Guinea Kids Education Fund

Program Enhancements and Other Exciting Changes at GKEF

2011-12-18T15:03:00.000-08:00

Program Enhancements

I'm really excited about what is happening with our program in Guinea right now. The "Guinea Kids" are being provided the opportunities to broaden their educational experience through field trips to learn about their greater community. They will travel to see downtown Conakry, Medina - the largest market in Conakry, and perhaps even a museum! All of which most of the children have never seen or experienced. Many of the children have never left their neighborhood of Enco-Cinq.

Karim Koumbassa, GKEF board member and family/community member in Enco-Cinq, came to me with this brilliant idea several weeks before he left Seattle to travel back home to Guinea for a few months. He will also take the children to visit some farm land where they will learn about where their food comes from while helping tend rice fields and fruit trees. "I want them to learn about all the things a person needs to know in life," said Karim.

We are fortunate to have Karim in Guinea once again this year to make sure the program in running smoothly, to meet with the parents of the students, and to make any needed adjustments. Karim truly has a passion for and dedication to helping all of these children.

GKEF has also added a new tutor, Mousa, who is helping Soumah give the students more specialized attention. Soumah focuses on the younger students and Mousa, the older ones.

New Fiscal Sponsor

We now have a new fiscal sponsor! Transformation of Education is an organization committed to creating a breakthrough in education where learning has no boundaries and no limits, where people learn to think big, adapt to their environment, and ultimately live a life actively engaged in fulfilling their dreams, driven by educators around the world who are passionate about making a difference. GKEF is proud to be associated with these ideals!

And...we have a new online donation page with Firstgiving.

New Website Coming Soon!....

We have been working hard to create a beautiful website with more information about who we are and more stories about the children in Guinea. Board member, Greg Evans, has volunteered countless hours toward building us this website. Please take a look when it launches and let us know what you think!

4th Annual Guinea Kids Benefit Concert

2011-06-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

photo courtesy of Julie Graber c.2011
Guinea Kids Education Fund, with the help of many volunteers, put on a beautiful and exciting event this year to raise much needed funds in support of children's education in Guinea, West Africa. It was probably our best event yet! I was so proud of the work that went into making it such a great opportunity to experience the rich culture of Guinea. Unfortunately, due to a beautiful sunny day and a very busy time of year for many, the turn-out was much less than hoped for and, therefore, the amount we raised was affected. So, if you couldn't make it to the event or haven't donated yet, keep on reading! How you can help us make a difference and reach our goals will follow the highlights of the event!

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Amidst a room decorated with gorgeous African fabrics, masks, artifacts, and drums, everyone sampled fried plantains and ginger juice, shopped in the exciting African Marketplace

photo courtesy of Mark Saran c. 2011

where you could experience a bit of West Africa trying to carry baskets on your head

photo courtesy of Julie Graber c.2011

or pound rice, all while Karim Koumbassa serenaded us with music on his ngoni, a West African string instrument.

photo courtesy of Mark Saran c. 2011

THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SHOW INCLUDED:

* A sparkling dance performance from the 4 and 5 year olds in Marissa's World Dance classes from New Discovery School...

photos courtesy of Julie Graber c.2011

* An inspiring video presentation about Guinea and GKEF

* Traditional music and dancing from Guinea including a performance by Karim Koumbassa
photo courtesy of Mark Saran c. 2011

photo courtesy of Julie Graber c.2011

photo courtesy of Mark Saran c. 2011

We ended the afternoon with a community dance-along and lots of happiness!

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL

photo courtesy of Scott Tucker c. 2010

Thank you to all those who came to the benefit and who have contributed to GKEF's fundraising effort this Spring. Because of your generosity, thus far we have raised over $4300!

We want to reach and exceed our goal of raising $13,000 this year! If you weren't able to attend the fundraiser or didn't turn in your donation at the event, now is your chance to make a difference!

Here is how Guinea Kids Education Fund is making a difference for children and families in Guinea: for the children that enter our program, we pay for tuition, book supplies, uniforms, shoes, breakfast and lunch, and tutoring. For these children, we have completely changed the trajectory of their family’s futures along with the futures of the generations to come.

During the concert, Alya Koumbassa and Tina Zucchero, shared the touching story of how the parents of these sponsored students pooled what little money they had and bought a beautiful carved wooden statue as a symbol of their appreciation for the immeasurable difference we are making in their lives. The statue stands tall, slender, and proud and is of two people, both holding a book in front of them and a globe over their heads. Every meeting that the board members have, this statue is present to remind us of the difference we are making.

As we move forward and are clear about our mission, we have 2 goals in mind:

1. Maintain the high quality of our educational support program providing school tuition, supplies, tutoring and a meal program, and

2. Increase the quality of educational support we provide by:

a. lowering the student to tutor ratio,

b. upgrading and maintaining the students’ homework space, and

c. launching a new staff professional development program

We invite you to join us in fulfilling these goals by making a financial contribution.

photo courtesy of Scott Tucker c. 2010

HOW TO DONATE

- Go to: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/gkef and donate securely online.
- If you took a donation card home, you can mail it in. Just fill it out and remember to make checks payable to: Transformation of Education.
- If your employer will match funds, here is the information they will need:
  
  Transformation of Education
  1506 Woodard Ct NW
  Olympia, WA 98502
  www.transformationofeducation.org
  
  Transformation of Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID 20-4359274

THANK YOU
We would like to send thank you's out once again to all of our volunteers who supported this event with their time, energy, amazing talents, and kindness. We watched a room transform before our eyes and a beautiful multimedia show full of talented performers filled our senses.

We would like to thank all of our board members for their countless hours of love and dedication. Huge thanks to our Guinean members Karim, Alya, and Yamousa Koumbassa and Francoise who handle managing the project in Guinea. Thank you to the student's tutor, Soumah.

Lastly, two important thank you's. One to all the donors who have and continue to support this project and keep it going. And, lastly, thank you to the GKEF students and their families in Guinea who work hard, persevere, and have hope.

