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Meet Mayecor

I have written before about sponsoring a child through World Vision--Mayecor. He lives in Senegal and is in his third year in school. I'm not sure how that correlates with American school grades.

Once a year of so, World Vision sends a brief progress report so you can see how your child is growing and how your contribution is being spent. This report says that Mayecor has been given a mosquito net, that his health is satisfactory, he still plays football, and he helps his family by working in the fields. I'm not sure what he does in the fields--if he tends cattle or if he tends crops. And if it's crops he is tending, what do they grow. I haven't written him an a while, so these are the questions I will ask when I next write.

There are some translation issues that complicate letter writing. My letters are translated to him, I believe in French, and vice versa. Under the category of what my contribution has done for the community, it reads "building of the village's union seat." I have no idea what that might be.

Also, I'm not sure what this little drawing depicts, but I'll keep it as a treasure. One way, it looks like a hut with a boardwalk. The other way, it looks like a colorful class with a straw. Hmmm.

Comments

dive said…
It's good to see Mayecor again, Robyn.
And good to hear he's still playing football; we have a lot of Senegalese players in the European leagues and it must be a good aspiration for a boy to have.
Senegal grows lots of good stuff: sugar cane, millet, sorghum, but it is the world's largest producer of peanuts (even more than Jimmy Carter), so he could well be tending those.

And that's a cool picture of a house.
9:00 AM
Gina said…
I'm going to say a hut.

What a lovely child!
11:32 AM
Neponset River Bridge Dig said…
Good ole Mayecor, glad to see this kid again. I'm embarrased to say that I don't know much about Senegal.

Hey dive, do they grow anything good that you can smoke?
7:41 PM
Anonymous said…
Good for you for sponsoring a child. I'd love to but find myself far to cynical. I'd be a little psised off that my money was being spent on whatever a union seat was, i'd rather see the money go to the child so that he isn't out tending fields but actually having the time to be a child.
9:22 PM
Scout said…
Dive, we'll see what his family grows and if the words are translated into something I can understand.

Gina, he's beautiful, isn't he?

Rich, you just assume Dive would know if there is something smokable there. Hmmm.

Kate, good point, and normally I would be cynical, too, but I know that World Vision has a good reputation and doesn't spend a ton of money on administration. And I think my measily dollars went straight to the boy and his family. There are other projects you can donate to that benefit entire communities. You can buy a goat for a family or, if you're really a big spender, you can buy a house. I kind of get the impression working with the family is a source of pride, and he does still go to school.
9:28 PM
Maria said…
Every time I see those sponsor-a-child things, I think about the movie About Schmidt.

And, that is a hut, I think. Most children his age draw homes or animals. But, what the hell do I know about Senegal?
9:52 PM
Nick said…
Good for you sister.
2:02 PM
Spinning Girl said…
I discovered you quite by accident, and I love your blog. I love this story, and it somewhat breaks my heart.
9:32 AM
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