DEVELOPING TIMES: update on Mrs. Bush visit to Senegal

Welcome

Mission Statement
Rural Empowerment Initiatives (REI) mission is to collaborate in the reduction of poverty through investment in rural areas and training of local people.

Vision Statement
REI's vision is to treat every created being with dignity, respect and love. We strive to work with those most in need by empowering people to recognize their God given talents, enabling them to make the world a better place and providing them hope for the future.

Our Principles
REI believes that all people are created equal.
REI will develop small to medium businesses (SMEs) as one approach to reach those most in need by creating jobs that build the economy in rural areas.
REI's partner businesses will be led, managed and majority owned by local people.
REI will always seek a triple bottom line of economic, spiritual and social transformation.
REI seeks to build sustainable community-oriented business models.
REI's focus of support is to the economically disadvantaged.
REI will seek attractive market and growth opportunities.
REI will incubate pilot projects with capable management.
REI believes in collaboration. We seek partners whose strengths complement our own in an effort to build well-rounded projects of lasting economic value for the communities in which we work.
REI is inspired by the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and is therefore rooted in the Christian faith.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

update on Mrs. Bush visit to Senegal

Mrs. Laura Bush meets Ambassador Girls' scholarship winners during a visit to Grand Medine Primary School Tuesday, June 26, 2007, in Dakar, Senegal. President Bush's Africa Education Initiative is working to provide 550,000 scholarships to girls throughout Africa by 2010. Pictured are, from left: Khady Diome, 15, of Diohine, Senegal; Fatou Djiby, 15, of Diakhao, Senegal; Christine Ndiaye, 14, of Diakhao, Senegal; Yamama Diop, 15, of Maroneme, Senegal; and Nango Dang, 16, of Thicky Serere, Senegal. White House photo by Shealah Craighead

White House Press Release

Dakar, Senegal
June 26, 2007

Mrs. Bush's Remarks on the Africa Education Initiative

Grand Medine Primary School
11:40 A.M. (Local)

MRS. BUSH: Thank you, Mr. Minister. Thank you for your very kind words. I appreciate it. I'd like to acknowledge Mrs. Wade. Thank you very much, Madame Wade, for joining me today. I appreciate it very much. Mr. Diop, the principal, thank you for letting us be here at your school today. Mrs. Barka from UNESCO, thank you very much for joining us. Governor Diaw, we're so glad to be here. And Deputy Governor Dia, thank you for everything. And I'm especially happy that Youssou N'Dour has joined us. Thank you very, very much for being with us.

Mrs. Laura Bush delivers remarks at Grand Medine Primary School Tuesday, June 26, 2007, in Dakar, Senegal. During her visit, Mrs. Bush announced that 805,000 books to Senegal this summer through President Bush's Africa Education Initiative. White House photo by Shealah Craighead President Bush and I met Youssou N'Dour at the G8 when we were in Germany, and he was there representing Senegal. And we enjoyed seeing you very much.

And I'd like to introduce to all of you my daughter, Jenna, who has joined me here today. Jenna is a teacher in a school in Washington, D.C.

Students, faculty and distinguished guests, thanks to each and every one of you for welcoming me to the Grand Medine School, and to your beautiful country of Senegal. I'm delighted to be in Dakar to talk about what each of us can do to improve education in Senegal and in countries around the world.

In 2000, representatives of 164 nations gathered in Dakar for the World Education Forum. At this conference, more than a thousand leaders renewed their commitment to UNESCO's goal of Education for All by 2015. These leaders committed to investing in education -- for men, women, children, rich and poor.

An investment in education, no matter how significant, is always worth it. By investing in education, governments meet their other fundamental obligations: to improve opportunities for children and families, to strengthen their economies, and to keep their citizens in good health.

I know that the people of Senegal are committed to improving education in your country. Last September, Madame Wade joined me in New York for the White House Conference on Global Literacy. Thank you, Madame Wade, for your contributions to the conference, and to your country. (Applause.)

As the people of Senegal improve education for children, the American people are proud to partner with you. In 2002, our government launched the Africa Education Initiative, which provides scholarships to African girls, and which will train more than 900,000 teachers across the continent of Africa by the end of the decade.

In its first four years, the initiative has trained nearly 4,000 teachers in Senegal. AEI has provided Ambassador's Scholarships for nearly 1,300 Senegalese girls. Five of these accomplished young women are with us today. They've come from different villages to be recognized, the five new scholarship winners: Christine Ndiaye, Nango Dang, Khady Diome, Yamama Diop, and Fatou Djiby Faye. Congratulations to each of you girls. (Applause.) Here they are.

Nango says her scholarship gives her an opportunity few girls in her rural village have ever had: the chance to be educated past primary school. Now Nango plans to become the first girl in her village to attend a university.

One of the greatest obstacles to education in Nango's village and in many communities throughout Africa is a shortage of textbooks. So through the African Education Initiative, six American universities have partnered with six African countries to produce and print primary-school textbooks. AEI has supplied nearly half a million books for children here in Senegal.

Senegal's partner in the Textbooks Learning and Materials program is Elizabeth City State University in North Carolina. The chancellor of the university, Willie Gilchrist, is here today. The books produced are African centered, and tailored to the culture and curriculum of Senegal. Dr. Willie Gilchrist. (Applause.)

Many of these books were first tested here at the Grand Medine School. Your vice principal, Mrs. Ba, says they've already brought new life into the classrooms. The old texts dated back to 1979 -- before computers, before cell phones, before the Internet. The new books are up to date, and students are eager to learn about the technologies that are transforming everyday life in Senegal.

Today, I'm delighted to announce that even more communities will benefit from these new books. Over the summer, AEI will deliver another 800,000 textbooks to Senegalese children. I'm delighted to present Mrs. Ba with some of these books for the Grand Medine School. The rest will go to children across Senegal. (Applause.)

By investing in education, Senegal is making sure that your country's citizens will be active and engaged for generations to come. Educated citizens will keep themselves in better health, and strengthen Senegal's role in the global economy. Educated women will pass their knowledge along to their communities and to their children. And, as Senegal stands to benefit from these investments in education, the American people are very proud to stand with you.

Thank you very much for welcoming me to your school and to your country. I wish all the young people here the very best for your studies and for your future careers. And I look forward to strengthening the friendship between our countries through our shared commitment to education.

Thank you all very much. (Applause.)

END 11:54 A.M. (Local)

http://www.state.gov/p/af/rls/87664.htm