Wonawali and Wontanara,
(Thank you all and We Are All Together)

The GKEF Team:
Marissa Baratian, Greg Evans, Kim Copeland, Lisa Sanderson, Alya Koumbassa, Julia Koumbassa, Karim Koumbassa, Sarah Lee Parker Koumbassa

Watch GKEF's inspiring video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M70FkEl46E

Help us reach our goal of $13,000 and/or if you couldn't attend the fundraiser, please consider donating at:
http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/gkef

The Guinea Kids: In Their Own Words

2011-03-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

While recently in Guinea, I sat down with some of the Guinea Kids to ask them about what they are learning at school and about what interests them. Here's what they had to say:

"I learn how to do math and read my lessons and learn to write and to draw. When I finish school I want to be a tutor and be a doctor."

~Yonfila Youla, age 9, year 2

"I like to learn the lecture and take my books and read. I sharpen my pencil and write down my lesson from the board. I want to be a construction worker and a mechanic."

~Mohamed Kairaba Koumbassa, age 8, year 2

"I like to read the alphabet and reading the board. I want to be a mechanic for fixing cars. I want to read Arabic."

~Ibrahima Calille, age 5, year 1

"I learn how to read the lessons at school and singing."

[What is your favorite thing to do after school?]

"I take my book and do homework."

~Mohamed Lamine Camara, age 6, year 1

"I learn how to read and write and to calculate and I am starting to learn to read in English a little bit. I learn how to read my lesson. I want to be a teacher."

~Mabinty Youla, age 12, year 5

"When I’m at school I learn how to do math and how to draw.

When I come home from school I say hello to my mom and dad and neighbors, change clothes, eat, take my books and study until it is time to study with everyone."

~ Alhassane Youla, age 10, year 5

"I learn French and “A” and “B” and “C.” When I come home I take my writing board and I take my uniform and my bag and go to school."

~Oumou Kieta, age 4, preschool

A Visit To Guinea

2011-02-23T11:15:00.000-08:00

I recently had the delightful and deeply moving experience of spending a month in Guinea staying in the neighborhood where the Guinea Kids students live. Many of these children I knew when I visited 3 years ago and was overjoyed to see them again grown that much bigger! Addams is the girl in the center of the photo above. I fell in love with her the last time I was there. My final memory of her 3 years ago was one of her falling asleep in my lap on my last night in Guinea and then being carried off to bed. I didn't know if I'd see her again. Then later that year I heard that Addams was no longer living in the neighborhood. I didn't think I'd ever see her again. But as Sarah Lee Koumbassa, GKEF board member and my co-host in Guinea, greeted me on my arrival to the Enco-5 neighborhood last December and walked me through the neighborhood introducing and reintroducing me to neighbors and family, a little girl called Addams came forward. I was so surprised and delighted to see her again! And even though I was sure she wouldn't have remembered me at her young age, we seemed to picked right back up with our dear connection. And so it was with all of my Guinea family and with the children. I am also happy to say that Addams became our newest GKEF student while I was there! There is now a total of 26 children benefiting from the GKEF program.

Above are 2 more GKEF students, Mohamed Lamine (a.k.a. Bouboudi which means monkey in his native language of Sousou) and Mohamed (who usually acts more like a monkey than Bouboudi). Here both boys are ready to leave for school. It was deeply satisfying to spend time with each of the children in the GKEF program and to see and feel the impact GKEF is having 3 years after its inception. These children are understanding the importance and value of education as they become increasingly aware of all the people surrounding them who want to help them succeed; people like you who live on the other side of the world and yet care enough to support them and their efforts. And, believe me, they all work so hard to do well in school. When asked what they like to do after school, many of the children answered that they like to take their books and study with Soumah, GKEF's after-school tutor (pictured below center). When Soumah reviews the lessons with the students and asks them questions, they all eagerly raise their hands nearly jumping out of their seats (actually, several of them do jump out of their seats) to be called on to answer. Even if they don't have the right answer, they still want to participate and learn.

Above GKEF's 3 super staff members in Guinea: Yamousa, Soumah, and Francoise. Yamousa, our trusted financial officer, works incredibly hard for his family and for the GKEF program. I was delighted to meet Soumah and Francoise for the first time on this visit. They are the kind of people you instantly know are wonderfully caring, loving, and trustworthy. They are all dedicated to GKEF and we are so grateful for them! I cannot overstate the importance of having trustworthy, dedicated, and competent people providing our program's infrastructure on location. They give us peace of mind.

Tutoring Time!

After-school tutoring time! Or as Soumah and the children call it: Revision (avec l'accent francaise). The children sit smooshed onto 4 desk-benches that GKEF provided them last year. Unfortunately, one of the desk-benches was stolen and the 4 remaining are clearly inadequate space for them all. The 5 that GKEF initially provided were still not enough as Soumah explained that the children become distracted by their cramped quarters. During a GKEF meeting in Guinea, plans were made to have 4 more benches built for a total of 8 for the 26 students.

Today Soumah is reviewing vowels with the younger children while the older children read from their lesson books. Above Sedouba takes a turn saying the vowels with Soumah.

Above and below: Remember Binty Youla from GKEF's holiday season story card? Well, she's as bright and beautiful as ever. She always, always greets you with a warm smile on her face. I love this young person's strength to live in joy even though everyday life holds many hardships.

(photo courtesy of (c) Stephanie Allard)

Binty Youla loves school and wants to be a teacher when she grows up.

A Meeting with the Students

With the help of Karim Koumbassa (GKEF board member and my co-host in Guinea) translating, I met with the Guinea Kids to share some things I brought from the states. Stephie Allard helped pass out the t-shirts that she and others made at Guinea Kids Open House last October.

The children speak in english and in unison: "Thank you Guinea Kids Education Fund. We love you and we thinking about you. Peace."

Fasinet and Mohamed model their new t-shirts.

I shared a book of stories and photos about New Discovery School where I teach in the states.

Books that were donated by families at New Discovery School were passed out for the children to look at. These simple picture books will be useful for them while they are learning English at school.

Joie de vive!

