Students and staff at Miwok Middle School, Leonardo da Vinci K-8, and Washington Elementary worked together this year to support students in Ewatto, Nigeria, with assistance from SMUD, Solar Schoolhouse and WaZoBia Arts.

After reading the novel Fish Tank, a novel about climate change and sustainability, Miwok students created portable Solar Notebooks, and Washington students made pencil pouches for the students of Ewatto Primary. Penpal letters from Miwok, and Washington, and photos from Leonardo da Vinci were included with the delivery of solar notebooks. SMUD donated solar kits for students to build, and Solar Schoolhouse provided the kits with help from Tor Allen along the way.

Through WaZoBia Arts, Sunny Eselekhomhen provided West African Cultural Arts and history lessons to students at Miwok (Andrea Zarate’s class), Washington (Mrs. Quinn’s class), and Leonardo da Vinci (Mrs. Mead’s class). Sunny Eselekhomhen, is the founder of WaZoBia Arts, and also a bus driver for Sacramento City Unified. Kim Eselekhomhen is an 8th grade teacher at Miwok Middle School, and the Educational Outreach Director for WaZoBia Arts.

After learning about West African culture, the students at Washington, Miwok, and Leonardo da Vinci created pen pal letters, pencil pouches, and photos for Sunny and Kim Eselekhomhen to share with the students from Ewatto Primary.

Ewatto Primary has approximately 100 students, all from the local village of Ewatto. Supplies are minimal and no plumbing, electricity, restrooms, lighting, or kitchen facilities are on site. There is no playground, playground equipment, or equipment to play with outside. Teachers are provided with only small paper textbooks, and a few pencils for each student. Despite the lack of basic resources, the students are cheerful, happy, respectful, proud, and work hard to learn the lessons that are provided to them.

WaZoBia Arts is committed long term to the success of Ewatto Primary, and hopes to continue fundraising beyond this project, so that students in the village can focus on their lessons in comfort, and not just day to day survival. WaZoBia Arts is fundraising to provide money needed to drill a “borehole” for a well at the school, playground equipment, and basic school supplies. The borehole, will provide running water for not only the school, but also for the locals, many of whom must walk miles to get water every day from water trucks.

Click here for more information or to support: https://gofund.me/97b9df5f.