Can you help Lauson de Silva????

A plea for Lauson de Silva


Dear Friends,
This young man is Lauson De Silva and is an 'A' student at St. Francis School which is a Catholic school in a far village. He has cycled or walked to school which is about an hour away. Lausan is also the translator and leader for all the religious services at Nazareth Hermitage. I have watched him growing up over the past 5 years and all that time he has been the most devout and faithful member of the Catholic community in Tanje. He always walks or cycles to the nearby villages to announce time for Masses when they are held here or any other service )stations, prayer meetings, rosary, bible reading, etc.) and he is always in attendance. Only last year did he finally receive his first Communion and Confirmation (he is now 19 years old). Now he needs to begin high school in the Capitol City, Banjul but his grandmother, who had been previously paying for his schooling, has told him that she cannot afford to pay any more. The Grandmother is getting old and is basically a subsistence farmer. For Lau not to get into school would be a real sad thing as he is brilliant and has high hopes of becoming a Doctor or Priest. I suggested he do both...He is smart enough and may have a vocation, but time will tell. So what I am asking for is someone to help with his school fees in order for him to attend Gambia High School (The only good science program is at Gambia High) which is approximately 5000 Gambian Dalasis or $251.00 US dollars per school year.
Unless he finds someone to help him he remain out of school and take up work as a farmer ekeing out his existence as his family has for generations. This would be a real loss to the country and to the church. He has been told if he converts to a "born again" church that they would sponsor him but he told them he would never leave the Catholic Church.
This is the first time I have ever asked for a donation for schooling but I feel it is so necessary, I told him I would do it. If you can't donate, please pray that someone will help.
Lauson is a young man of principles and I woleheartedly recommend him to you. If you feel you want to help, drop me an e-mail and let me know. I will pass the information on to him. Lau will be very grateful and will be happy to write to you and tell you all about himself and I can take pics of him to send along.
School opens next month so there is a rush about this.
God bless you and thanks for reading this plea.

dismas