HARNET COMMUNITY SCHOOL PROJECT UPDATES

• Ground Breaking
• Mid-Construction
• Ribbon Cutting
• 6 Months Later

breaking ground in Harnet

construction brings a wave of hope

Before the first shovel hit the ground in Harnet, imagine1day was busy ensuring that your investment would result in positive, lasting change. Our first step was to train a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) in school leadership and management while the PTA's first task was to pave the way for future infrastructure and development. And that they did…literally.

In just a few short months the PTA members spoke to their community about the possibility of prosperity and then mobilized a group of people to build an eight kilometre road to the school site. Working in partnership with imagine1day, the local government participated by providing technical and engineering assistance to ensure the safety and durability of the road.

Beyond allowing imagine1day's construction vehicles to transport tools and building materials to the school plot, this basic improvement in infrastructure has opened Harnet's access to neighbouring villages, local markets and to the main highway in the Hintalo Wejirat district. Harnet is on the map and is well on its way to achieving its vision of education, health and sustainability.

meet Harnet's grade one class

The first day of school is always memorable, particularly for these newcomers to education. When imagine1day visited Harnet's open air "dass" school, the 21 students in the afternoon shift were in their first month of classes. They were teetering on stones for seats and struggling to see a small blackboard through the bright Tigrigna sun. Still, their faces were bright and the anticipation of a new school could be seen in their smiles. We'd like you to meet the class and follow them through to the opening of the school that is both yours and theirs.

because imagine1day knows you're counting on us…

profile of a family embracing change

Asqual Halefom, Mother, age unknown, illiterate
Gria Seged, Father, age unknown, illiterate
Gerense, Son, 14 years old, grade one
Meselu, Daughter, 12 years old, grade three
Tahalo, Son, 9 years old, grade three
Berhanu, Son, 8 years old, grade two
Tsehay, Son, 3 years old

apparent benefits

Gria and Asqual are fourth generation residents of Harnet. Their five children will be the first in their family to receive an education and become literate. They told imagine1day "we know we have been given an opportunity and we will not see our children struggle as we have."

Despite their commitment to education and their obvious love of their children, Asqual and Gria have in the past found it difficult to send all of their children to school. In Harnet, as in all of Ethiopia, a child's participation in household chores and in the care and maintenance of farmland and livestock is critical to survival. Time invested in school can mean family livelihoods suffer. A long walk to class replaces a long walk to collect necessary water.

Today, Gria and Asqual are enthusiastically watching the construction of the new school, latrine and water well knowing that change is coming soon. Bringing a school to a community means that children have short distances to travel. With the school day split between morning and afternoon classes they will send their children in shifts so they are never left without help. They also recognize the potential impact on their children's health and their personal growth. "We will be given environmental and agricultural training, we will be planting fruit trees and have access to tools and water and our children will be protected, this school is different."

As parents, Gria and Asqual know they will need to work harder with all of their children in school, but they also understand the benefits. "We know Harnet is a good place to live, the land is fertile and the rains are reliable, we don't want to leave this place, we just need opportunity for our children. You have brought us this. Thank you."

Grenese's graduation to grade one

Gerense is Asqual and Gria's eldest son. His help with the cattle and harvest is invaluable to his parents. Gerense is responsible for the family's seven sheep, one cow and one ox. He also takes great pride in "Hadera" the family donkey.

Unfortunately, Gerense's value to his family has also kept him from attending school. "I used to watch my brothers and sisters leaving for school and I always asked myself why can't I have the same fate, why not me?" Gerense's questions were answered by Daniel, Harnet's Principal. His visit to Gerense's home to talk to his parents about the importance of enrolling Gerense was successful. This year, with the momentum and energy of the new school construction, at fourteen years old, Gerense began Grade One. Together with his twelve year old sister and nine year old brother in Grade Three and his eight year old brother in Grade Two, the siblings set off to school together. Occasionally during the current harvest season, Gerense's parents requested Daniel's permission for Gerense to miss class. Daniel assured us that Gerense was so pleased to be attending school that he was determined not to let occasional absences put him behind.

Gerense's parents do report that they are working harder now without Gerense but they understand that an education will break the cycle of poverty that has made their lives so difficult. Their belief and hope is working in their favor. Recently they have become beneficiaries of a government 'Safety Net' program that allows them modest food assistance and they have traded their livestock for breeds that are conducive to a 'cut and carry' feeding routine that no longer necessitates labour for grazing.

