I. Description of Organization and Purpose.

Wings of the Dawn International Institute for Children is a Nonstock, nonprofit corporation, organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is currently headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia. It is organized for the purpose of assisting citizens of less-developed countries of the world provide for their children.

The initial focus of this organization is on the children of Mozambique. In this connection the short-term goal is to make textbooks and basic educational materials in the Portuguese language more available in Mozambique, in places where schools already exist and in places where schools could be established if these materials were available. The long-term goal is to aid the government and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) in establishing infrastructure in Mozambique for the basic education of its people.

The vast majority of Mozambicans are under the age of 20. Officially, all Mozambicans are required to attend school while between the ages of seven and sixteen. However, because of lack of facilities and teachers, there are tens of thousands of young Mozambican children who are turned away from existing schools. Because of extreme crowding, the period of instruction for most primary-aged children is limited to three hours daily. Classrooms with more than 50 pupils are the norm. Textbooks provided by the government for primary- aged children are of poor quality, often arriving at the school months after the beginning of the school year and often insufficient in number. Other types of books and educational materials, such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, globes, protractors and compasses are virtually nonexistent. Paper products and writing tools are in short supply.

If books and educational materials were more generally available the quality of education in existing schools would increase. Communities which have not yet opened schools since the end of the war may be encouraged thereby to do so, even without assistance from the general government. In fact, independent action by people acting for themselves in their particular towns and communities can be quite desirable and efficient. Some independent groups of this type, which have set up schools with little or no government assistance in the Maputo are already identified by Wings of the Dawn.

Obviously, it is not intended that Wings of the Dawn ever assume general responsibility for the education of all Mozambicans. However, we believe this organization can act to ameliorate this intolerable situation. With a minimal level of initial capitalization this organization shall soon be in a position to begin this endeavor.

II. History of organization.

A. Background: Mozambique is a nation still emerging from a Civil war which spanned decades. This war, one of the most destructive and bloodiest to be fought in the 20th century, resulted in the deaths of more than a million men, women and children and the dislocation of nearly a third of its surviving population. Because of the war, many of Mozambique's basic institutions, including its educational system, are severely impaired. The high debt incurred by the government in the war prevents it from giving education the priority that is needed. Yet, if the people of Mozambique are to become literate and capable of intelligent self-rule, their education must be given higher priority by all concerned.

The people of Mozambique are desperately poor and its government is hopelessly in debt. Taken together, these circumstances make it unlikely that this people will achieve a standard of living that is conducive to personal development without outside assistance. However, Mozambique is not in the headlines. Its problems are mostly unnoticed by the world at large. Since the end of the war, the world's focus has shifted elsewhere. Many of the NGOs (especially the relief organizations), once very active in Mozambique, have left or are reducing the level and scope of operations because of the perception that there are more pressing demands elsewhere. In addition, the field of educational development continues to be largely unassisted. A few schools have been constructed since the war, usually with NGO assistance. Nevertheless, many children attend no school at all. The majority of children attending school do so under conditions that can only be described as deplorable. Furthermore, as described in the journal that follows, there is a general dearth of books, reading materials and other educational materials throughout the country.

On December 31, 1996, Wings of the Dawn was formally incorporated in the Commonwealth of Virginia as a vehicle for addressing these problems. The initial country of focus was Angola, a country with a similar history and with similar problems. However, because of continued instability in that country, and the very real possibility that the Civil War may flare up, our focus shifted to Mozambique instead.⁽¹⁾

To learn first hand what the educational problems in Mozambique are, J. Peter Baumgarten personally toured Mozambique during April and May of 1996. During a period of nearly three weeks he visited 17 schools in three provinces and interviewed dozens of teachers, school officials and government officials.

Contacts were established among people who are eager to assist Wings of the Dawn in bringing books and educational materials to Mozambique.

Since returning to the United States, Mr. Baumgarten has been actively developing the organization of Wings of the Dawn and gathering materials for the first shipment to three schools in Maputo, Mozambique.

B. AFRICAN JOURNAL, an account Mr. Baumgarten's journey to Mozambique, extracted from his personal diary:

April 26, 1997: There is much to tell. Last night was proof that this is not a trip for the fainthearted (for the feeble-minded, perhaps yes, but not for the fainthearted). And I seem to be completely alone.

My room was not surprising: typical squalor, something you'd expect of a cheap hotel in the Third world. But there was one other problem. The pipes in the common bathroom sprang a leak shortly before my arrival. I told the manager about it. He shut off the water, but the bathroom was flooded. I wondered where the water could eventually go since he made no effort to have it cleaned up at that time. Well, in the middle of the night, some water (about a half inch in depth) found its way to my room. Miraculously, hardly any of my things got wet.

I managed to sleep somewhat last nite. But a large part of the night was spent listening to cars, one after another, speed past the hotel. I am sure some were doing 90 mph or more. There was also the music of the African nite. Outside was alive with music and chanting. The thought that some people might be trying to sleep didn't seem to bother them. It was revelry for most of the night. I felt safe enough in my locked bedroom. And to some extent I became fascinated as I listened. But I also found it disconcerting. If the adults spend their nights partying, what else are their children going to learn?

And the children, there are so many. It is hard to describe how overwhelming they are in number. That was all that I could think about as I saw them out on the street, after dark, as I drove from the airport to the hotel.

