This year as well, H4L was able to help more than 130 students to stay in school and continue their education in the midst of rising economic and financial difficulties. Since the academic year 2007-08 H4L has been partially sponsoring students in various schools that provide an academic foundation along with an emphasis on ethical and moral principles. What combines these junior high school students who come from various social and religious backgrounds is their lack of financial resources. This forces them to drop out of school at an early age, to be left exposed in unsafe environments of poor neighborhoods, and to be prone to cruel and destructive influences.
H4L seeks to build a relationship with the sponsored students through school and home visits. In February 2009 H4L staff began visiting various schools and spending some time with the students in an attempt to get to know them. These energetic and lively students were eager to tell us about themselves, their interests and their dreams. We were encouraged at the sight of this new enthusiastic generation that is hungry for knowledge as they opened general children’s encyclopedias that we took with us as a gift. They were cheerfully sharing what they already know and asking about the things they saw that they didn’t know. It is our joy and vision to see lives changed and communities transformed especially through educating this new generation.