I wish Gambian schools opened in January.  Because this is the time of year when we get in trouble.

Every September, we scramble to make sure that the students we promised to support have what they need to go back to school.  August is not the best time to be raising funds, but if there are not too many humanitarian or natural disasters, we usually find enough funds to do so, partly by paying only the first term's tuition and fees for schools.  Then it gets challenging. 

This year, for example, between our monthly donors and those who renew annually, we have received 80% of what we need to keep our promises for the new school year.  Some donors also increased their donations, and other new donors have joined us.  So if the other 20% also renew by year's end, we will be able to accept some new students too. 

But the students on our waiting list either are not in school now or will soon be asked to leave for non-payment of fees.  Most of those not in school have on our waiting list and out of school for at least one year (we didn't have funds to support them last year). 

So... do we wait until January and see how our renewals go, and then send them back to school?  Or do we bet that most of our donors will renew and send these kids back to school right away?  

You will not be surprised that we have started to send some of them back to school. 

We believe in our supporters.  We believe in those who hold Giving Tuesday and birthday and wedding fundraisers on FaceBook.  We believe that when we tell these kids' stories, those who haven't donated lately will want to do so now. 

So let me introduce you to a few of the more than 30 young Gambians who went back to school in October with our support:

Aja is 18. Her father died when she was 10, and her mother sent her to live with a guardian, who is herself a widow and struggling to survive. Lack of funds has meant that Aja has now been out of school for more than one year. But with our support, she's now in 9th grade and excited about it:

The reason we started GambiaRising was because we had all known too many kids like this, ... or adults whose lives had been stunted by lack of the education.  We were determined to give them a chance. 

And so when we err, it is on the side of giving chances for a better life.  

To our monthly donors and those who have already renewed their support, thank you so much.  You have made this possible.

And to everyone else, whether on Giving Tuesday, at year's end, or right now, please do what you can to be sure that all our students, and more like these, have the chance that every child deserves: the chance to get an education.

Thank you for being part of GambiaRising.

Mike McConnell
Managing Trustee, GambiaRising
www.gambiarising.org
www.facebook.com/gambiarising

1500 Park Ave., Apt PH503
Emeryville, CA  94608-3578