Don't Write Me Off

Meet Jonathan -

Meet him today, and you see a teacher

dressed in an ill-fitting button down and slacks

with more children than he can handle

and his five or six year old students can't even write their own names. 

It would be so easy to judge him.

But meet Jonathan at six years old - 

If it was up to his parents, he would have stayed home not gone to school

But in elementary school he was always first in his class and he wanted to continue.

So he found ways to pay for his own books, notebooks, fees to go on to the next grade

he tried working at the market, in the town center, 

but no one would pay him.

They said: you are weak, I will not pay you, you cannot do this work. 

He learned to weave baskets instead.

They were so cheap, he made so little, and what he made had to feed him and buy all these things

but what choice did he have?

First year, he passed his class but couldn't pay fee to go to next level - by only 2 dollars.

Second year, he passed but couldn't pay the fee - by only 2 dollars.

During summer vacation, he bought two chicks;

during the school year, the chicks grew into roosters;

by the end of the year, he managed to sell one rooster 

for 2 dollars 

so he could go on to the next class.

Everything was like this, a struggle.

He had a lamp so that at night he could see to do his homework and study,

but no petrol for the lamp 

so it was useless.

First thing after school, he studied - 

he studied fast so he could learn everything before darkness fell.

Later, they put in some electric lamps in the center of town

and he and his friend would go study in the street, under these new electric lights

(mosquitos and all)

until they got tired of being bitten.

His mom died when he was sixteen

and his dad died soon after

and though they weren't very helpful in his education

it only made his life harder.

But he kept working.

He managed,

and he became an elementary school teacher.

Meet Christophe -
He'll introduce himself as "Christopher, like Columbus
The one who discovered America!"

Meet him today and look at a map with him

And he will ask,

"So these things you call 'islands'

They are surrounded by water?

And these things you call volcanos,

They spit fire?"

It would be so easy to judge him.

But meet Christophe-

Six years old, the student of Monsieur Jonathan.

If it was up to his parents, he would have stayed home not gone to school

but in elementary school he was always first in his class and he wanted to continue

he was discouraged

but M. Jonathan saw his struggle and told his own story

he said: if you work in the market, in the center of town, small jobs

you can pay for what you need

you can do it. 

So Christophe worked, even in the third grade,

so that he could go to school

satisfy his curiosity

answer the questions he always had.

Eventually, his mom died

his dad died

his grandfather died

his grandmother died.

He could not continue the schooling he fought so hard for.

But he still had those questions. 

So he worked - and he saved.

When he had a little bit saved, he said:

"I've heard of our capital, Yaounde.

I want to go.

I don't know anyone there

I don't know where it is

But I want to go."

And he did. 

He met new people and had them show him around the city

He paid their transport and he bought them drinks and he said thank you

And he learned.

But he still had those questions. 

So he worked - and he saved.

When he had a little bit saved, he said:

"I've heard of pygmies, small people who live in the East.

I want to meet them.

I don't know anywhere there,

I don't know where the 'east' is.

But I want to go." 

And he did. 

He met new people and he lived with the pygmies for a year.

He learned their language so he could ask his questions

And he learned. 

But he still has those questions. 

He went to Douala, and Kribi, and Ideo. 

He would go to other countries too

Except he can't afford a passport. 

He still has those questions. 

It's too easy to say:

Africans are lazy.

They don't know how to work or how to save.

Africans are only waiting for handouts, 

from their governments or from USAID.

Meet Jonathan, meet Christophe -

Men who have fought their whole lives

For the things that are handed to us.