As part of imagine1day's Parent Teacher Association trainings, we work with communities to overcome traditional stigma around older children like Gerense starting school. Today Gerense is excited that when the new school opens he will not be left behind. In fact he will have access to the best educational facilities and quality instruction that he and every child deserve.

awarding the bid

With the knowledge and experience that imagine1day gained during the successful implementation of our first two school projects, we put out a request for proposal for the Harnet school construction. We conducted a broad and open process that attracted bids from 11 local contractors.

The selection committee, comprised of members of the imagine1day team and guests invited from the regional education bureau, evaluated each bid on the basis of:

1. Price;
2. Technical Capacity - including experience of labour force, type of machinery and equipment to be used and the scope of previous projects implemented; and
3. Prior experience working in remote rural areas on similar school construction projects

We were delighted that Solomon Girmay, contractor of our first two projects again came through with both the most efficient and economical bid while remaining the most technically strong. His commitment and genuine care for the people in our communities is already coming to life in Harnet.

The site is buzzing with 36 day labourers, 30 masons, a barbender and a carpenter. Local stone, mined from just meters away from the school site, is being hand carved into perfect bricks and smaller gravel pieces. Your sand and cement has been delivered and a school is starting to take form.

Solomon has contributed countless value added items without cost to our projects and has formed strong and trusting relationships with each community. Rest assured that each door, window and roof beam you purchased is in the talented hands of a contractor that cares about education in Ethiopia.

imagine1day is proud of the meaningful and lasting relationships it has made with its partners in Ethiopia. It is these relationships that will continue to enable us to implement our programs with quality and efficiency.

---

Dear School Builders,

Together with imagine1day Board Members, Shannon Wilson and David Ferguson, I had the absolute privilege of participating in the Harnet ground breaking ceremony. We were treated to traditional singing, dancing and athletic performances by the school children and were generously fed a meal of local honey and homemade brew. It was an experience that touched our hearts.

When the community leaders stood to express their gratitude to us for the work we are carrying out we turned to each other and David expressed what we were all thinking. We are the lucky ones. We are learning and growing every day as a team and as individuals.

In our reports to you we strive to convey and connect you to the true impact of your contribution. We know you have a choice and we thank you for choosing to join the imagine1day community.

---

mid-construction report

the future is taking shape

a road for the future

Today your investment has come to life and your school, latrine and water well are near completion. The newly trained Parent-Teacher Association is ensuring every stone and roof beam is used to create the centre of a very deserving community. On four acres of land in the village of Harnet, masons, carpenters and bar benders are working diligently to build a school that will last for generations to come. The whole community is behind this project. Every day 11 local women make 30 trips to the river to bring water for construction. Local men are mixing cement by hand and children are clearing the future school grounds of rock and rubble.

With your support the Harnet community succeeded in building eight kilometers of road to the new school. The road has allowed materials to be brought into the community so new classrooms, a new sports field and access to clean water can be built. This road has resulted in the opportunity for fruit trees and micro-irrigated vegetation to be planted providing a new source of income for the school. You provided the materials; imagine1day is on the ground overseeing a bright future beginning to take form.

the homestretch

Construction in Ethiopia can be very challenging at the best of times. When building a school on a rural mountainside the construction team was faced with unique challenges. The hardworking construction team was pushed to adapt their construction processes to successfully build the school. After each hairpin turn off the new eight kilometer road was assessed and reworked the construction trucks started to roll in. But the construction team soon realized a rural mountain road is not ideal for a heavy truck full of sand and cement and the decision to switch to smaller more frequent trips happened right away.

Next came the challenge of where to house the team of 30 masons as a daily commute was unrealistic. Up stepped Salamawit Berhan. She is the head of one of two households that have become home to 15 masons. She provides the mason workers with breakfast and dinner daily and a crowded but comfortable place to sleep. Salamawit told imagine1day that she is happy to have her family of five a bit crowded in the adjacent shelter for a short time as she is earning valuable income from the contractor.