These children have so much joy to give to the world! They play as hard as they work!

Some of the children learn traditional dance with family friend, Lamini.

A big harvest of rice from the family land! All the children who are around help with the drying of the rice and have lots of fun doing it! Soulyman and Mohamed Lamine were like 2 dogs digging.

Sarah Lee, N'Bountou, and Youssouf help repackage the rice.

Soulyman helps carry kitchen items and an instrument called a bolon to be loaded up for a trip.

Always loving and affectionate!

Fasinet shows me how to play with the ancient game of hoop and stick.

Mohamed Lamine plays an instrument called a gongoma, made from a calabash gourd and saw blades.

To know Ismael is to know a bright and shining star. A most charismatic young person, he is our student in the highest level: year 7.

Mohamed and Mohamed Lamine (Bouboudi) help little Binty Youla with her drum skills.

Lots of this sport happening everywhere.

Playing with homemade toys made out of sticks and old tin cans. Bouboudi is even wearing a hat he made out of a discarded piece of cardboard.

Everyone loves to dance!

Ismael helps little Kadiatou on the drums.

Future GKEF Students?

Groovin' for Guinea: GKEF Gets By With A Little Help From Our Friends

2010-12-04T09:00:00.001-08:00

Guinea Kids Education Fund would like to heartily express our thanks to Mandjou and Maya Kadakia of Mandjou Mara Djembefola who held a trio of fun events in Madison, Wisconsin to benefit GKEF in late October! Groovin' for Guinea -- A Benefit for the Guinea Kids Education Fund was comprised of 3 opportunities to give:

1. Maya Kadakia's West African dance class
2. An African music show at the High Noon Saloon with music by Chafo, Limanya, Kikeh Mato, and Tani Diakite
3. A West African Dinner at the Slow Food University of Wisconsin kitchen, including a performance and Guinea style dance party led by Limanya Drum and Dance Ensemble!

All the proceeds from these events went to GKEF! Well, that deserves a trio of cheers! Hip Hip Hooray for Mandjou and Maya Kadakia and for Madison, Wisconsin! Thank you to everyone who organized and came out in support of children's education in Guinea. Together we are making a difference.

Please visit Mandjou and Maya Kadakia at http://www.mandjoumaradjembefola.com/giving_to_guinea.

Spotlight on a Guinea Kid

2010-10-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

Sia is a young girl who now attends Nimba Elisa School in Conakry, Guinea with the help of GKEF. She is one of the new students who started school last January. For Sia, the opportunity to receive an education is a special gift.

When Sia's mother was young, she was taken out of school to get married. This was not her personal desire, but was what her family chose for her at that time. Sia's father was not unsympathetic to his new wife's grief at not being able to finish her education. And so, when they had Sia they tried their best to send her to school. But as is the case with so many families in Guinea, these caring parents live in poverty and could only afford to send Sia to school sporadically. In addition she had been placed in a level at school that was too high for her. Both of these circumstances could hardly create a successful educational experience for Sia.

The day Karim Koumbassa of GKEF came to Sia's house to tell her parents that we want Sia to go to school with a GKEF scholarship, her mother cried with relief and gratitude. Sia's father expressed his gratitude as well, acknowledging that it was "because of him" that his wife had been unable to continue in school. We hope this most deserving family can rest a bit more easily knowing that their much desired education for their daughter is now possible.

With the assistance of Karim and Soumah, GKEF's after-school tutor, Sia was placed into the right level for her and is getting ready to begin her first full school year in the 5th Year Class. The school year in Guinea starts this month.

GKEF invites you to join us in celebrating the start of our 4th school year supporting children's education in Guinea later this month! Please RSVP to the Guinea Kids Open House to let us know you are coming!

Back To School Preparations

2010-08-23T12:15:00.000-07:00

The school year in Conakry, Guinea doesn't start back up until October, but the Guinea Kids' students began their summer tutoring this past week in order to begin gearing up for another year at the Nimba Elisa School.

Tutoring in session.

Most of our students are doing very well in school and passing onto the next level. All of our new students who just began schooling this past January will be continuing on at the same level in the fall so that they can each get the full year of education in their respective levels. Our dedicated tutor, Soumah, will spend the rest of August and September helping all the children prepare for the year ahead.

Soumah with some students in the homework/tutoring place.

For several of the students, school is an extra challenge set within the harsh reality of life in Guinea. Seydouba, a preschool-age boy, was very sick for a while this year and missed out on a lot of school. He is doing much better now and will be back in school this October. Another young girl, N'mah, stopped going to school because her mother never went to school and didn't understand the value of it until Karim spoke with her.

One of our students, a 13 year old boy nicknamed Bosana, has been struggling for months to focus on school after the tragic death of both of his parents. Bosana is a very smart boy, but attending school has just not been important to him in the light of his loss. He has been avoiding going and instead wanders around the neighborhood. While Karim was in Guinea, he kept close tabs on Bosana and spoke earnestly to him about the importance of school and his responsibilities to attend as a member of Guinea Kids.

GKEF member extraordinaire, Alya Koumbassa, arrived in Guinea last week for a long awaited return visit to his homeland and will be conducting some important business for GKEF while there. One of these business items will be to continue the efforts of encouraging Bosana to remain in school. All of us at GKEF are truly rooting for this young man to find his way, take courage, and become inspired once again by the possibilities of an education.

Against all odds, we continue to hold a candle of hope for these vibrant and talented children to stay in school, obtain an education, and see opportunity and possibility open up for themselves and for their families and communities. May being a part of this project someday bring each of these children the self-confidence and knowing that they have been a part of something larger. And may they be inspired to give back to their communities each in their own way.

Many of the supplies that your donations provide!

While Alya is there he will also be overseeing the purchasing of new school year supplies, uniforms, and shoes for the 25 students. Alya will also continue to provide further managerial training to Yamousa, Francoise, and Soumah who have all been doing an excellent job for GKEF. Alya will support Francois and Soumah to meet with parents to share with them their children's grades and progress and continue to stress the importance of school. We are very grateful to have such a team of caring and trusted people supporting our program and making all of our dreams for these children a reality in Conakry.