I am now waiting for a ride to a better hotel. If he doesn't get here soon, I'll be walking it. Earlier today I made a currency exchange, black market I suspect, or at least some secondary market which is barely tolerated. It was spooky. Three cops were standing right in front of the place, shouldering AK-47s. I wouldn't have dared to try it had it not been for a matronly Portuguese (white) Woman. She walked up to the counter and made an exchange as if she were buying butter and eggs. Also, I needed local currency desperately, so I took the plunge-expecting fully that my lack of experience was obvious to everyone. I am so naive, it would be no more difficult to defraud me in these circumstances than to steal candy from a baby. Anyway, for $50 I received 590,000 metricais. Immediately thereafter, I placed a local call to the US Embassy, and attempted to make a church contact. For the two minutes I was on the phone, I was charged 2,000 Metricais (M). If my math is correct, that works out to about 19 cents for the phone call. I may have been taken but I suspect not. Anyway, if I need more local currency, Sergio says he's open every day.

Across the street is "O Palacio de Casamentos" (Palace of Weddings). Today is Saturday and by custom this is the day to get hitched. And they come and keep coming, one wedding party after another. Quite colorful, a traffic jam out front, with buses and truck loads of singing and chanting people. One local told me that on one Saturday, as many as 25 couples are joined in marriage at this place. The site is a whitewashed orthodox church. But during the revolution, the government confiscated it and turned it into a civil marriage establishment.

*****

April 27, 1997: Things have definitely improved over yesterday. The difference between $20 per night and $35, at least here in Maputo, is the difference between third world squalor and relative luxury. Here at the Pensao Martin everything is well maintained, painted pink and off-white, no significant plumbing problems, a swimming pool (which I haven't used yet) and even a hot shower. The place I stayed the first night was something else again. Even as I was leaving, they still hadn't solved their plumbing problem. The ceiling above the reception desk was leaking like a sieve.

It may have been a mistake for me to arrive on a weekend - with so much down time. But perhaps it is just as well that I did. Today is Sunday and I am well rested now. When I arrived, I was worried that I might be coming down with bronchitis. But most of the symptoms have disappeared and I am feeling much better now. My day yesterday was spent resting and in learning about how to get by on the local economy. I made a second currency exchange, bought lunch in a local restaurant, and made a few purchases in a nearby grocery store. I also did quite a bit of walking about town and last evening saw the Indian Ocean for the first time. There were many beggars. There were also a number of amputees, though not as many as I expected to see. Children of course are everywhere, many trying to sell you things - everything from ballpoint pens, to fingernail polish, to cooking utensils, you name it.

This evening I met with three men. These men are leaders of another organization with goals very similar to my own and they seem to be very interested in entering into some kind of cooperation. I do not know if we are compatible, but it is a very interesting proposition-well worth exploring. They have an organization already in place here in Maputo that is recognized by the local government. I, of course, do not. This will require much more study. Could it be that this is the answer? But I am very happy to have met these choice young men. They are attempting to rescue the many lost children and young adults in the Maputo area, arranging for education and sustenance for the children and helping the adults obtain employment. Apparently they are having some success in their efforts. I will have to modify my schedule and arrange to visit their project sites.

*****

April 28, 1997: One month from today, Mindy enters the MTC. She is on my mind a lot right now. Also, today was the first school day spent in this country. Most of the day was spent arranging transportation and authorizations. In the afternoon, I visited two of the poorest public schools in the city. What I saw and learned can only be described as incredible. Tomorrow, on my trip to Nampula, I will write more. Now to bed. I must get up tomorrow at 5 a.m. to catch an early flight.

*****

April 29, 1997: I want to continue my account of the previous day. I begin to write this while waiting in Beira for the plane to refuel.

Yesterday, once arrangements were made, we were finally off to visit the schools in Maputo at about 2:30 p.m. I had specified that I wanted to see the schools that were the worst off, while the children were actually present in the facility, as the classes were being taught. It is a good thing I made that last requirement or I probably would have thought that the schools were abandoned. I would have believed the schools to be abandoned if I had not seen the facility as it was being used.

The first school I saw was: Escola Primaria de Hulene "A,"

Bairro de Hulene "A," Maputo - Cidade, Mozambique, Senhor Antonio Juaquim Guambe, Director. The director of this school showed us the facility (I was accompanied by an employee of the school district and a driver). When we arrived, I saw that two of the classes were being conducted under open-air pavilions in the middle of the school yard. Each class there, as well as the ones being held in the school rooms, had 50 or more pupils and one teacher. There were no chairs, desks or benches anywhere in the school for the pupils or the teacher. All the children sat on the ground. As we approached with the director, the children were on their feet and together recited the greeting, "Good afternoon, Senhor Director." Each class did the same thing as we approached a class area or room. This was a public elementary school. But I was told the government did not have the money needed to repair and maintain it. Many of the classrooms didn't even have a blackboard, or else the blackboards were so badly damaged they could not be used. Two of the best blackboards were in the out door pavilions where the first class (1st grade) was taught. The schoolrooms were not much better than the outdoor facility. I did not see a single window still in tact. All had been broken out. All doors were missing. The roofs on the buildings were practically useless in keeping out the rain. The school had no running water. All water had to be transported by school employees from a tank located off the school's premises.

This school had books, evidently in sufficient quantity, for all students admitted. But the facility clearly left much to be desired. Enrolled were 1,309 pupils spread among 19 teachers taught in three 3-hour sessions each day. (Approximately 6:30 to 9:30, 10:00 to 1:00 and 1:30 to 4:30) The director then noted that nearly 300 applicants for the school had been turned away for lack of space. In fact, there were many more children that did not even bother applying. So much for the government's stated policy of mandatory education for all school age children. It is a worthy goal, but not one that is attained yet, even in the capital city of Maputo.

I asked the director what I should tell prospective donors as to why they should repair this school when it will just be torn up again. He responded that these things happened during the war. The government was disorganized and still lacks resources to provide maintenance. However, guards are now hired by the school to protect against vandalism. (In fact, I saw one guard on the premises just as we were leaving the school property. He was apparently just starting his 4 p.m. shift.) As we were leaving, school was at recess and dozens of the children were following us around, watching us (me in particular) with great curiosity. We took pictures and left.