In the last two months Harnet construction has faced many more challenges including fuel shortages, food shortages and even a shortage of labour as the community takes time to celebrate holidays. Still, construction is on track and in just over a month the children of Harnet will be sitting in desks with a roof over their head for the first time. This is the homestretch. The dedicated construction team has adapted and we have overcome many challenges and completion of the Harnet Community School is on the horizon.

an interview with Daniel Amare, principal of Harnet Community School

The first time imagine1day met Daniel Amare he was leading a procession of singing children down a mountainside to meet us. Due to the lottery system teachers are entered into after graduation in Ethiopia, many of the keenest and progressive teachers are found in some of the most remote communities. This is definitely the case in Harnet. Two years ago when the community built a tree shade school and asked the local government for teaching staff, 26 year old Daniel Amare came to the rescue. In rural Ethiopia, a good teacher can make a world of difference. Hidden away from the rest of the world, a rural school can provide essential education and it can begin to mobilize an entire community. Daniel has exceeded the community's expectations. Trained in both law and teaching, he chose his passion to teach and work where he can make the most amount of difference. We recently had the opportunity to sit down with Daniel who was eager to communicate his passion for his work.

Why do you love teaching in Harnet?

I love teaching. Teaching, especially in Harnet helps me to develop my creativity; you have to be innovative and develop new styles every day. I am also constantly updating my own knowledge because I learn from everyone I teach as well. Mostly, I can see change that I have created and it motivates me more.

What are the main barriers you experience that prevent children from attending school and how do you go about convincing parents that education is important?

Generally, there is a lack of awareness about the benefits of education. But there is also a real need for child labour to help with herding and agricultural activities. I try to approach parents with respect for their survival needs. I don't ever want to jeopardize their livelihoods, but I can help them understand that education will help them to be better farmers and have better health. I also agree with them to be flexible with class scheduling and try to always make lessons relevant to home life. Once they understand they become very supportive. If they need to keep their children at home they will talk to me and we work out how children can compensate with time lost. Becoming a part of the community is important.

In such a rural area do you find there are still harmful traditional practices? If so, how do you combat them?

Of course, early marriage is one. Education is a big part of stopping this but it needs to come from more people than me. People think I just want to increase enrolment. Religious leaders are very respected in the community. Last year I spoke with them and they committed to sending all of their children to school as a positive example. As well, they have agreed not to condone marriages of children under 18. I feel that teaching is not just in the classroom. I feel I am obligated to the whole community to help eradicate harmful traditional practices.

Girls education in Ethiopia can present special challenges. Inside and outside of the classroom how do you encourage girls' attendance?

The new school will have a separate latrine for girls and this will help solve many problems with privacy and maturing girls. In school I work hard to prevent bullying and encourage girls to first report it so I can intervene with families. This usually helps. In classes girls tend to be shy. I have separate tutorials for girls sometimes so they can read aloud and answer in a group they are comfortable in and gain confidence. After practice they learn not to fear making mistakes and their scores improve.

You are the most educated person in Harnet, How do you think the community sees you and in what other ways are you involved?

I feel very welcome here, the community provides me with a home and I am always invited to be part of many family gatherings. I am proud that the community always remarks about how clean I am and I have made an effort to make hygienic practices part of what I contribute. I hold coffee ceremonies which are very important social gatherings and during this three hour ritual I give lectures about sanitation and prioritizing education. I also teach informal adult education classes, am active with the PTA and attend village meetings to give advice and share information.

What do you think Ethiopia and the World can do to improve primary education in schools like yours?

The biggest problem is quality. Teachers should be given more training and resources. Also improving the capacity of principals and the frequency of supervision and follow up so problems can be reported and solved. In rural schools, sometimes there is no communication with government. As well, all community problems like agriculture and water scarcity needs to be addressed, it is directly related to the success of education.

The work of imagine1day as interpreted by the Sparks of Canada.

new opportunities for a family embracing change

At Harnet groundbreaking imagine1day introduced you to the hard working Halefom family. You learned about Asqual and Gria, mother and father of five children, and read about their oldest son Gerense and his first year of school. Now we'd like to introduce you to their eldest daughter, Meselu. She is an intelligent, shy girl who is hesitant to have her photo taken but eager to tell imagine1day her goals.

Being the eldest daughter in a Tigrigna family comes with more than its share of responsibility. At just twelve years old Meselu knows this well. At seven each morning she rises to make her family breakfast and start her first of two, thirty minute trips to gather water. In the afternoons she helps her mother in the family grain fields before she begins her dinner duties. Though Meselu has very long days she is happy to tell imagine1day that she is a strong student, ranked third in her grade three class. "l like going to school very much and I will not get married until I am much older because I will be in school to be a doctor," boasts 12 year old Meselu.

