Obama Breaks Promise To the Senator Obama Kogelo Secondary School in Kenya - New England Patriots Forums

***IcyPatriot*** · 07-31-2008, 07:31 PM

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...age/article.do

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At that historic homecoming in August 2006 Obama was greeted as a hero with thousands lining the dirt streets of Kogelo. He visited the Senator Obama Kogelo Secondary School built on land donated by his paternal grandfather. After addressing the pupils, a third of whom are orphans, and dancing with them as they sang songs in his honour, he was shown a school with four dilapidated classrooms that lacked even basic resources such as water, sanitation and electricity. He told the assembled press, local politicians (who included current Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga), and students: "Hopefully I can provide some assistance in the future to this school and all that it can be." He then turned to the school's principal, Yuanita Obiero, and assured her and her teachers: "I know you are working very hard and struggling to bring up this school, but I have said I will assist the school and I will do so."

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Now, with only John McCain standing in the way of him making history as America's first black President, and amid the fanfare over his current world tour, nowhere is this possibility more eagerly awaited than in Kogelo, the place where his father and grandfather are buried. Yet there is disappointment and hurt here, too. Granting us access to the school and its records, Principal Obiero, 48, tells us: "Senator Obama has not honoured the promises he gave me when we met in 2006 and in his earlier letter to the school. He has not given us even one shilling. But we still have hope."

The letter Obiero refers to - dated 22 June 2005, signed by Obama and addressed to her - was written after his election to the US Senate in 2004 and hangs, framed, on the wall of her spartan office alongside photographs of Obama's visit to their school. It says: "I am honoured that you have decided to rename the Kogelo School in my name. The land that the school is built on was donated by my grandparents and I am proud to carry on the tradition of supporting the school."

Juliette Ochieng an American of Kenyan descent has taken up the cause:
http://www.luoamerican.com/baldilock...s-the-dea.html

***IcyPatriot*** · 07-31-2008, 07:37 PM

http://www.luoamerican.com/baldilocks/2008/07/post.html

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What the Obama School needs:

• Water
• Sanitation
• Electricity
• Remodeling
• Security
• Maintenance

to bring water to the school by sinking a borehole and building a water tank, erect a perimeter fence, complete the science laboratory and add much needed new classrooms, additional latrines, and a school dining hall

For the things that are in constant demand--e.g. school supplies, wages for security guards, spare parts--I'd say that a two year funding is enough.
The school's principal suggested a minimum of 8.2 million Kenyan shillings which is equal to roughly $129,220 at today’s rate. That shouldn't be too tough.
So here's what we have:
• Domain name: obamaschool.org
• Email address: obamaschool@gmail.com

PatriotsReign · 07-31-2008, 07:42 PM

What is the purpose of this thread? Just an FYI/public service?

***IcyPatriot*** · 07-31-2008, 07:45 PM

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Originally Posted by PatriotsReign

What is the purpose of this thread? Just an FYI/public service?

Something like that ... or otherwise known as "all show and no go" and "symbolism over substance". Would you like to donate? She only needs 26,000 people to donate $5 or 13,000 to donate $10.

***BelichickFan*** · 07-31-2008, 07:47 PM

Ah, so that's how The Prince is going to improve education. By improving schools in *****ing Kenya.