stdClass Object ( [nid] => 238620 [vid] => 239957 [type] => task_discussion [status] => 1 [created] => 1252869273 [changed] => 1252869273 [comment] => 0 [promote] => 1 [sticky] => 0 [revision_timestamp] => 1252869273 [title] => Re: In our village the most important issue is: education for the poor, educational materials, used books, clothes, drugs, toys [body] => Hi Mary Thanks for the second post. It's appreciated. It's clear that I am benefiting and will benefit more by interacting with you more. I will try to provide answers and comments to the points in your post. We have tried, on a number of occasions, to contact schools in other countries (NOT through Nabuur) for interaction between their students and those of ours; however, none of them have replied. We are really interested in creating such an opportunity between our students and those in other countries. Yes, schools in Liberia use English. Actually, English is the official language of Liberia. Concerning the educational materials, we are not really talking about books prescribed by the local authority. We are talking about small quantities of reading books, as well as general educational equipment/supplies. Mary, Liberia lacks many things. Besides, the country is just graduating from a devastating 14-year civil war. There’s no vibrant publishing industry. I am not even aware of toy manufacturers in the sense that you may be referring to. Toys are generally donated from overseas or imported by businesses. Based on your questions, it would clearly be great if our school could get involved in some of these activities. But again, it will all depend if our school could get the machines or equipment needed for the production of such materials. We started a typing program last year. Our next plan is to start a sewing program, but we neither have all the machines nor the funds to buy them. If started, the sewing program could be a very good self-sustaining initiative after some time. The school could sew and sell the products. Another thing we have been considering is obtaining a manual printing machine, which we could also use as part of our self-sustaining projects. I skim through the list, and I am already grateful for sending it. And if you decided or agreed to condense it to the potential book etc donors, I would be even more grateful. Although we once wrote Brussels Airlines for a partnership relationship, which we never got any response to, we have not made any serious effort to seeking the assistance of airlines and shipping agencies in transporting things to Liberia. About three or so years ago, when we wanted to send some toys and school supplies to Liberia (items which were donated by Amnesty International Poland) we used the postal system, which was expensive for us and which took long to reach Liberia. We sent the items, though. It’s expensive to send things to Liberia. It would be great if we get a firm that would be willing to assist us. The community is morally supportive but, financially, no. These people are themselves unemployed, poor, etc. in fact, this is why the school is established in the first place – to help these parents and their children. -- PYH [teaser] => Hi Mary Thanks for the second post. It's appreciated. It's clear that I am benefiting and will benefit more by interacting with you more. I will try to provide answers and comments to the points in your post. We have tried, on a number of occasions, to contact schools in other countries (NOT through Nabuur) for interaction between their students and those of ours; however, none of them have replied. We are really interested in creating such an opportunity between our students and those in other countries. 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