For some children in rural Ethiopia, they would never have the opportunity to realize their goals of finishing school. Because of your generous contributions Meselu's dreams are going to be a reality. As a result of your investments Meselu will be attending the new Harnet Community School. The momentum of this new school has motivated the Harnet community and teachers to expand the school to a grade one to four school and have built a temporary grade three structure until the new classrooms are completed. In anticipation of the school opening the regional government has sent a new teacher and textbooks to this remote area. This will be the first time that the Harnet community has had the opportunity to gain an education beyond grade two.

For Meselu, the new school will open doors to her that were previously out of reach. For many girls reaching maturity like Meselu, attending a school without a latrine presents many cultural and health barriers. It is estimated that 10 per cent of girls in East Africa skip or eventually drop out of school when they start menstruating due to school distance from home, lack of sanitation, water and privacy. Harnet's new school, latrine and water well will eliminate all of these barriers allowing Meselu to continue her education with confidence. In addition to bolstering her sanitation and health, the new Harnet Community School water well and school water point will mean Meselu will no longer spend hours each day gathering water for her family. Suddenly being the eldest daughter has all sort of benefits, now Meselu's parents have vowed for her to be the first women in her family to complete a full education.

you are the catalyst for change

Your investment does not end with school construction. You are the catalyst that is opening up the whole community of Harnet to create opportunities and sustainability for generations. Because you committed to building a school, a road was built. The ball is rolling in Harnet. The opportunities are building faster than the school itself. Change is happening and it all started with you.

---

ribbon-cutting report

Harnet primary school is open for learning

the numbers are in

Harnet's student enrolment figures are in. As a result of the new school construction, enrolment increased from 121 to 210 students. The cement and plaster is just the beginning of a future of promise.

what the road gave the village

The eight kilometer road built from the main highway to the community of Harnet was intended for the transportation of school construction materials. It fulfilled its purpose incredibly well and is now a lasting legacy that will forever serve this village. Here are some of the benefits the community has already started to see:

The Road to Health

Ethiopia recently trained 30,000 Health Extension Workers (HEWs) who travel to rural communities to raise awareness about the health benefits associated with latrine use and hand washing, to distribute de-worming tablets, vitamin A supplements and vaccinations, and to deliver nutritional screening and information about HIV/AIDS prevention. Thanks to their new road, the first HEW has now visited Harnet. Operating out of the new school, a HEW was recently administering tetanus vaccinations for all females between 15 and 45 years of age. In rural areas like Harnet more than half of Ethiopia's 120,000 annual neo-natal deaths are caused by infections like tetanus.

The Road to Water

It is no surprise that water access is a key component to unlocking prosperity and sustainability for villagers living in the dry northern Ethiopian mountains. Each imagine1day school is designed with water access for clean drinking water, hand washing and micro-irrigation for agricultural income generating activities. imagine1day's next step in Harnet is to drill for water to fully realize sustainability and minimize child absence from school. In a few weeks drilling rigs will be rolling into Harnet to begin the drilling for ground water. The community is fully mobilized to participate in completing improvements and enhancements to their new road necessary to support the weight of the drilling machinery.

The Road to Sustainability

Another delivery that will be bouncing down Harnet's new road in the next couple months will be an imagine1day vehicle loaded with 2,000 fruit and shade tree seedlings for plantation in Harnet's new school field. Currently, Harnet's Parent Teacher Association is organizing the clearing of school land and the digging of tree wells. In preparation imagine1day will administer water management training and further irrigation training for the PTA. As well hand tools such as wheel barrels, shovels and buckets to facilitate the planting will be supplied to the school. When the rainy season begins in June the seedlings will be in the ground with every advantage for survival.