The second school was: Escola Primaria Maguiguana, located at Bairro de Maxaquene D, Adula 8, Districto Urbano No. 3,

Maputo, Mozambique, Tel. 460164, Senhor Orlando Chipene Monjane, Professor. This school wasn't much better off than the first one we saw, except that it had desks for all of the students (3 students at each desk, which isn't bad, because the desk appeared big enough to accommodate 3). Again, windows and doors were missing. The ceilings in some of the rooms were collapsing. One of the buildings had holes in the roof more than a foot in diameter. I asked how this happened and was told that a severe hail storm had passed through the area two years ago and did the damage. What was lacking? Mr. Monjane answered that there were not enough grammar books. Also missing were most teaching aids such as compasses, protractors, rulers, and dictionaries. My camera's batteries were running low so I did not attempt to take pictures. I told him I will return on May 8.

I spent most of the daylight hours today traveling by air to Nampula. This is an interesting place. The landscape is dotted with giant rock outcroppings and monoliths. Climate is pleasant with relatively low humidity at an elevation of about 1,400 feet. This is probably as far north as I will ever be in Mozambique. The World Vision office had already lined up meetings with the Directorate of Education in Nampula Province as soon as I had arrived at their office. I visited with two gentlemen, including Mr. Mulessiua, Chief Provincial Inspector and Mr. Girimile, Chief of Dept. of Human Resources. From their point of view, it wasn't the lack of texts that was the problem, but the lack of enrichment materials and the deteriorated facilities. They mentioned the secondary school in Nacala, as being particularly needy for lab equipment, sporting equipment, library and mechanical design materials. They also reported a general lack of notebooks, pens, etc.

Back at the office of World Vision, I spoke with an employee, Judy. She has five children enrolled. She noted the financial problem many have affording a public school education. There is an annual matriculation fee of 20,000 Metricais (about $1.90) which parents must pay along with the cost of notebooks and other school items. Parents in the city can usually manage this. Those living outside the city generally cannot afford it. In high school (8th-12th grade), expenses are much higher because texts at this stage are no longer provided by the government. Therefore, many drop out of school at this point, or fall behind for want of money to buy textbooks.

It seems to me that each sector of the country may be having its own special problems with education. Someone has suggested just picking a district and just working through its own problems, one by one, then moving on to another. This suggestion may have some merit.

*****

April 30, 1997: I took a long ride into the country about 50 miles southwest of Nampula to a district of Murrupula. I interviewed the district director and he showed me the school which World Vision had helped construct. The window problem was solved by using no glass. Also the black boards were built into the walls of the rooms with masonry and painted plaster. Official texts were in sufficient supply. But the school's library was deficient. It consisted of a locked wooden cabinet about 4 feet high and 3 1/2 feet wide, with maybe 100 to 200 titles. The school had 715 pupils, grades 1-7. The district had 55 primary schools, and only one school (this one) with grades 6-7. The closest high school is outside the district in Nampula. I do not think I saw more that 100 youths who were present at the area where 6-7 grades were taught. I surmise that most youths of that age in that district do not attend. Fewer still attend high school.

The director disputed what Judy told me the day before. He said that the charge for matriculation was 2,000 Metricais for primary school (19 cents) and 4,000 Metricais for 6-7 grade (38 cents). If a student could not come up with the money, he could attend anyway. What was needed? A better library. Also, only half the students had desks; the rest sat on the floor. The teachers had no desks. Also, lacking were all types of enrichment materials-maps, dictionaries, balls for football, etc.

The World Vision driver also showed me a maternity hospital that World Vision was building about 35 miles outside of Nampula. All along this road, a good paved road, people could be seen walking, often carrying goods on their head to be sold at market. Alongside the road were mud huts with thatched roofs.

I interviewed a teacher of a primary school today, in Nampula. She said there were no desks for the students. In fact, I inspected the school previously that day and knew she was exaggerating. There was one desk at that school.

Of perhaps the greatest significance for my project, however, was my interview with the Director of Libraries in the Province of Nampula. They are in the process of purchasing books of all kinds for establishing school libraries at each school in the province. The goal set in 1993 is for each library to have one book per student and one per teacher at that school. When asked if he would accept books that were used, but still in good condition, the answer was definitely affirmative. If the books were sent to him, they would be disseminated throughout the province. I have his name, address, and fax number. If books are shipped by boat, I also have the name and address of the person through whom these materials may be disseminated. I inspected and took pictures of the central library of the Province of Nampula. Again, there were not much more than 200 titles. The library had about a dozen patrons at the time, most of whom were reading the newspapers.

*****

May 1, 1997: Today is a national holiday-International (especially Marxist) Labor Day. Unlike our country, all shops and places of employment are closed to business. Almost nothing to do today. Tried to meet more people this morning, but to no avail. So I have passed the day walking unaccompanied through the city of Nampula, driving some through the countryside with a local worker, reading, napping, watching part of a local football match.

I must say something about how desperate these people are for help. They seem to be both spiritually and materially, both literally and figuratively grasping for a hand to pull them up. I'm not just referring to beggars and bums wanting a handout. They are everywhere of course. What I'm referring to are people who want help in emigrating to the United States; or getting admitted to a good school outside Mozambique, anywhere; or obtaining an American connection by becoming an employee of my organization. There have been several requests.

In many circles, this country is regarded as one of the poorest, if not the poorest, country on this earth. I don't know about that. Poor is just plain poor; and many of these people are desperately so, and seem to have zero prospects.

