A Letter from Monique Schmidt, Program Director:
At Akilah, we have established a rigorous academic program. However, during our first three months we have discovered that besides intensive instruction, our students have other needs: encouragement instead of silence, smiles to replace the stoism, warmth to fill the void. We also, in order to foster trust, have recognized the necessity of a commitment to openness. As Giselle, one of our students says, “there is no gap between students and teachers.”
But this week, a silence pervades. No one gave an official mandate, but everyone understands: when teaching a population of orphans, don’t design exercises about Mothers’ Day. However, when in the classrooms, we can’t help but think….
My mother read me bedtime stories.
They murdered Isimbi’s mother before Isimbi got past picture books.
Mary’s mother took her to San Antonio for a Mother/Daughter weekend.
Munyana’s mom was killed and then Munyana had to flee to the Congo.
Jon’s mother made him pancakes in the shape of his name.
Shyaka is now the one in charge of making porridge for her younger sister because the militia also killed her mom in 1994.
At Akilah, we can’t replace the mothers of our students. But we can love them, and guide them, and give them skills to be independent and successful in life. And we do this on a daily basis. We challenge our young women intellectually while nurturing them from our hearts, just as a mother would.
However, our ability to create and sustain a world where the essence of “mother” remains present relies on your generosity. Make a gift of $50 or more in honor of a woman in your life. Akilah will send her a special Mother’s Day card.
We, the new “mothers” of 50 young women, thank you.
-the Akilah team