Below is a very short video of the big street crossing on the way to school for the Guinea Kids. The road may be littered with obstacles, but we get by with a little help from our friends. Don't ever give up!

GUINEA KIDS GETS A MAJOR TUNE UP!!

2010-03-07T15:57:00.000-08:00

PART DUEX

The Homework Place Gets An Upgrade

The big project that was accomplished this year was the renovation of the Homework Place. The space in the front yard of the Koumbassa home where the GKEF students gather for tutoring 4 days a week was formerly made from partial walls and a partial roof. It was not protected from Guinea’s intense rainy season or from the distracting noise next door. Above is a photo of what the Homework Place used to look like.

Karim organized workers and neighbors and even the kids helped in building a new structure.

The children in the neighborhood really enjoyed aiding in the construction of their own homework place. Imagine how good it must have felt to them to have the quality of their educations matter enough to have their own place built. Imagine their satisfaction and investment in helping to build their new Homework Place.

According to Karim many of the children were quite hilarious in their construction efforts. Once it took five children to attempt to lift a wheelbarrow full of cement, sand, and gravel, then they were mixing the wrong things together, and finally ended up throwing sand on each other! Needless to say, they had some fun!

Complete with three concrete walls and a full roof, the Homework Place is now a permanent building protected from rain and external sound.

Two new chalkboards, closets for teacher and student supplies, and custom made bench-desks were also added to enhance the use of the space.When the children first came to see the Homework Place after it was finished and the chalkboards and desks were arranged, they were all very surprised by their “fancy” new seats.

Karim asked them, “What do you think all these chairs are for?”
The answer he received was, “Are you going to open a movie theater?”
“No! They are for you!” The children were overjoyed.This is your place, kids. Enjoy it.

GUINEA KIDS GETS A MAJOR TUNE-UP!

2010-02-28T15:48:00.000-08:00

PART UN

GKEF member Karim Koumbassa recently returned from Conakry, Guinea where he spent 3 months at the Koumbassa home with his family in the Enco-5 neighborhood. There he was living and working among his family and community which includes all of the Guinea Kids' children. Much of that time he used to assess, improve, and refine the GKEF project.

Most importantly for Karim and all of us at GKEF that means checking in with each of the children. How are they? Are they healthy? Happy?

Are they going to school everyday and doing their homework? Are they eating?

As I looked through all the wonderful photos taken in January (thank you Scott Tucker for these!), Karim’s personal care for these children really comes through. We are so grateful to have someone on our team here in the States who can go to Guinea each year and touch base with the kids on behalf of all of us.

New Guinea Kids Added!

Thanks to all our donor contributions, GKEF was able to meet one of our goals of increasing the number of children in our program. Guinea Kids has enrolled 5 more children into the program for a total of 25 students now being sponsored by our donors. Assessment of the funds raised last year and the current capacity of the program in Guinea has indicated that GKEF can support additional children. So, while Karim was there he selected 5 more children in the neighborhood to join the growing family of Guinea Kids!

Here they all are gathering for school early in the morning at the Koumbassa home. An older and very responsible boy, Yousouf, gathers them and is in charge of their breakfast and lunch money.

Each morning all 25 children make their way through their neighborhood of Enco-5 to their school, Groupe Scolaire Nimba Elisa.

3rd Annual Guinea Kids Benefit Concert

2009-10-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

We had a record turn out this year at the 3rd Annual Guinea Kids Benefit Concert on October 17th. Over 200 friends, families, and community members showed up to celebrate the rich culture of Guinea with us and help Guinea Kids Education Fund (GKEF) move forward on our mission to enrich the lives of so many young people and their neighborhood in West Africa.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Amidst a room decorated with African fabrics, masks, and drums, everyone sampled fried plantains and ginger juice and shopped in the gorgeous African marketplace while Karim Koumbassa serenaded us with music on his ngoni, a West African string instrument.

The highlights of the show included:

- a sparkling dance performance from the 4 and 5 year olds in Marissa's World Dance class from New Discovery School

- an inspiring video

presentation about Guinea and GKEF

- more traditional dancing from Guinea including an acrobatic and humorous performance by Karim and Abdoulaye Sylla, a former member of Les Ballets Africains.

We ended the afternoon with a community dance-along and lots of happiness!

See more event photos on Facebook
photos courtesy of (c) Ilona Berzups

HELP US REACH OUR GOAL

Thank you to all those who came to the benefit and who have contributed to GKEF's fundraising effort this October. Because of your generosity, thus far we have raised over $8500!

We want to reach and exceed our goal of raising $10,000 this year! If you weren't able to attend the fundraiser or didn't turn in your donation at the event, now is your chance to make a difference!

Here is how Guinea Kids Education Fund is making a difference for children and families in Guinea: for the children that enter our program, we pay for tuition, book supplies, uniforms, shoes, lunch, and tutoring. For these children, we have completely changed the trajectory of their family’s futures along with the futures of the generations to come.

During the concert, our MC, Sarah Lee Koumbassa, shared the touching story of how this past year the parents of these sponsored students pooled what little money they had and bought a beautiful carved wooden statue as a symbol of their appreciation for the immeasurable difference we are making in their lives. The statue stands tall, slender, and proud and is of two people, both holding a book in front of them and a globe over their heads. Every meeting that the board members have, this statue is present to remind us of the difference we are making.

As we move forward and are clear about our mission, we have 2 goals in mind:

To fund the complete education of the twenty children currently enrolled.
To increase the number of kids enrolled in our program.

We invite you to join us in fulfilling these goals by making a financial contribution.
HOW TO DONATE

Go to: http://www.firstgiving.com/gkef and donate securely online.

If you took a donation card home, you can mail it in. Just fill it out and remember to make checks payable to: Fabric of Life.