Perhaps of the same class is the offer I received today from a man whom I just met when I arrived in Nampula last Tuesday. His name is Senhor Matias Bassiano Mulessiua, Inspector Chief Provincial, of the Department of Education. He gave me what amounted to an oral resume. His credentials in educational administration are solid. He has 14 children. Three have obtained professional degrees. Four daughters are married. His youngest is 15. He has cared well for his family but has nothing saved for retirement except a small pension which he could not live on. He wants to retire but needs another job to do it. Could my agency use him? He even offered the use of his house as a base of operations. I had to tell him that we are not at the point where we can employ anybody. If things went well during the next couple of years, then perhaps.

*****

May 2, 1997: This morning began early at first light. I wanted to be completely ready before leaving the house for the move to Quelemane. I arrived at the World Vision Office at 7:30 a.m. and was surprised to hear singing at the upper level. It was their Friday morning devotional. All employees attend. They sang a song in Portuguese, then one in English, and lastly a song in the Shona Language. I was also asked to tell the group, about 25 people, who I was and what I was doing. One fellow sneered and told the group he doubted my sincerity or will to help his people. I have encountered people like him before.

Before leaving town, I visited three more schools. One Headmistress requested I set up a writing program by inducing an American school to write to their children. She seemed surprised when I advised her that few American children could speak or write in Portuguese. However, I told her I would pass her request along to the Portuguese schools with whom I am corresponding. This same headmistress acknowledged the need for more books, but she was of the opinion that desks for her students were even more critical. She wanted it well understood that sitting on the school room floor was no more comfortable or conducive to learning for African children than it is for American children.

I arrived in Quelemane in the early afternoon. During the course of the afternoon, I had interviews with World Vision's Chief Construction Supervisor in the Province of Zambesia, and with an English teacher, from Scotland, at the local high school. I asked if he was teaching correct American pronunciation. He thought I was joking. The meeting with the builder was especially useful because it gave me a somewhat realistic idea about how much things cost to build in this country, particularly school desks.

In addition, I visited one parochial school and the main provincial library of Zambesia. The latter facility was very interesting; it was being used as an auxiliary classroom by a local college. Although the walls were lined with bookcases, there were no books anywhere to be seen. Then I noticed a circular staircase leading to a garret. I climbed to the next level. However, the top of that staircase was barricaded. I was therefore stopped from standing on that upper deck. But I could see more bookcases with a few of what appeared to be very old books and periodicals on the shelves. Everything in the room was covered with a layer of dust. It appeared no one had disturbed that place for a long time. These were the only books I saw in the facility, other than the texts brought in by the students themselves.

*****

May 3, 1997: Today was Saturday. It was long and slow. Very little to do in the way of physical activity. But I ventured out several times. First, I accompanied our domestic to the market as she purchased potatoes, and crabs. The crabs were purchased alive. A good thing since anything dead was covered with flies. Last evening, we ate some pretty good shrimp (cammarao) and there were more for lunch along with the crab. But it took a strong stomach to see the cammarao in the market place, covered with flies which the sellers kept brushing away-always to no avail.

On one of my wandering journeys, I made it to the waterfront. Another time I visited the downtown area. There was a bookstore. In the window were displayed all twenty or so titles available. Most of them were textbooks for the primary schools.

Last evening, the Scotsman who teaches English in the local high school, named Charlie Holt, left two extensive studies about the schools here in Zambesia. These studies were sponsored by UNICEF and the Save the Children Fund. I spent a large part of the day trying to assimilate the material. I will get portions of the book reproduced for my personal reference next week.

I find it takes a lot of my energy to stay upbeat and positive. The conditions under which most people live here (in this whole country) are very depressing. Almost all of the structures in town are in some degree of neglect or decay, not much better then our slums or derelict buildings in D.C. for example. And this is the good part of town! The vast majority of people live in huts made of mud and thatch, or anything else that may happens to be at hand. In addition to the amputees, conditions such as blindness, polio, even leprosy are commonplace.

*****

May 5, 1997: Today, I visited three more schools in the outlying areas just north of Quelemane. I also saw a school which World Vision just finished constructing with funding from U.S. Aid. Of course this latter (a secondary school) was far and away the very best of any I had seen today. The problems were much the same as I had seen before. Many of the school rooms were just sticks and thatch or sticks, mud and thatch. Often lacking was any school furniture. Some schools had water; others did not. None of the primary schools seen today had latrines. These schools ranged in size from 450 to 2,300 students. Question: Where do they go when the need arises? Answer: "Eles vao fora no Mato" (They go out into the jungle or bush).

There is also a crying need for more classrooms. One school principal told me today that if he were provided with brick and mortar, he could organize his community and together they would build the needed school rooms themselves.

Today I spent part of the afternoon searching high and low for books in this city. I found nothing except for a few titles and textbooks in about 3 bookstores. I will see if perhaps the Catholic Church knows of more.

Also today, part of the afternoon was spent conferring with shipping personnel, i.e. shipping companies to learn specifics of how shipping is handled at this end. There is still much to learn; there are also obstacles, but none that cannot be breached.

*****

May 6, 1997: Again this was a fairly productive day. Although I was only allowed access to a World Vision vehicle for part of the day, I was able to get around fairly well. In the morning, I visited the UNICEF office in Quelemane, mostly just to hear about its projects and the problems and successes they were having. I spoke with a Mr. Americo Ubisse, a supervisor in that office. He agreed with me, or rather verified my discovery of the lack of any kind of reading materials in this country. Of great interest, so far as my project is concerned, is the fact that one group "Aciao Nord/Sul" has a bookmobile project in the more southerly province of Inhambane.