At imagine1day we're happy to report that quality education is now in full swing at Harnet, but we're also proud that your support has literally paved the way for diversified development and benefits for this deserving community. imagine1day believes in development that works hand in hand with local governments and coordinates efforts with other active organizations. Together we are making meaningful inroads for prosperity and sustainability in Ethiopia.

motivated by change - a teacher's perspective

Life has changed for Harnet's teachers since the completion of the new school. Berhe Belam, Harnet's Second Grade teacher told imagine1day that his own job satisfaction and morale has increased substantially. "Before I would stand all day and would not even check the students' work because there were no desks or tables. Now I spend many late afternoons marking work and creating detailed lesson plans. I make lists of questions and activities for students and I make charts for the walls so students can see their progress. Without walls, without a place to write I was not the same teacher." Berhe also remarked that he is finally able to implement methods that he learned in Teachers College. "I like students to work in teams, it is easier for me to teach them, and for them to interact, now that I have desks and a room we can do this." Berhe reported students are happy and comfortable and that they are able to focus and listen to him properly. "I am a better teacher now, and I have better students as a result."

the pta's action plan

The Parent Teacher Association, which forms the leadership of the school, has received its first round of training during which they developed the following action plan for the coming year:

---

We hope you are inspired by the changes you have caused in the community of Harnet. We will write again in six months to update you on the progress and impact of your investment in this amazing community. Thank you for your generosity and commitment.

---

harnet inspires lasting change

a special day at school

The walls and roof are firmly in place, impermeable to the sun, wind and animals that used to bother you when you were looking over your classmate's head to see the blackboard. The desks are a dream to sit at compared to those rickety rough stones. The teachers look much taller standing up straight to teach, and happier sitting down comfortably in their own desks to make meaningful lesson plans and to mark your assignments. You love coming here every day, and your grades continue to climb because someone far away believed in your right to education. At recess, the clean latrines are the place to be, just before you hit the sports field. You're happy to trade in that dirty old rag ball covered in cactus quills for a real soccer ball. Like other students around the world, break time is play time.

And today, those people from that little organization with the funny name that built your school are back and asking, "Who wants to be a School Club Leader?"

"What on earth is a School Club?" you wonder. Despite a nervous little feeling in your tummy, uncontrollably, your hand shoots way way up...

With the education building blocks firmly in place, imagine1day is now focusing on enriching school days at Harnet with five extracurricular school clubs, including: Environmental Protection & Sanitation, Language & Literature, Sport & Art, HIV & Gender, and Civic & Ethical Education clubs. Just one year ago, the Harnet students had never heard of a school club, much less been given the opportunity to lead one. But that didn't stop five grade four students who accepted their elected post as the club leaders.

imagine1day's Community Development Officer and aspiring motivational speaker, Lulseged Beyene, eased these five curious students into their roles with a leadership orientation. He was impressed to see that the students quickly knew which club would be the most rewarding choice for them. We asked these go-getters what makes them a good leader and what they will do to be the best leader possible for their club and for their school. Here are their answers to those two questions:

harnet gets creative

We're trying something new at imagine1day schools, something almost unheard of in rural Ethiopian villages... we're making art. Harnet students were among the first to pick up coloured pens and put their imaginations down on paper in a formal art lesson.

Art teacher trainer Desta Tadesse brought along with him a bundle of colourful drawings, collages and sculptures to spark the students' creativity and to show them that the world we see is made up intersecting lines and textures. His name means "happiness" in the Tigrigna language and his warm, gentle demeanour instantly gained him the trust of Harnet's shy grade one class.

"My name is Desta, and I like to make pictures. I know you like pictures too, so I will trade you one of mine for one of yours, if you wouldn't mind drawing something for me."

At these words, big smiles stretched across little faces while eager little hands began to draw and colour: a magic show of pure expression.

In early 2010, Desta will visit Harnet again to train the teachers in incorporating creative components into their daily lessons, setting up creative activities and identifying and encouraging artistically talented students.

Creativity is ever vital in the current rural Ethiopian context, where, exacerbated with climate change, drought is becoming the norm rather than the exception. Harnet has been hit particularly hard this year, resulting in significant absences as children are kept at home to work while parents struggle to find outside work to make ends meet. Seeing the world in new ways means seeing new ways of solving the world's problems and becoming self-sufficient. Talking to students about possibilities is important, but equipping them with the tools to create their own possibilities is the key to their prosperity in an uncertain future. According to scholar Sir Ken Robinson, internationally recognized leader in the development of creativity, innovation and human resources, our task is to "educate our children's whole being, so that they can face this uncertain future. We may not see this future, but they will, and our job is to help them make something of it."

meet harnet's new school director

Last year, Girmay Gebremichael was a teacher at "Melbe," a school imagine1day has supported with many quality components. This year he was promoted to principal of Harnet. imagine1day sat down with Principal Girmay to see how he was handling his important new role.

i1d: How does working in the Harnet community compare with working in Melbe?

