T, a sixteen year old Roma boy from Slovakia, spent most of
his life in a state-run orphanage. Despite
his pleas and the recommendations from counselors and teachers, T was returned
to the custody of his parents. Though he
had to leave the relative comfort of the orphanage to live in the one-room,
dirt-floor shanty with his family, T continues to stand out among the other
Roma in his village. He tries to dress,
speak, and act differently than his peers.
T’s quiet presence and ability to connect with others makes him a
favorite with the members of the short-term ministry teams who have come and
served in his village.
T shared that he wanted to go to vocational school because
he liked to study and wanted to get a job. The realization that he would not be
able to do so because of lack of funding threatened to steal the hope from his
simple plans. That is when I knew that
forming a coalition of support to ensure T’s future opportunities was required. I went to his school so his teacher and
principal knew that the promise of help was real. They are going to do their part. “But his parents must support this as well,”
they said. So I visited his parents at
their home.
“T’s teacher will do her part. I will do my part. There is an organization who will handle the
finances for him. T will have to try and
be responsible to study. And I am here
to ask you to do your part and allow him to go to school.” So many parts. So many pieces depending upon the other in
order for this plan to work. So many
people forming a coalition to lay claim to T’s hope for a brighter future
through education. Together, we will try.
Prayer Requests and Thanksgiving:
- Pray for T as he completes his studies this spring and transfers to vocational school in the fall.
- Give thanks for the many participants in this coalition who are forming together a solid team of support – teachers, parents, friends, and donors - for T’s education.
Shane & Dianne McNary, Slovakia and Czech Republic
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