Visiting my foster child

For all of those of you who have foster children in the developing world, I am sending a huge “thank you” from all the villages you support. Today, I visited my foster child, Anatou, in Bambalang, 90 minutes from Bamenda. It was one of the most amazing and moving experiences of my live. Plan has been operating in the community since 1996 and build schools, wells, a bank, organized training programs and given the village pride. I was the first foster-parent in all those years, who had come to visit their sponsored child. The whole village turned out at a reception ceremony at the Fon’s Palace to say “thank you” to me and to you. Four groups of schoolchildren sang songs written in my honour, several people made speeches and presented me with copies, I was presented with a traditional costume and invited to dance with the traditional dancers. After a tour of Plan projects, there was a huge feast for 200 people at Anatou’s family compound with more speeches, singing and dancing. Anatou herself, the little princess, was a little overwhelmed at being the symbol of her village’s good fortune; but handled it perfectly. I felt so privileged to represent all the foster parents from Canada and around the word and to receive the appreciation of the people of Bamdalang on your behalf.