Utter Disappointment

I asked Emil how the library was, and asked what time school let out in the afternoon. I explained I wanted to see Kosi, and ask him how he likes Senior School. Kosi was one of the two children that were sent to Senior School because of the Guinness for Ghana fundraiser. Emil said the library is fine and couldn’t wait to show me the improvements they were able to make.

What he said next made my heart sink. He explained the two children did not go to Senior School because other parents in the village were envious and wanted to know why their children weren’t chosen to go to Senior School. To not disappoint anyone, ANYO decided not to send either child to Senior School and instead put the money into the improvements on the library. I was utterly disappointed and angry and saddened by this news. I kept thinking about it the whole ride to the village. The taxi swerved around pot holes and we found ourselves on the dirt road that led toward Saviefe. I wasn’t excited anymore. I couldn’t stop thinking about Kosi and how he so much wanted to go to school. I couldn’t stop thinking about how inappropriate ANYO’s decision was. If you receive financial support from any outside organization (me) for a given purpose, you must follow through on the promise of what the money will be used for. The last I heard, Tony said he would send me updates of the kids’ grades and how they were doing in school. They should have told me. They should have let me know what was going on. I was so angry, and I felt helpless. I really thought I had made just a small difference, and it turns out it was all for nothing… just a library. A library is great, but it won’t help anyone climb out of poverty if they can’t afford to go to school. I wanted to cry I was so upset.