If your employer will match funds, here is the information they will need:

Fabric of Life Foundation
PO Box 547
Edmonds, WA 98020
www.fabricoflife.org

Fabric of Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID 91-2172230

THANK YOU
We would like to send thank you's out once again to all of our volunteers who supported this event with their time, energy, amazing talents, and kindness. We watched a room transform before our eyes and a beautiful multimedia show full of talented performers filled our senses.

We would like to thank all of our board members for their countless hours of love and dedication. Huge thanks to our Guinean members Karim, Alya, and Yamousa Koumbassa who handle managing the project in
Guinea. Thank you to the student's tutor, Sumah.

Lastly, two important thank you's. One to all the donors who have and continue to support this project and keep it going. And, lastly, thank you to the GKEF students and their families in Guinea who work hard, persevere, and have hope.

Wonawali and Wontanara,
(Thank you all and We Are All Together)

The GKEF Team:
Marissa Baratian, Ilona Berzups, Kim Copeland, Jill Jameson, Alya Koumbassa, Julia Koumbassa, Karim Koumbassa, Sarah Lee Koumbassa

Watch GKEF's inspiring new video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8M70FkEl46E

Help us reach our goal of $10,000 and/or if you couldn't attend the fundraiser, please consider donating at:
http://www.firstgiving.com/gkef

Stories Of The Guinea Kids

2009-08-18T10:26:00.000-07:00

At a recent GKEF meeting, Karim Koumbassa shared some news about how the Guinea Kids students are faring in their new school, Nimba Elisa.

Youssouf, Karim's 14 year old brother, asked to speak on the phone to Karim. After just a few months in his new school, Nimba Elisa, Youssouf began speaking in French, not Sousou, to Karim. He then said, in French, "Brother, let's talk. Can you speak English?" Karim was moved to tears that Youssouf was so proud of his new learning that he wanted to talk with him. About school, Youssouf said, "If we had started at school earlier, it would have been so great." He really likes his teachers and says, "They are good at teaching. They don't shout at us."

Kheraba is a quiet boy who didn't know how to read. He is shy and doesn't say much. Guinea Kids has been funding his schooling for a year and a half. No one in his neighborhood had any idea how smart he was! Out of all the children GKEF is sponsoring, Kheraba is doing the best in school and appears to have surprised everyone with his blossoming!

In this photo, Soumah, GKEF's new tutor, reads with Kheraba in the Homework Space. Soumah is working with the children this summer to get them caught up and ready for the next school year. So many of these children who have attended very little school or who have never been to school before GKEF's sponsorship have much extra work to do to be learning at the level of their age group peers. Providing quality tutoring for them has been and continues to be essential for their success and confidence in school. GKEF is so proud of all the work they are doing and is grateful to have a dedicated tutor in Soumah.

Young People Helping Young People

2009-05-19T11:18:00.000-07:00

Guinea Kids would like to highlight an inspirational young person who took an opportunity to be moved into action by the world around her. 13 year old, Liki Berg, upon learning about GKEF and the children it supports, decided to hold her own fundraiser at her school, Twin Falls Middle School.

Together with her school Key Club, Liki made candy grams and sold them to raise money for GKEF. The Key Club made a total of $150 selling candy grams and hope to do more with GKEF in the years to come.

Above are photos of Liki and her Key Club making the cards and holding up the check that was sent to GKEF. What awesome young people! And thank you Twin Falls Middle School!

Here is more about Liki's story from her mother, Becky Berg:

"I first heard about the Guinea Kids

Education Fund last year from Sarah Lee's wonderful emails she sends about all that is going on in our community...she mentioned the benefit concert and I wanted to just do something to help after reading Marissa's amazing experience... I went with my boyfriend to the benefit concert and had a great time too!!! I mentioned this to my daughter Liki who was 12 years old (now 13) and who was involved with her Key Club in school at the time (now involved with much more after being so inspired to help by GKEF.) Her letter attached explains how encouraged she has been by GKEF to help others and honestly made me cry when I read it:) Thank you to Marissa, Sarah Lee, Karim and their family for encouraging our family to help others!!!" ~ Becky Berg

A Letter From Liki to GKEF

Dear Sarah Lee,

The Guinea Kids Education Program has truly opened my eyes. It has brought me to realize that there are a lot of things in life that many people take for granted. I always thought that school was a burden and that there was no point in going. This has made me think of what I would do if I didn’t have school everyday, or rather what everyone else would do. Probably just sit at home on the couch and never know what was going on in the world. I now know that there are kids who can’t go to school and want to go so badly. It’s not fair for them to miss out on a life long experience. The GKEF helps turn a child’s life around and it gives a person great satisfaction to know that they helped make that happen.

What I did was not hard and something that anyone could do. I sold candy grams at my school with my key club. It’s something easy just like a bake sale or a garage sale. The point was that no mater how much or how little you do it all makes a difference in the end. My advice is to just do something you know and are good at weather it be a bake sale or a huge music festival. Where you start to first chose what you want to do and who you want do it for. Then all you have to do is go for it.

Everyone should be open and aware of the ongoing world around them. Then everyone could see a better world. We could see unity, love and happiness all throughout the world if everyone contributed. I think that my purpose in life is to make someone else’s better, something I could never do if I didn’t know how. I want to be an inspiration to the people who follow me. I only hope that this is a goal I can reach.

Thanks-

Liki Berg

GKEF: New and Improved!

2009-03-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

Guinea Kids: We're all about the learning! What a learning and growing process this has been for all of us involved. If there is one thing GKEF is committed to it is a quality education for all children and specifically for the students we support. And so, while recently visiting the children and their school, GKEF members from the US and Guinea determined that the current quality of education and overall experience at their school was not where we wanted it to be for our students. The school was able to make many improvements to their structure, but the children's actually learning became compromised.

What this continued learning has brought to light for GKEF is what is truly at the core of our mission statement; the children. Plain and simple, we are all passionate about these 20 children whom we have begun on this journey; and seeing them through as much of their school education as we can. After careful consideration and discussion between members and the school, it was decided to move the students to a new school, Nimba Elisa, and to

focus our funds on sending them to school and the success of their learning.