I also visited this morning, the Provincial Director of the Coordination of Social Action of Zambesia, Mr. Antonio Alvaro Francisco. He explained to me the various programs that they run. These include a program for reuniting children with their families who were separated because of the war; giving street children a place to live and teaching them a skill; educating and training disabled children, particularly deaf mutes; and finally, a program of little schools in the bush. "Escolinhas" which are like pre-school. However, most of these programs are at risk because of lack of funding from the government and the lack of donors. (Obviously, the government would prefer that all of these functions were financed by gifts from the outside. I am not sure, however, if that is a good excuse for not helping out here.) Three schools were also visited in the northern and eastern-most part of the city. The problems and deficiencies were the same as previously observed. As is quite common, 2 of the 3 schools visited lacked bathroom facilities for the kids. In one case, walking behind the school, excrement was readily apparent.

One of the schools was unusual in that it was being repaired with government money. The latrine which was not usable was being repaired even during my visit. I could also see some recent patch work done on the school's roof. This, I was told, was done by one of the locally functioning non-government organizations.

This same school that was undergoing repairs, (Escola Primaria 3 de Fevereiro) had 1527 pupils in 3 stages (or terms) per day. This means that each child is in school for only 3 hours per day. They learn only the basics. Even so, the director reported that hundreds of children locally are denied admission. They just don't have the capacity for them. Other complaints included the fact that the school books never arrive on time, or in sufficient quantity. There is also a lack of teacher's guides. I asked if I could examine those that they had on hand. The director brought a few out. These were well used manuals - the date of publication indicated that the edition at least was 14 years old.

In this connection, I heard an anecdote today from an employee of World Vision as to the poor quality of the books which the government is providing. It is simply that the publishing contract is with a company in India. These books are supposed to be durable enough to stand up to 3 years of use by students. However, the material used by the publisher is sub-standard and the books tend to fall apart within the first year.

I saw another school "library" today. It was more a study room instead, doubling as a repository for a few extra texts that the school had on hand. Again, less than 100 titles. (In fact, there were probably less that twenty-five).

The definite highlight of the day was a trip out to the small school which is operated by the Directorate of Coordination of Social Action, called the "Project of Sangriveira, Center of Social Services and Professional Training. Here, 101 children between the ages of 10 and 18 are taught basic literacy and one of 4 trades, including metal working, pottery, sewing/tailoring and carpentry. Thirty-four of the children are deaf-mute and are learning sign language. One of the smallest children among the deaf-mutes couldn't have been more than six years of age. She was very pretty and had a smile that lit the room. I was quite smitten by her smile.

Again, what is very apparent is how much these people try to accomplish with so little. There is no electricity anywhere. So the sewing machines are all foot-operated. The carpenter shop had no power tools, in fact, had very few tools at all. For teaching the deaf children, books are needed with more pictures- and of course there is the need for general funding of these programs. The so called "street children" live on or near the school premises in buildings with bare cement floors, and sleep on woven mats. However, I suspect this is the common arrangement for sleeping in this country.

*****

May 7, 1997: So far as most of my weekdays are concerned, this has not been a very busy day. I returned to Maputo this morning from Quelemane via Air Serve, a nonprofit NGO which provides air transport for other NGO's operating in the country. Many hundreds of dollars were saved by my using this service.

I am happy to be back in Maputo. When I arrived here 12 days ago, I'd never thought I would consider my return to Maputo to be a return to civilization-but so it is. While there may not be any McDonald's fast food restaurants or 7/11 convenience stores, you can buy just about anything you need here; and the roads and streets: let's just say that the pavement is "civilized." After reestablishing myself at the Pensao Martins in my $35/nite room, I did what I could to reestablish my prior links with the Church and with World Vision. I had a brief meeting with World Vision's shipping and import expert, Mr. Les Peterson. I then spent the rest of the day making appointments or confirming them for the next two days. I also got to see some parts of the city on foot which I hadn't visited until now. There's no question in my mind now, that for the money, this (the Pensao Martins) is the best place for me to be right now. I am also enjoying the privacy very much-something that was lacking to some extent in the guest-houses in Nampula and Quelamane.

*****

May 8, 1997: Today was much better because it was much busier, more things came through, and I saw and learned some things that are both interesting and useful for my purposes. First, I was unable to connect with the Ministry of Education. However, the Director of Education in the capital city was again quite helpful. I was able to see three more schools this morning including the one that I saw momentarily on April 28. I promised to return today and take pictures and I was able to keep that promise. In some instances these children literally went wild as I was taking their picture-they thought it was so cool. Then on an impulse, I started to shake hands with them. Big Mistake! The whole school wanted to get in the act. I had to arbitrarily stop and say no more. I hated to do that. Anyway, this was the school with big holes in the roof and the collapsed ceiling.

For comparison purposes I visited a school which the director described as well-provisioned. I'm glad I did. It was a very nice, new facility, only 3 years old, and it seemed to have everything-including windows, doors, lights with concealed fixtures, running water, clean and functioning latrines. Of course, the school's director still had his wish list. But his list was short and included some things that I had not ever heard mentioned before at other schools: He wanted a finished play field and a microscope.

The last school I saw, and probably the last one on this trip was one that really inspired me. It was the Community School 4th of October. This school was founded by Mr. Lote Daniel Mondlane. He is also the school's director and visionary. He virtually has built this school from scratch with the help of the residents of the community. The community pays the teachers. The only help the school gets from the government is in the form of the standardized texts.

This latter school has 1,866 students (of whom are 288 orphans) in grades 1-7, spread among 32 teachers in 3 daily rotations (terms) in 12 school rooms. Six of the rooms are together in one place. The remaining six are remote and separate. I have never seen an arrangement quite like this.

