Thank you for your prayers for the inuaguration of the Wakkil Alla School on Sunday. The day was a huge success!

The whole day went really well. The highlight of course was the children, who sang and danced to the delight of all present:




There were local dignitaries, including the Prefet, Mayor's representative, Steve Parry (president of APT!), national leaders of the Assemblies of God, directors of DWF (who built the teachers housing) and Entreprise Teega Wende (who built the classrooms), local traditional leaders, and parents of the children. Also, Christian television and other media were present:


Various people gave speeches, all - Muslims and Christians - giving thanks to God for the school, and expressing appreciation for the partnership of the church in Burkina, Glenwood Church in Wales, APT, and others. Steve Parry summed it up nicely with a Fulani proverb, showing the need to work together, that says: "one finger cannot milk a cow!" ("Honndu wooturu waawa birude nagge.")

Steve Parry and Keith Smith presented headmaster Nicodeme Miningou with a plaque for the school on behalf of Glenwood Church:


A ribbon was symbolically cut by the Prefet, the representative of the AoG, and by Steve Parry, and the buildings were visited by everyone. In the photo of the ribbon cutting are (left to right): President of the Parent-Teachers Association, Prefet of Gorom-Gorom, Representative of the Mayor of Gorom-Gorom, Steve Parry (president APT), Pastor Jean-Baptiste Roamba (AoG),


At the visit of the teachers' housing (below), built in Woodless Construction technology, someone - impressed by the beauty and impact of the buildings, but perhaps unsure of the durability - asked how long such buildings can be expected to last. The DWF representative replied that they have seen examples in Egypt that have lasted 3.500
years!


Of course, the day was all about the children, not the buildings. Our hope is that the school will provide a place where children of any race, sex or religion, but especially those from vulnerable or poor families, may be able to get not just a quality academic education, but also to grow and develop in every way in a secure and loving Christian environment. 


We have ongoing plans to continue building more classrooms and housing and other subsidiary buildings (kitchen, outside meeting place etc). If you would like to support this work, please click on the picture below. Thank you.