The Kapoma community named the new school block the “Bob and Sherley Block” in big red letters! (We didn’t care that Sherley is not the way we spell her name.) We felt honored! The new school is such a contrast to the old three-room structure, where the older children attend classes. 60-70 young children squeeze into the desks in one room and about 40 children in the other. Despite the close quarters, they listen quietly to their teachers. We have many photos showing both younger and older children. You can see the bookshelves at the back of each classroom, holding all the materials used each day—not many for so many children!

During our visit in October 2014, we brought 400 notebooks and pencils (one for each child), a box of Obama pens (purchased locally!), along with about 70 soccer uniforms and 15 balls, with pumps and other accessories. (Soccer equipment was courtesy of Sports Gifts, a separate nonprofit organization.) This year Bob and Shirley were accompanied by their son Mark, his wife, Jolie, and 14-year-old daughter, Sarah. Mark’s family sponsors Bornface (who had club feet when we first met him) so that he can attend middle school, a boarding school several hours distant from his home by bicycle.

Teaching materials consist of one blackboard in each room from which children copy assignments. Teachers requested textbooks so that children may share with only one or two other persons. Unfortunately, there is no longer clean drinking water at the school. We promised to underwrite a new well.