Monday, March 18, 2019 - This was the first morning in many days when we didn't get up until 7:00, as we didn't have to get to school until 9:30, because Andi wanted to pick out the gifts to be given as part of the celebration. It's true, this morning time didn't pass without hanging around either, we packed, wrote a blog, and had breakfast. In the meantime, Zsolt from Trabant Expedició and Gábor also arrived, so since they couldn't fit in, they went to the scene in a separate car.
We didn't manage to select the gifts: by the time we got there, they were happy to announce that they had all of them. I rushed into the room with a bad feeling: nothing was as it should be, I was greeted by tags torn off backpacks and labels pasted back in the wrong place. I thought I was going to cry... yesterday it took me hours to clear it up, after the ceremony I can start over so that everything is in order, everything gets to the one who belongs to it...
Between the Cherifoula school and the marsh, next to the garbage heap, the festive event took place under huge tents: the chairs were packed the night before, where the children and parents, as well as the entire audience, were seated today. Very elegantly, the chairs in the first rows were covered in snow-white covers, the potentates and Jim sat on the small stage under all kinds of banners, in front of and behind them. As we learned, Chérifoula is the first and only school in the Sans-Fils district, where a library and an IT room were also established. The mayor of the Bozola district and Bamako and his wife also sat on the pulpit, next to Jim, who represented the Foundation. Andi and I were seated in the auditorium, in the first row (next to the Council of Elders and other leaders) on the two sides. The Bozola district director of the Ministry of Education waved and smiled at us like an old acquaintance from Jim's side, from the podium.
After the singing of the Malian national anthem, the program began. There was a plan for the Hungarian national anthem as well, but they couldn't download the material that was sent, so learning it was delayed, maybe next time... Thanks to the school's teacher, who likes dramas/plays and poems very much, the students gave us a very lively and beautiful show, the in one, Jim, Ániesz and I were mentioned by name, but unfortunately it was in Bambara, so we couldn't understand it. The guests of honor sitting on the podium celebrated our work with recognition and thanks - everyone spoke individually in front of the televisions and radios broadcasting the program, and after the ceremonial cutting of the white-gold ribbon, they gave interviews in the inaugurated IT room and library.
A wonderful, framed diploma and two trophies were presented to the Foundation, and Ániesz was asked to stand up during Jim's speech during the mention of the volunteers (representing the nearly 30 volunteers of the Foundation), thanking them for their hard and persistent work. A huge thank you to each and every one of our volunteers!
In the afternoon, the gifts of the supported children were distributed: the headmistress and the caretaker shouted the names of the children next in line from upstairs - competing with the muezzin shouting from the district's loudspeakers. Zsolt helped with the work (he photographed the children receiving the gifts), and Gábor held the molino in the background and diligently carried the gift boxes to the children. Thank you very much for your indispensable help! When handing over, Andi spoke a few words to each child, incorporating the information he had received the previous day: some received a final warning, but there were also those whom he only scolded and encouraged, or whom he praised very much and told how proud we were of them, thanked him for being so they study well. It was a heart-wrenching moment when Andi's 15-year-old, 6-months-pregnant little assistant came in... Andi almost cried, but congratulated her on the marriage and the baby, wished her good health, asked her to take care of herself and assured her that if she still wanted him after the baby was born to learn, then he will support you in everything. The boys almost had a heart attack when the six-month-old mother threw the almost 10-kilo crate on her head and pushed her out of the room with her big belly without swaying. But there was also a child who is now the 6th best in the class, but was better before: Andi reminded us that he stood in front of us 2 years ago and told us to support him and that he would study well. And now we hear that he is lazy. He pointed out that this is not what we agreed on: we are keeping the agreement, now it's his turn!
It was a pleasure to see the many happy and well-deserved children's faces while I was registering the gifts given! There was even time in the afternoon to present the prizes to the first 6 best in the class.
Some games were played, newly discovered games were taught, the first small users appeared in the library, who not only tried the games, but also examined the bookshelves and tried to read the books.
Slowly, a loud murmur filled the room as the children read the text muttering, in a low voice. It was a great pleasure to see this!
Then came the tearful farewell: Andi literally made the headmistress and her daughter, who often accompanied us, cry with her kind words as she acknowledged their merits.
It was a wonderful day!
Returning to the accommodation, we showered and quickly packed our suitcases. To be honest, I did this with great difficulty and with great sighs: in my heart, I would have continued working at the school in the Sans-Fils district the next day, because there is still a lot to do...