Eric

The second week of school, a slim, nervous boy came up to me outside of the staff room. He asked me to proof-read a letter he was sending to the school board in request for a scholarship. He could barely look me in the eye, and scampered away once I said yes. 

I sat down in the staff room and opened the letter, ready to correct a few things and give back before I left for the day. I was completely unprepared for the contents. The letter explained, in detail, how Eric had lost his entire family in December 2009, only a few months before I read it. He had been with his Grandfather, preparing for an anniversary party. The rest of his family was at home. Apparently the rains were quite bad, and they caused a mud retaining wall to collapse on top of his house, killing his entire family. That was why he asked for a scholarship. His grandparents could look after him during the holidays, but there was no money for his education. This was my introduction to Eric.

In addition to a truly heartbreaking story, Eric is also one my hardest working students. He asks for English books, makes lists of words he doesn’t know and is the first to raise his hand in class. He wasn’t able to get a scholarship from the school board, but he was able to be part of the Kurera Fund set up by Claire, the previous WorldTeach volunteer at my school.  Even though Eric’s schooling is taken care of, he has asked me for a few things through out the year (after I offered).  Last semester, he asked for toothpaste, soap, and notebooks. He also asked if I could copy an old math manual from Senior 6 so he could practice his math. Everything about him makes me want to help him more.

This semester, he asked for  toothpaste etc and then, in a very low and hushed voice, asked if I could possibly afford to help him get new school shoes. I looked down and he was wearing flip flops, not the sturdy leather shoes most boys wear.  Yes, I can afford to help him buy shoes.  On Saturday,  he came over to my house to get the money for the shoes (He is also good to keeping it a secret and not bragging to peeps that I help him which would result in a flurry of requests).  While my house, his nervousness was palpable. He fidgeted, grabbing his pants and looked down when he talked to me. Occasionally, he would glance up and smile at me, but his smiles always seem sad.  We talked about next year, and I said I would make sure that his schooling was paid for through next year and leave him with some money for supplies. After asking for my help with ICT (Me: What’s wrong with your ICT teacher? Eric: There is a lot he doesn’t know) he confessed that he had a big thing to ask. Apparently, he is a very good singer and had written some songs. He wanted my help (money) to record.  I don’t know if it was his clear anxiety about next year when I am gone or me just being a sucker, but I said yes. He knew all the details, exactly how much it would cost and asked me to come with him so they would take him seriously. I said yes on the condition that he go to University even if his music took off and limited it to 2 songs (40 K each, like $80).

What makes me most sad about Eric is that he seems to understand how bad his situation is. Many of my neighborhood gang have fairly “bleak” futures by USA standards, but they seem to have a relaxed joie du vivre that I have never seen in Eric. He knows that the years ahead will be hard and that even if he makes it through secondary school and gets into University, the road is not necessarily smooth.  I am thankful that he at least has some extended family to return to during breaks. even if they cannot help him financially, they hopefully supply some love and emotional support.   If there is any semblance of justice in the world, I have to believe that good things will come to a person as sweet and motivated as him.