Principal Girmay: The drought situation here presents some challenges I didn't have before. Melbe is more fertile and there is no issue of absenteeism. In a sense, Melbe has the luxury to follow through on education awareness; whereas Harnet is struggling to prioritize education over survival.

i1d: What barriers are Harnet students currently facing?

Principal Girmay: It is harvest season. Although the harvest is small this year (really not enough for sustenance) parents still keep their children from school to help out in the field or to keep animals while they bring goods to sell at the market on market days. They see it is a temporary measure. In a couple of weeks the harvest will be over and they'll let their kids come back to learning. They straddle the line of two worlds. They love their children, they want to educate their children, but need their labour as well. It is a lot of pressure on a seven year old.

i1d: Are you taking any steps to mitigate this situation?

Principal Girmay: In the three months I have been here, I have built a good relationship with the local government and the PTA. We are working together to strengthen awareness in the community at weekly church services, holidays, other social gatherings, and door-to-door.

i1d: How do you ease the pressure on these young students who must juggle school and farm work?

Principal Girmay: Normally I would create an after-hours tutorial for struggling students. But since they have to rush home after school to help their parents, our teachers are very sensitive to their situation and catch absent students up in class the next day. I'm proud to have such a dedicated team of educators.

i1d: What is your vision for Harnet?

Principal Girmay: I wish for the school to be developed up to grade eight, and to see the whole community achieve at least a grade eight education. I also wish for the society to be able to read and write, for the people to express themselves in writing and to be creative in solving their problems. I'm up for the challenge of making these dreams a reality through my growing relationship with them and by educating their children.

behind every great principal

Local government (kushet) leader Gebresellassie Hailu and PTA member Weizero Tebebu are two keystones that support Principal Girmay in raising education awareness at Harnet. Together with the PTA, Ato Hailu works to mobilize the community to see "increased commitment to let our children focus on learning rather than on labour, and to contribute their own labour to support the school."

Ato Hailu and the PTA's efforts to enrol the community's labour are already paying off. As per the action plan they developed following the PTA training you supported, following are items they have proudly checked off their to-do list:

PTA member Weizero Tebebu's hope for Harnet's young generation is to "see them better off than their parents, it is up to us to make that happen." For her, ensuring this vision for her daughter in grade four and her grandson in grade two is more than just words. "After imagine1day built the latrine at the school, I decided to be the first to dig a latrine in my home," she explains, "today 85% of the 105 households in the village have a latrine, and counting. One year ago, there were none."

Weizero Tebebu and school staff have been encouraging other parents to dig latrines: "Since the road was built for school construction, government Health Extension Workers have been visiting us and urging this practice in all households," she reports. "We are facing challenges with the drought, but there has been a real change in attitude towards education and sanitation; awareness has increased and commitment is still high despite the hardships."

The next step in Weizero Tebebu's development mission is to oversee the new drip-irrigation project at the school. The PTA and community members tilled 500m² of school land after recent experience-sharing events held by imagine1day at Abada and Girabered, two schools which enjoyed great success growing onions using this lucrative income-generating activity. Crop assessment committees have so far overlooked remote Harnet, but Weizero Tebebu will not wait for them to solve their drought issue.

While students focus on learning, Tebebu and the PTA, along with school staff will set yet another example for the community by filling the micro irrigation tanks from a water source downhill from the school. She expects the same kind of success as at Abada and Girabered and looks forward to the practice catching on amongst Harnet's farmers. With such a powerhouse PTA member as Tebebu, dedicated school staff and an active kushet leader at the helm, imagine1day is confident that Harnet can weather any storm, and flourish.

(As a side note, our regional government partners were so impressed with the results of imagine1day's micro irrigation projects that they are mobilizing all 70 schools in the woreda to generate income this way, and are moving towards having 7,000m² of the region's farmland be irrigation-fed.)

Like many villages in rural Tigray, the prevailing drought has been tough on food security in Harnet. The difference at Harnet is that the community is taking steps to decrease its dependency on the unreliable rains. These steps began in the school you invested in. Thank you for inspiring the possibility of lasting change for the children of Harnet and their families.

---