New ideas

After discussing the issues with the communities where we support schools, it became evident that one of the difficulties that nomads face is that if the pasture around the school is not sufficient for them to remain with their herds they have to go farther from the area ant the children have to walk as mjuch as 20k per day to get to school. Although the love school they arrive tired. We decided to start a food for work program to give food in return for their work to create earth dams to retain water in the region and lengthen the life of the pasture. This work will help them get through the hard dry season ahead and the dams will be ready to receive the rains in July. This photo is an example of dams created last year near Ingall. The trees growing in the dams were not planted, but sprouted naturally on the previously barren plain because of the increased water retained the soil by the earth dams. (I know the trees are hard to se , but they are there!)

The parents in the communities who have their own goats also agreed they will contribute a goat to help support the school. Our goal is the help the schools become self sufficient in five years.