US Embassy Donates Sewing Machines to School for the Deaf

October 8, 2009

US Embassy APAO Kathleen Peoples and a Dutch volunteer, Clazien Flink with School Officials

Collaboration between the US Embassy in Bamako’s APAO Kathleen Peoples and a Dutch volunteer, Clazien Flink provided a new sewing workshop and training class for students at “l’Ecole Enfants Deficients Auditifs Bamako (EDA).  Clazien’s village in Holland has honored her volunteerism and raised money for a grant to refurbish a classroom and provide a teacher.  Kathleen, who worked at Gallaudet University before joining the Department of State, became interested in the project and through the Embassy, contributed sewing machines to complete the initiative. The opening ceremony was attended by Mr. Neguedougou Sanogo, Directeur du Centre d’Animation Pedagogique de l’Hippodrome, who stressed his goal that all Malian students have opportunities to contribute and earn a living.