Nimba Elisa is a school that offers a full education for students and carefully tested each of our students to ensure that they were being placed at the level where they would best be served. We were impressed by their organized infrastructure and that children are learning both French and English there. Plus the school is still within walking distance for the children in the neighborhood of Enco-5.

Here are some links to videos taken at the Nimba Elisa School:

English Class

The Little Ones

Counting

But let me also tell you about a true angel that has emerged among us: Alya Koumbassa. Alya is brother to Karim Koumbassa, my friend, and Alya is the person who manages this whole project in Guinea all year. Alya went above and beyond the call of duty this past year and created a place in his family's own front yard where the children can come and receive tutoring and do homework everyday.

He actually built a simple structure with a partial roof and added a black-board. He hired a tutor for last summer, but much of the time he is the one tutoring the children. But here is the really cool part. The 20 children GKEF sends to school come for tutoring, but then there are all these other children in the neighborhood who come round to see what's happening and they end up learning stuff, too! The Koumbassa home has always been a gathering place in their neighborhood, but now even more so. One GKEF member described the homework place with, "It's becoming like a community center for the neighborhood."

(Photo by Dawn Isaacs 2009)

Updates from Guinea and GKEF Art Cards For Sale at FABRIC OF LIFE BOUTIQUE!

2009-01-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone! Happy Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
I have been finding much inspiration in the words of this great man lately, and, so, I offer these:

"This call for a worldwide fellowship that lifts neighborly concern beyond one's tribe, race, class, and nation is in reality a call for an all-embracing and unconditional love for all mankind." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Thank you for joining Guinea Kids in "worldwide fellowship." Guinea Kids Education Fund (GKEF) currently has members, Sarah Lee and Karim Koumbassa and Ilona Berzups, in Guinea who are visiting with the Sabadou school community and checking in with their building progress and the well-being of the students at the school. Thanks to GKEF donations, the school now has new classrooms and bathrooms. A portion of the funds from this year's benefit concert will go toward fulfilling the needs of the school. We will soon have more information on what those needs are. But the majority of the money will continue to sponsor the 20 students. The top priority for GKEF is to ensure these 20 students a complete education. Thus far we have the funds to provide 4 years of schooling of which they are in their second year.

Back in Seattle, GKEF members, Marissa Baratian and Kim Copeland, organized a project at the schools where they teach to have their students make friendship bracelets for the students at Sabadou. These bracelets, plus a photo album of Seattle students and GKEF events of the past year, were sent to share with the Sabadou school in an effort toward that "worldwide fellowship."

We will have more current photos of the school and students in Guinea once GKEF's members return.

This year one of the most exciting happenings for GKEF has been a partnership with Fabric of Life Foundation.

"Our projects focus on improving the quality of life for women and their families through sustainable, appropriate technology that respects and honors local traditions and cultures. Our philosophy is to form cooperative partnerships that promote self-help and that build people's self-esteem and independence." - www.fabricoflife.org

I highly recommend checking out their website and their store in Edmonds, Wa. Along with mouth-watering gorgeous handmade fabrics from Mali, West Africa, they are currently selling GKEF Art Cards with collaborative artwork by the students of Sabadou School in Guinea and New Discovery School in Seattle! A portion of the proceeds goes back to GKEF! Check out a sample of these beautiful cards:

Fabric of Life Boutique
now open!

Tuesday-Saturday 10:30am-4:30pm
523 Main Street
Edmonds, WA. 98020
Phone: 425.563.3925

More Photos from Guinea Kids Benefit Concert

2008-11-11T15:02:00.001-08:00

GUINEA KIDS BENEFIT CONCERT!!

2008-11-11T14:43:00.000-08:00

Photos by Ilona Berzups. (c) 2008 All rights reserved

...Was an amazing experience of friends and community and children coming together to support broadening the life opportunities for children around the world! WE HAVE RAISED NEARLY $6000 TO DATE from this year's event!!! The concert was truly a beautiful thing. The space was transformed into a gorgeous African dream. There were exciting things to browse and buy including Guinea and Seattle Kid's Collaborative Art Cards. There were yummy things to taste including fried plantains and ginger juice.

The children's dancing was a highlight for me. Their bright spirit's shone on stage and their joy was infectious. Some of the children even got the treat of dancing to live drumming when we had a sound glich. Hey, even better...we had the real live thing instead of recorded music. I loved it!

The photos and information about Guinea added a deeper understanding of this amazing place that has captured the interest and love of so many of us. Probably the best feedback I received about the event was a woman who said that it made her want to go to Guinea and that she appreciated that the event expressed not just the poverty of the place, but the joy and beauty of Guinea equally. To convey that aspect was so important to all of us involved. I am so gratified that it came through.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all involved, all contributors, and all who continue to keep this light alive with me.

Marissa

GUINEA KIDS BENEFIT CONCERT!!

2008-10-02T15:56:00.000-07:00

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18th, 2008
4-6pm
(Showtime 4:30pm)
Immanuel Lutheran Church Parish Hall
1215 Thomas Street, Seattle, WA 98109

RSVP at: http://gkef-concert-08-emailinvite.eventbrite.com/?invite=Nzk1OTUvbWFyaXNzYWRhbmNpbmdAZ21haWwuY29tLzA%3D%0A

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Great Dancing Video Clips!

2008-09-01T12:21:00.000-07:00

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8339496127541613112

These video clips of dancing begin with the most adorable kids dancing in their village on Tabaski (holiday) and continues with a Christmas eve performance by a professional dance company. Knock your socks off dancing!

The Classroom Foundations Built

2008-08-21T20:17:00.000-07:00

These photos are of the 3 new classroom foundations that have been built at Groupe Scolaire Sabadou with the money that Guinea Kids Education Fund provided. A goal of this year's Guinea Kids Benefit Concert will be to raise the money to complete these classrooms. Please attend this worthwhile and fun fundraiser on October 18th, 2008. See below for details.

