You know the feeling when your heart is happy? When the muscle emulates the smile of the Valentine’s Day symbol? I feel that this morning…J I just spent another Saturday morning at Ibou’s workshop making ceramics, helping lil’ kids paint their masterpieces and joking with deaf and mute young adults.(pic: Ibou with a proud student)
When I went to St. Louis in early March with the handicap kids I met a wonderful man named Ibou who over the past 12-15 years has completely dedicated his life to helping those rejected by society: mostly handicap and street children. He’s just one of those simple, rather timid guys who simply loves to help people. He has converted his humble home into a 
workshop, open 7 days a week, where only a tiny room w/bed and small fridge rest as his personal belongings. He shares everything from personnel items to passion for the arts. He currently employs about 15 children, many of whom are deaf and mute. In addition, he feeds them daily breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. Many of these kids cannot afford school or cannot go to school because there is no program to assist their needs. He has taught them a trade, but most importantly, he has taught them self-confidence.
(pic: the workshop)
workshop, open 7 days a week, where only a tiny room w/bed and small fridge rest as his personal belongings. He shares everything from personnel items to passion for the arts. He currently employs about 15 children, many of whom are deaf and mute. In addition, he feeds them daily breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. Many of these kids cannot afford school or cannot go to school because there is no program to assist their needs. He has taught them a trade, but most importantly, he has taught them self-confidence.(pic: the workshop)
Since St. Louis, I have spent every available Wednesday and Saturday morning there in silent laughter. They have even started to teach me French Sign Language! And to further emphasize my amazement described in my last blog—those employees that manage to hear some sounds and can ‘grunt’ back in response (sorry, I don’t know the appropriate term) understand and can respond in French and Wolof! Even though they can’t talk, they’re bi-lingual!(pics:two of the boys who work for Ibou.)
Appropriate to the circumstance, words can’t describe how I love to work along side them! Thanks to the generous donations of friends and family (including Rotary family!) in the States this week Ibou and I are going to buy 2 big gas tanks for the workshop. The tanks will allow for a more even
pressure and larger ‘cooking’ capacity for the ceramics. When I told him this morning that friends have donated in order to help his dream, his large black eyes filled w/ tears and he gave me an awkward hug and a whisper “merci 
beaucoup”
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