The reason for the school's existence is that the conventional public schools were full. These kids would not be in school if this one did not exist. The students pay more to come here (8,000 Metricais per year). The teachers get paid a lot less than their public school equivalent, 250,000 Metricais per month (about $21). There is no water, but the latrines are functional (except for one destroyed some months ago when a car crashed down its brick wall). I took pictures. The school even has doors, windows and roofs that keep the rain out.

It lacks a security wall (remember the car crash) and does not have enough of the standard texts for 1st-2nd grades and 6th-7th grades. Obviously the school could use a whole lot more than was mentioned, but this remarkable man was not a complainer. He was proud of the school and he had every right to be. He loved these children and it showed. Of all the school directors I have met, this one seemed to enjoy talking to his children more than all the others.

This afternoon was spent talking with Guy Mullins of LINK (a trade association of NGO's operating in Maputo), to learn about registration and how to get commodities (books) into the country. I also visited with Les Peterson of World Vision again, and discussed the same subject with him.

Lastly, I finished the day off by visiting The National Library of Mozambique. It is a remarkable institution where I found three sets of ancient encyclopedias in Portuguese, three in English, two in Spanish, and one in French. But this reference section occupied one part of a wall on the second floor of the library. All books outside the reference section had to be requested from the catalog. I looked through the catalog and failed to find any book newer than 1975. I will return Monday to meet the director and try to learn more. To just simply go in and browse the collection is evidently not permitted.

Just before leaving, I noticed that there was a room set aside for children's literature. I tried the door, but it was locked. I asked the library employee downstairs how I might see the collection. She smiled and said that there were no books in that room and that in fact there was no such collection. No further explanation was given.

As I walked back to Pensao Martins, I discovered a real bookstore, with a broad range of literature in the Portuguese language. But the books are well out of the price range of most Mozambicans. For example, a Portuguese translation of a Nancy Drew Mystery in paperback was listed for 95,000 MT's (about $8.00). Remember, a teacher in the last school I visited makes only 250,000 metricais per month. So this paperback would cost more than a week's pay. I am happy I made this discovery. I learned that at least such books exist in this country.

*****

May 9, 1997: This was an unusual day in which very little time was devoted to the problem of the schools. Rather, I was privileged to assist in providing shelter to some 100 orphans. Here's how it came about. Last Wednesday evening, after my return from the north, I gave Brad Garfield (the head of the Marine detachment at the American embassy) a call to reestablish a contact previously made and to try to arrange an interview with the wife of the US Ambassador, Mrs. Fatima McKinlay. She has personally assisted the reconstruction of a school here. (Still no word of any meeting being arranged.) However, Brad mentioned in the same conversation the need for assisting in putting up a circus tent as temporary shelter for an orphanage. For reasons unfathomable, the government had evicted this institution from its prior tenement. So this morning, I joined the Marine Corps Embassy Guards, four U.S. Merchant Seamen, some U.S. Missionaries from the Assembly of God Church and a few local residents. Together, we managed to get this massive tent erected in about 4 hours. We didn't have elephants to help out, however, since most of them were slaughtered in the war. Rather, most of the heavy lifting was accomplished with block and tackle. Those merchant seamen were especially helpful in the task. It was a good time and I was glad that Brad invited me to join in the effort.

I was impressed with the children at the site. Some were the orphans who would use the new tent. Others were just children from nearby. All were interested in what was going on and were on the work site. I became concerned that with the possible falling of large, heavy objects, like one of the poles, it was not a good idea for them to be in the tent's perimeter. So I asked them to stay on the edge, well away from the poles. They instantly obeyed and not one of them returned to wander in the forbidden area. There were about fifteen of them who just sat together and watched. I was amazed. Several times, I visited with them. At one point, I gave them each some chewing gum. They wanted to do something in return for me. One of them noticed that my pants (from the ankle down), my shoes and shoelaces were covered with cockle burrs. He bent down and started taking them off for me. Soon, five other kids were helping in doing this service for me. The only explanation I can come up with for this conduct is that these little children (most of them boys) were profoundly thankful for what we were trying to do for them. With this little act of sevice, they had found a way to demonstrate their thanks. It was a moving experience for me, which I don't think I shall forget anytime soon.

There was another little incident which occurred which I think speaks well of the Mozambican people. We had just finished getting the three main tent poles erected and anchored and spreading out the tarp and lacing the tarp together. By this time, a number of the local men had left their work on their cachambos (farm plots) and had informally gathered to watch us erect this tent. They were standing together, apparently enjoying the spectacle, from under the shade of one of the many cashew trees in the area. Brad and I were, at the time, working side by side when he said to me, "Look at those guys in the shade over there. Here we are doing something to help their people, their children. You would think they would want to do more to help than just stand there and watch us do the work." I looked at the gathering of men under the shade tree. I noted that there were two or three local men who were, in fact, helping us at that moment and I countered to Brad that at least some of the locals were helping.

It was shortly thereafter that we were ready to hoist the tarp with the block and tackle. It was a fine sight to watch. Within moments, the massive tarp had been raised to the top of those 20 feet poles. I then joined those men under the cashew tree. We had a fine time talking together and watching the spectacle as I snapped a few shots with my camera of the raising. Very soon, this was all done and the next task was to spread the tarp roof out along the outer perimeter of the tent with the fifty or sixty odd 8 foot poles. Each of these poles had to be inserted and then anchored in place with a taunt-line and a 3 foot steel stake. Sledges were used to drive these stakes deep into the ground. It was a labor intensive job and would have required a lot of time were it not for the fact that suddenly, all of the party under that cashew tree came forward and bent their backs to the task. They came with one accord. I don't think that any of our group ever asked them for help. They just saw that here was something they could do to help us, and they were all in there with us together. I looked back at that cashew tree. There was not a soul left just standing there and watching. All of the men were working and helping.

