SAFUGE EAC

How can I summarize what we have done for SAFUGE in two years, and more important, what SAFUGE has taught me in this time?

If I have to choose a few words to describe it they would be team work, commitment, hard work and vision.

SAFUGE (Save the Future Generations) is a group of students that fundraises for school projects around the world. The projects are student-lead during the summer holidays and benefit their communities. Students have lead projects in Peru, Nepal and Madagascar and have current projects in Sierra Leone and Morocco.

SAFUGE was founded by Joseph Kaifala, a student from Sierra Leone that had survived the terrible Diamond War in his country in the late 90’s to alleviate in some way the plight of a ravaged nation that was trying to rebuild itself through helping its children.

For the realization of these projects we have performed all types of tasks and jobs, in situations that I would have never expected. Here are some examples among many others: 

·         Catering service learning how to waitress for big groups;

·         Barn cleaning for Jakob Sande, understanding how teamwork can make an old hut into a prospect cafe;

·         Various cafes for school shows or events in the area, learning how to bake, serve, asses the demands of the clients for future cafes, decide prices, do the shopping with a limited budget, how to cooperate with a team in a very small place....

·         House painting in Dale, unexpectedly finding out that I am able to paint ceilings, living rooms, kitchens.... but especially realizing the importance of being able to keep and spread a good mood among the team while doing a tedious task;

·         Farm work in Flekke, tearing down a house, learning that in many situations brain is better than brawn!

Joining SAFUGE since I arrived to this school has been a great decision, even though it has meant many hours of work (sometimes hard back-breaking job!).

If there is a moment that I will always remember is how, when this year we came back from the summer break, our classmates from Sierra Leona who worked in the project during the summer, brought pictures of the changes in the school where we are helping, but also a short video of the children from this school singing and sending us kisses as a way to thank us for the help. In that moment we were all touched, and realized that each and every small bit of work that we do, can mean a lot for others.

The small jobs and tasks that a group of students have performed had a very positive impact. Maybe we can´t change the world, but we have helped fellow students all around the world to enjoy better conditions in a safe place where to learn.

SAFUGE proved once more my theory regarding cooperation and help:

“Even if your effort represents just a drop in the middle of the ocean, without that drop the ocean would be smaller”.