Issue #12 January 2025

The trip was full of new and exciting experiences! We started with an NPR journalist interviewing a few of the graduating students and their parents. We toured several vocational schools, and celebrated with our first graduation ceremony. During the days, we visited students' homes, had Emarson played in a local football match, and Vicki taught pop-up ballet classes! Marianne and Vicki particularly enjoyed distributing new tablets to the graduates during their family conferences about their next steps! It was a beautiful way to see the impact your donations and support is having on a small village filled with gratitude and appreciation.

Eighteen of the 22 students RBG is supporting (pictured here) greeted us on our first day back in Kiryabicooli. They shared their excitement about the year and their next steps in their education. Several students had participated in "Conversations Across the World", a zoom program coordinated by Emarson Dearborn. They were so excited to meet him in person and spend time with him.

Stories from the trip:

Joab's family is one of a few farmers who is growing cocoa and vanilla. It is a long process, but is paying off for his family.

Emarson, a student at University of Washington, brought so much to the trip this year.

Please enjoy the video of our nine graduating students. Six are heading to nursing school, one to study civil engineering, and two continuing secondary school in preparation for university in 2 years.