I was glad that I was not so quick to jump to judgement. I believe that some idealism is appropriate here. These men wanted to help all along, but they weren't sure about what they could do without just being in the way. Once they saw something that needed to be done which they knew they could do, they were eager to lend a hand. And that's just what they did.

*****

May 10, 1997: This is my third weekend in Mozambique and this trip to southern Africa is winding down to a close. I think some of my friends will be somewhat disappointed with my pictures, because I didn't see any big game, except a few cows on the road north of Quelemane. I'm a little disappointed too. But that is not why I came.

I also took a few more pictures of the city and its people. I'm sure that it is in this place that I ought to build my base before spreading to other areas. I am setting a goal to have my first major shipment of goods in Maputo port and released for distribution by May 31, 1999-in two years time. However, I want some smaller shipments sent much sooner, by the end of August if possible, but no later than the end of the year.

One last note: This morning, I was pondering about who, among all the people that I have met, would be the one most likely willing and capable of receiving from port and seeing to it that the materials were properly disseminated, protected and utilized. I felt impressed that I should call on the director of the last school I visited who had done so much without government aid, Mr. Lote Daniel Mondlane. I felt I should call him before leaving the country and reach some sort of understanding with him. This I did. I called him this evening at his home. I asked him if he were willing to cooperate with me in receiving materials for his school and other needy schools in Maputo. He said that he was. I said that I was very impressed with his work and needed his help in bringing books and other school materials to this country. I said that if he would assist me, then I would commit to sending some books and school materials to his school before the end of the year, and more during the next couple of years. I said some of this would involve bringing things in from the port. He expressed his willingness to help and his gratitude for whatever help I could give. I warned him that this was going to require time and patience. He said he was prepared to wait and do whatever was necessary. We will see. I will try him out with some smaller shipments first. This will give us both some export/import experience. If this works out and he works out, then we will move on to bigger and better things. If this doesn't work out, I will find someone else and try again until it does.

*****

May 12, 1997: This was my last full day in Mozambique and it was exhausting. I did more walking today than any other since I arrived. So much to see and do in so little time. But I toured the Historical Archives of the University of Eduardo Mondalane and the National Library of Mozambique. These are the two premier book collections in the country, having 25,000 and 150,000 volumes respectively. While both are officially open to the public, as a practical matter, they are not. There is no circulation system and one must practically be a professional researcher in order to know how to access the system. Even the director of the National Library had trouble with his cataloging system as he tried to demonstrate how to find books by subject. (Rather than a straightforward alphabetical subject index, they have the books filed in the catalogue numerically, an incredibly difficult system.)

In addition, I spent a large part of the day outside Maputo, in the province visiting two small schools (which had practically no books or facilities) completely independent and unsupported by the government. All workers in the school system are completely voluntary, including the teachers. Each class I visited appeared to have between 40 and 50 alunos (pupils). These people are doing what they can for their children, with what little they have. Without these little independent schools, these kids would have no school at all.

Next, I visited the Ministry of Foreign Business and Cooperation (Dept. of NGO's) to obtain directions of what is required to obtain formal recognition of my organization, i.e. a firm presence for Wings of the Dawn in Mozambique.

The last necessary act was to make contact with an official "Despachante" (import facilitator). All these are steps taken to send materials to this country. I am satisfied now that I have done all things that can be accomplished here in laying the foundation for our work in this country. There may well be other things I wish I had done while here. But all in all, the time was used, to the extent of my poor abilities, to its best advantage. I never made it to the beach or to a game park. I just did not have the time. Maybe next time there will be an opportunity.

As I head back home, via London, my thoughts return to my activities of the past 3 weeks. Two of my new friends showed up at the airport in Maputo to see me off (Sergio and Alvaro). They hope that the independent schools which they run will receive assistance through my efforts.

Was any of this time, money and effort which was spent worth it? Will anything ever come of this? I am determined to see to it that these seeds bear fruit. But I see an uphill battle. For example, I suppose there will be much of negativity from potential donors about the situation there. Why should we help these people? They tore up their country. Let them build it up again themselves. One woman I met today in Johannesburg asked, "Didn't they burn their books?" My answer to this is two-fold. First, some may have been burned. But in reality, there were never many books to begin with, at least not in the possession of the African population. Second, this philosophy leads to a result that punishes the children for the sins of their fathers--or the majority for the deeds of a relative few. Most fair-minded people would not want this.

Now the task before us is to locate donors. I hope the idea will sell that by assisting with the education of these people, it will be the equivalent of "teaching a man to fish" rather than merely "giving him the fish." There is also the issue of women. Their status, by in large, is still quite subservient to the men. They do most of the hard, physical work, including the bearing and rearing of children, carrying them on their backs as they work, building and caring for the house, farming the family cachamba and carrying heavy loads (including 5 gallon jugs of water) on their heads. Observing this, I once asked a Mozambican man how these women can do this without injuring their necks, heads and backs? He admitted that they in fact do injure themselves, that back and neck problems are both severe and common. In fact, he said that in Mozambique, the life expectancy of a woman is less than that of a man. I see very small chance of improving the quality of life for women in Mozambique, if a chance for learning is not afforded them. Men have traditionally been preferred for education over woman there. This is changing, but ever so slowly. In some parts of the country (Zambezia and Safala), it is documented that the girls tend to leave school as they approach the secondary level because of the heavy financial burden it places on most families. Most are not in a position to afford the books needed for continued studies.

Obviously, no one group will ever have resources sufficient to educate an entire country. But what we can do to help, we should do and we will.

