to Africa after a successful season of fund-raising in the United States. In addition to sponsorships collected from generous contributors in Washington DC and Boston to cover school fees for many of the group's members, Sadio also shipped back a considerable quantity of school supplies and clothing, all of which arrived in Dakar, Senegal in February. From there it will be put on a ship to Ziguinchor in the south of the country, and then on to Bissau overland for distribution among the group's families.
Meanwhile the adult literacy classes conducted by volunteer supporters of the group continue to gain popularity with the population of Plack II where Ussoforal is headquartered. Four sewing classes have also been added to the group's activities with the objective of developing the income-generation potential of the community members.
During the month of January the group also had the immense good fortune of receiving contributions from the local representation of the European Economic Community as well as a delegation from Timor visiting as part of an exchange program among countries for which Portuguese is the official language. These donations were an enormous morale boost for the group, and allowed them to procure musical equipment, a video camera, a television, 2 digital cameras and supplies for the adult literacy and sewing classes.
So though much progress is being made, your generosity is still extremely important to keep up the group's momentum and to continue to keep helping making Ussoforal’s children’s dreams come true.
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