Wontanara (We're all together),
Marissa

Photos of Guinea Kids Beneficiaries

2008-08-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

These are all photos of the students that Guinea Kids Education Fund is supporting to attend school! And all the clothes and school supplies we are providing also! 19 out of 20 students passed their end of the year compositions and all are receiving summer tutoring as well, thanks to the money raised at last year's benefit concert. Please join us for this year's fundraiser and help us continue their educations!

Wontanara (We're all together),
Marissa

Guinea Kids Benefit Concert

2008-08-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

To benefit
Guinea Kids Education Fund
supporting
children’s education in
Guinea, West Africa

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• West African Music and Dance
• Master drummer from Guinea, Karim Koumbassa and friends
• New Discovery School World Dance Classes

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18th, 2008
4-6pm
(Showtime 4:30pm)
Immanuel Lutheran Church Parish Hall
1215 Thomas Street, Seattle, WA 98109

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A Taste of Guinea Soiree

2008-08-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

In July and August we held two Taste of Guinea Soirees to celebrate the 2007-2008 Guinea trip with Karim Koumbassa and to raise awareness about Guinea and the fundraising work that Guinea Kids Education Fund is doing.

We had live Guinean music and dance, we ate yummy African fare Guinean-style (all around large platters with our hands!), we shopped at the marketplace, listened to stories about Guinea, and danced!

Here is an excerpt from my story and some photos.

"About four hours out of Conakry, the capital city of Guinea, into the lush forest region on a bus packed with chickens, food, luggage, an entire kitchen, drums, chairs, instruments, and about 20 people singing and making music, We found ourselves in a magical place called Kindia. Land of tree giants, waterfalls, thick vines hanging lushly everywhere and ancient-looking broken stone patios, pathways, and stairs leading through the trees to more waterfalls. This is where we held our dance and drum classes each day of the 3 or 4 days we were there… with the mist of the waterfall at our backs and the wonderful smell of a jasmine-like flowers in the evenings.

One day I took my book and my journal and went looking for some solitude. As I climbed the stairway through the vines and trees, I noticed two boys following me. I sat down and they curiously came closer. They did cartwheels and showed me their monkey-like climbing abilities. They were bright and curious and began to talk to me and ask me questions. There was something in they way they presented themselves to me that as a teacher I recognized and I could just tell that these children were attending school. So I asked them about it and they told me about going to school. They sang me songs they had learned. I wanted to sing with them, as I do with so many children, so I asked them if they sing the ABC’s. They sang me their version in French and I sang them my version in English. I think for both of us it was a moment of connection across our vast globe. I wondered at what new awareness of other places that exchange may have brought to them."

Wontanara (We're all together),
Marissa

Video Footage of Dec. 2007 visit to Groupe Scholaire Sabadou

2008-08-21T18:52:00.001-07:00

Finally, I am posting a link to take a look at my visit to the school, Groupe Scholaire Sabadou. The video footage is quite long and is mainly us touring the empty school (the students were on break), but if you click ahead to 32:00, you will find the part where Sarah Lee Koumbassa is telling the school founder about the money we were giving to them. Its mostly in french, but there is a part where Sarah Lee explains what was said. But you can see from the looks on their faces what is going on.

Its also worth it to take a look at a few points along the video to get an idea of what the school and classrooms look like. There is also a section where some of the students in the neighborhood come in and do recitations for us. I'm mostly too emotional or tearing up through the whole thing to say much of anything...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5855844589534373603

Wontanara (We're all together),
Marissa

Update on the students and construction at Groupe Scolaire Sabadou

2008-05-31T17:10:00.000-07:00

According to Alya Koumbassa, our project manager in Conakry, Guinea, all 20 students are attending school everyday fully-equipped, clothed, and shoed. Alya visits the school nearly everyday to check on the scholarship students. He has also created a surplus of supplies such as notebooks, pencils, rulers, etc. for the children in case any student needs replacements. The funds raised continue to be online for the 2 year plan of funding these 20 students' education.

At the school, Groupe Scolaire Sabadou, the foundation has been completed for additional classroom space, however, more funds will be needed to complete the construction as prices for building materials get more costly in Conakry.

Check back soon to see video clips from the school!

Guinea Kids Fundraising Committee

2008-05-31T16:42:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we had the first meeting of the Guinea Kids Fundraising Committee! This newly forming committee was a natural progression after the trip to Guinea. So many of the 20 Americans who went to Guinea have been profoundly touched by this place and its people. Since returning, we all have been constantly talking about Guinea and how to continue making a difference and what to do next. And so to get us onto manifesting all our amazing ideas, we have begun meeting.

We discussed the 2nd annual fall fundraising show with music and dance from Karim Koumbassa and friends and the students of New Discovery School. Mark your calendars! This event will be taking place around the first week in October.

This summer we will be having two Taste of Guinea parties to celebrate Guinea, share photos and experiences of the trip, shop the African marketplace, and savor West African food. Keep an eye out for these invitations!

Art Project Time: What can I say, I'm a preschool teacher.

2008-01-13T18:19:00.000-08:00

In these photos, the Koumbassa children are creating the beginning of an art project that I hope will raise money to fund a library for the Sabadou School. My idea is for the children at New Discovery School to finish the art work, compile the art and photos into a calendar and sell it as a fundraiser.

I had so much fun doing this project with the kids one afternoon. Me, trying to explain in limited french what I wanted. The kids, jabbering to me in Soussou. Who knows what they thought of this person who couldn't answer them back. They were tentative at first, but once they got going, drawings after drawings were produced and promptly showed to me for acknowledgement. The younger boy, fondly know as Bouboudi (monkey in Soussou), took a real shine to the whole process. He clearly had an artistic style of his own and even came out to me while I was in the middle of dance class to show me his next drawing so I would say, "Ahhh! C'est magnifique!"

