All children have dreams. But for some children realizing their dreams is not as easy as it is for others.
Our foundation, Children’s Dreams for Africa, aims to help African children realize their dreams. In particular, the children of the village of Manéah, in West African Guinea, some 50 km from the capital, Conakry.
Their village was hit by a flood in 2011. Not only lives were lost, but a large part of the infrastructure of the village was destroyed as well, including the school building.
Our first goal was the construction of a new school building. Because the realisation of all children’s dreams has to start with education.
With the aid of our sponsors and volunteers, the school has been built and has welcomed its first pupils earlier this year.
Our foundation doesn’t consider its job to be finished just yet, however.
We are working on several other projects, including a small hospital for first aid and medical emergencies and a local radio station for news broadcasts, educational purposes and the showcasing of local talent.
Manéah is the native village of the man behind Children’s Dreams for Africa, Kerfonse Kanté. Kerfonse is from a family of griots, traditional West African musicians and singers, often commenting on social and political current events.
Kerfonse had to flee his native country in 2001 and settled as a political refugee in Venlo, the Netherlands. He is a working musician, combining the traditional music of his ancestors with music styles from other continents. www.kantekerfonse.com