"I am only one, but I am one. I can't do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do; and what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I will do." Edward Everett Hale

III. Financial History of Organization for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 1997:

Contributions received since incorporation:		$2,390.62
Expenses incurred:	Air fare:	$1,245.85
	Check Order:	40.62
	Visa (MOZ):	40.00
	Per diem:	815.00
	State registration:	25.00
	Bank Service charge:	14.00
	Total Expense:	2,180.47
	Excess revenue over expenses:	$ 210.15

IV. Plans for implementing short-term and long-term objectives:

First, we will continue our survey to learn more details of the state of education in Mozambique, particularly what is lacking for local school systems to begin to function. Basically, this amounts to compiling a big shopping list. This was substantially initiated in April of this year (1997) when J. Peter Baumgarten traveled to Mozambique and visited 17 schools in the major population centers of that country.

Second, we will begin a program of soliciting gifts-in-kind from local contributors of non-language-specific school supplies. We will also begin solicitation of gifts in kind from Brazilian and Portuguese schools and publishers who will make Portuguese language materials available to the people of Mozambique. We anticipate the necessity of travel to both of these countries in late 1997 or early 1998 to make and solidify gifting arrangements.

Third, we will solicit both monetary contributions and contributions of service from multinational corporations and NGOs doing business in Mozambique in order to finance and arrange the shipping of these materials to Mozambique, at locations where they are needed and will be utilized. We will by this time be soliciting contributions to cover our small overhead costs. In addition to the multinational companies, we will be contacting large NGOs, such as Ireland's "Concern," with the same objective in mind.

Fourth, after our program of collecting and sending school supplies is well-established, we will recruit leaders in Mozambican towns and communities who are interested in the education of their youth. We will train and assist them in implementing school organization. The objective will be to organize local parent groups who will make arrangements for one or more places of instruction in their communities and for the local support of teachers. This would involve setting up a fund to receive monetary contributions and/or a storehouse for receiving payments-in-kind that are generated locally. We anticipate that an elected committee, affiliated with Wings of the Dawn, would control these resources and hire the teacher(s). Curriculum will coincide with all government requirements. In the end this committee will control all matters pertaining to its local schools. Areas where these organizations are formed and functioning will have priority access to the books and materials which Wings of the Dawn will import to Mozambique.

Wings of the Dawn will also seek out such groups that already exist and encourage their programs by giving them priority access to the goods and materials it will ship to Mozambique. We plan to concentrate our efforts, at least initially, on assisting with proactive citizen groups which are already establishing schools without substantial government assistance and which are still very needy. We feel that funds and materials furnished to these groups will be used efficiently for educational purposes. At this time we are reluctant to give this type of assistance to government sponsored public schools whose administrations have not demonstrated proactive characteristics, i.e., the ability and will to work with whatever resources are at hand to solve the problems of education within their respective communities.

To date, three schools with such proactive characteristics are now identified: (1) Escola Comunitaria 4 de Outubro de Polana, (2) Escola de Pre-ensinamento do Sao Damaso, and Escola de Pre-ensinamento do Patrice Lumumba. Our initial efforts will be directed toward assisting these institutions.

Fifth, once local community schools are organized, funded, and in operation, arrangements will be made for construction of more suitable school buildings and housing for teachers and students as needed. Habitat for Humanity and similar local organizations may be enlisted for this purpose. Locally donated materials and talent will be utilized to the fullest extent available. We will, at this stage, be looking for ways to improve curriculums and increase the self-sufficiency of each local community school that is organized.

Sixth, as the resources and know-how of Wings of the Dawn increases, we will initiate similar programs in other African countries, including Angola, Cape Verde, other former Portuguese colonies and South Africa.

V. COSTS ANTICIPATED:

At this time, the costs of running this organization are minimal, because there is no paid staff. The executive director anticipates that he will incur in 1998 the following costs for travel and per diem expenses:

To Portugal in January of 98 for one week: $1,000.

To Brasil in March of 98 for one week: $1,000.

These expenses will be kept low because air fares are heavily discounted. Once he is in the countries of destination, he will reside in housing made available at low cost by local NGOs or with friends rather than in commercial establishments.

We anticipate that books and education supplies will be obtained by gifts-in-kind as previously explained.

Shipping will be either financed or furnished in-kind by interested multinational corporations or larger NGOs with the means to do so.

There will certainly be other costs involved for administration and overhead of Wings of the Dawn and its initial projects. Duties must also be paid at port before the books and materials may be brought into the country. But these costs will be kept, as far as possible, to a minimum.

VI. ACCOUNTABILITY AND CONTROL:

The president/executive director will have supervisory responsibility for the treasurer of Wings of the Dawn and each affiliate and insure that their books and records are kept in a manner consistent with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

An annual report will be prepared within three months after the close of each fiscal year. This report will account for the current financial status of the organization and describe all material progress made with the projects. The annual report will be sent to each major donor and will be made available to all other donors and the general public upon request.

No funds will be disbursed from either Wings of the Dawn or an affiliate except on the signature of the executive director or the designee(s) of the executive director.

VII. List of officers and directors.

1. J. Peter Baumgarten

9666 Lindenbrook Street, Fairfax, VA 22031-1131

Executive Director/ President

2. Lyle Turner Baumgarten

9666 Lindenbrook Street, Fairfax, VA 22031-1131

Secretary

3. Sally Ann Michaux

12025 Heather Down Drive, Herndon, VA 22070

Director/ Vice President (Development)

4. Chris Troger

2137 Coltsneck Court, Reston, VA 22091

Vice President (Logistics)

5. Joan Bybee

9335 Lee Highway, Apt. 206, Fairfax, VA 22031

Director