Paulino and Sara

     Let me introduce you to our nephew Paulino and niece Sara.  They are currently attending college in Maputo, Mozambique.  Paulino attends one of the best universities in Maputo, Eduardo Mondlane University.  It is extremely difficult to get admitted your freshman year.  We were so amazed and proud of Paulino to be one of the few freshman granted admittance.  One has to take entrance exams and score really well to even be considered admittance.  They only have one admittance date per year.  They also limit how many students will be admitted making it very difficult to get in.

      Paulino wants to be a lawyer.  He is working and studying so hard to accomplish this goal.  He lives about 30-40 miles away from the university.  So, he gets up early to catch the bus from the village which takes him into the city.  He then has to make several transfers before finally arriving at school.  He is determined to "clep" out of some classes so he can get through school quicker and avoid the year end exams.

   
Here are Paulino and Sara wearing some new clothes Marcos brought with him last time he went.

Below, is Paulino on his way to school.

 Sara is one year older than Paulino and she is attending a community college in Maputo.  She is also a freshman.  We promised her and Paulino that once they passed their finals to get their highschool diploma, we would help them go to college.  Sara wants to become a nurse.  She was unable to get into Eduardo Mondlane.  She wants to try again next year.  In the meantime, she is taking her studies seriously so she can make a future for herself.  She too must take several buses in order to reach her school.  We are so proud of both Paulino and Sara for striving to improve their lives through education.  Education is the only way out of poverty for these kids.  They will have such a bright future because of the education they are working so hard to attain.  

This is Sara (left) with one of her friends

     We just learned last week about the need for a computer for both of them.  Paulino is not able to get into the lab because it is reserved for 3rd and 4th year law students.  Sara has been photocopying materials because she has no computer access.   I have some amazing family members who are helping us with their tuition and we are now going to ask if anyone else would like to help us get them a computer and some money for bus fare.  I wish I was made of money and could do it all on my own.  Tuition is what we planned on in our budget and having this extra need makes it difficult for us to come up with the additional money.  So, if you would like to send a donation of any amount, you can email  me at mamasincharge@gmail.com or send me a message on Facebook and I will let you know where to send it and who to make the check out to.  I will also do a follow-up post with pictures of them and their computers once we have enough.  Thanks so much for being such great people and please be thankful for the wonderful country in which you live!

This is Marcos' brother Bernardo with his wife Celeste and Paulino, Sara, and Catarina and her little girl.