"I like the school lunch."
Ibrahim lives in the small fishing village of Makaimba on the coast of Sierra Leone. He is 12 years old - an age at which many children in his region have never seen the inside of a school. But since ora Kinderhilfe built a school in Makaimba, life in the village has changed noticeably.
For the first time, all children in the village can learn regularly. Four dedicated teachers teach the classes and every child now has school materials that make learning possible in the first place. At the same time, the meals at school not only fill stomachs, but also create new prospects: Several women from the village earn their own income by preparing the food - an important step towards greater stability and independence for their families.
Ibrahim tells us:
"I I go to the school every morning, which looks very nice and is now finished. ora Kinderhilfe gives me school books, pens, exercise books and shoes. They bought these for all the children here. My shoes are blue, I really like them. But the best thing is that we can eat at school every day. At lunchtime, we all line up and get lunch. Since then, I've never been as hungry as I used to be.
My mom usually doesn't have enough money to buy enough food for my brother and me. We only ever eat dinner at home, usually rice and beans. I can only eat twice a day because I go to school. I like the food, it tastes good and fills me up."
However, despite the great progress made, the people of Makaimba still face enormous challenges. There is a lack of clean drinking water, toilets and sufficient living space. Fifteen to twenty people often share a small hut. The hygienic conditions are difficult - ideal conditions for infections. Diseases such as malaria and cholera continue to spread and threaten the lives of people, especially children.
The fact that Ibrahim can now go to school healthy, strong and full of hope is possible because he has found a godmother. His sponsorship gives him protection, food and the chance of a better future.
Many more children in Makaimba and throughout Sierra Leone are still waiting for this opportunity.
Sponsor a child now - and make a lasting difference to a child's life!