Wontanara (We're all together),
Marissa Baratian

Grand Ceremony at Groupe Scolaire Sabadou

2008-01-13T18:02:00.000-08:00

Here's another picture of the school, Groupe Scolaire Sabadou, from the front. Last thursday there was a big gathering at the school to formally hand over the funds. Many of the students from Seattle who are there currently doing another drum and dance camp with Karim Koumbassa were in attendance as well as many of the musicians. More and more people are becoming interested and inspired to get involved with this school. Sarah Lee told me, "It's so much bigger than us now." The founder of the school made an empassioned speech in gratitude for how their school is being acknowledged. Sarah Lee was able to visit the classrooms while school was in session and she video recorded everything. She said the children had prepared songs and greetings that were performed for them. At the end of an hour and a half gathering the musicians began playing and everyone was singing in the courtyard and calling out, "Vive America!"

Freshly Returned From Guinea, W. Africa!

2008-01-05T19:02:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!
I have just returned from Guinea and have much to share. This journey was one of the most rich and rewarding experiences of my life.

These photos are of some of the children who are receiving the scholarship money to attend school. And photos of the school they will attend and that will also benefit from the funds raised.

Below I have included 3 excerpts from the emails I sent while travelling. I have attempted to edit and correct the punctuation and capitalization on them (since they were written on a French keyboard and in a hurry as the internet cafe time was ticking and the connection was so slow) but please forgive any poor grammer or missed corrections.

12/13/07
"Karim said that he and his brother, Alya, found a school and some children in his neighborhood that will receive the fundraiser money. I hope to visit there but our time here is so packed and doing anything takes forever!!!!"

12/26/07
"Today I had a meeting with Sarah Lee and Karim, our hosts, and Karim's brother Alya, the man who will be managing the school funds that we raised. I felt so happy after the meeting. I have complete confidence in Alya and being able to meet him and spend these weeks seeing the kind of person he is has put my mind at rest about trusting that our plans will be carried out. He is more than capable and is such a sturdy person. Basically, I adore him. Sarah Lee and I cried our way through the meeting as we went over the list of items the school needs. One text book in each subject is used for the entire school of 300+ students, 9 classes, of children ages 3 to 16. So the whole school has one math book, or rather, thats what they are asking for. They have no idea the amount of money we have to give them. And there are about 20 children in Karim's neighborhood who will receive the funds to go to this school. The plan is to hopefully meet with the founder of the school tomorrow after we go to the market to buy and price school supplies and uniforms. School is not in session right now so i won't see the students but we will try to arrange a meeting with one of the children who will receive the funds before I leave."

12/31/07
"The last day in Guinea felt as surreal as the first. I couldn´t believe I had to leave this place and these people who became imbedded in my heart within the first few days and were my constant companions and caretakers for three weeks. I felt like i was leaving a piece of myself behind. Guinea remains with me in spirit sometimes like a warm breeze and other times it feels haunting.

In the last few days many intense things happened. We went to visit the school. I can hardly begin to describe what this experience was like. It was so heart warming and fulfilling in a way that i have never felt before in my life. Tears come just as I even think about it. I believe I have never before done something so great or meaningful. maybe, in different ways I have, but the feeling of the impact that we were making all because of this little thought that I had so many months ago and having no idea really what would become of it.

The school, Groupe Scolaire Sabadou, was founded by a beautiful, strong and fiercely committed woman, Madame Aminata Kourouma, nearly 10 years ago. She somehow funds the school to keep it going. If a child´s family can´t pay for a month, she lets it slide. She told us you won´t see any of these kids on the street. She has vision and believes firmly in the power of the women.

We met the founder, the director,Mr. Mamadou Saidou Diallo, and all the teachers and they gave us a tour. The school is on holiday break right now so the kids weren´t in class. But after the tour, many of the children from the neighborhood who go there came in and spent time with us. They stood before us and upon their teacher's request performed recitations for us. Even before we told them how much money we were giving them, they presented me with a gift of three huge peices of beautiful fabric. One I gave to Sarah Lee, Karim and his brother Alya, who is managing the project in Guinea. One I used to have gifts made for all the children in my class, and one I am keeping for my home. I couldn´t believe that they were giving us gifts! Sarah Lee said, "Its not important." And the founder said, "It is to us. Its our way."

Sarah Lee was amazing in how she conducted the meeting and I am eternally grateful to her for her eloquence and generous spirit. We decided to use the money first to send 20 students to school for 2 full years, completely supplied for each year with uniforms, shoes, and a backpack full of supplies.

Then we told the school that they would be receiving $1500 and converted the sum to Guinea Francs. When they heard that number, the looks on their faces were priceless. They all split into huge smiles and got up and started shaking our hands and saying "merci beaucoup, merci beaucoup." And then, immediately, they all knew what they wanted to do with the money. They will add a second story and more classrooms so that their school can offer a complete education. They said they want the children who are there now to be able to continue their educations and complete them. I don´t fully understand the education system there but this would add college level classes to the program and room for 100 more students.

Finally, the money will also be used to employ Alya , Karim's brother, to manage the project, handle the funds, and oversee the children´s attendance at school. Not a small job. I am overjoyed that we can pay him for this. He so deserves it."

Thank you all so much for helping to make this all possible. These people were so thrilled by this unexpected gift to them and their community. You are all a part of having created this. Please know that your contributions are being well received and fruitfull and let's do it again next year!

Please keep checking this blog page as I hope to have more info and photos posted.

Thank you again,
Wonawali,
Marissa Baratian

Drummers at Fundraiser Show

2007-11-25T22:01:00.000-08:00

Guinea Fundraiser Show Photo

2007-11-25T21:52:00.000-08:00

Guinea Fundraiser Show

2007-11-23T14:12:00.000-08:00

What a great time we all had at the Guinea Fundraiser show! It was a rich community event that brought people together in a special way: to celebrate our own children's education and to support the education of children in Conakry, Guinea.

The children of New Discovery School did a fabulous performance of African-style dance. Then the audience was treated to music and dance from Karim Koumbassa of Guinea and friends. We raised over $3400 that afternoon! And now the total is over $4500! That can send 45 children to school for a year in Conakry.

I am getting very close to my departure for my trip to Guinea where I will be studying dance and delivering the funds that we have raised. From our community to theirs. We are supporting a global community! Stay tuned...more details, stories, and photos to come in January.

Thank you,
Marissa