"A Promise to My Brother."

October 6, 2007

Dear President Clinton:

As always, I was very happy to receive your e-mail, giving me the opportunity to voice myself in writing about such an important cause --- giving to others to help them better their lives.

Mr. President, I have so many stories I would like to voice for the entire world to hear, but since I can't write everything here, I have chosen to share a story near and dear to my heart: "A Promise to My Brother."

Until I lost my older brother about 12 years, I always gave of my time, love and money to help others, but never fully understood the power that rests in the real meaning of true giving and helping without reservation. That changed when my brother Michel passed away at age 36, leaving a young wife and four children.

After mourning and crying for many months over the loss of my beloved brother, I found peace within myself one day, as if a little voice told me to stop crying and start doing. It was then that I made a promise to him: "Please, rest well, and don't worry about your wife and kids, because I will help them to survive."

I made that promise not knowing how I was going to do it. I didn't know how I was going to be able to help myself, struggling alone to survive in New York City...let alone, a young widow and four kids, our mother, and the rest of the family. Michel was the breadwinner and suddenly he was gone. But as difficult as it has been, I kept my promise to my brother and have been looking after his children morally and financially ever since, ensuring that they always attend school each year and have enough food to eat before going to bed. Even if occasionally I go to bed hungry, I don't mind, because knowing that I have fed the children and they are content makes me happy and satisfied.

And so, for the past 12 years (sometimes along with contributions from a few kind and generous friends of mine, to whom I am grateful), I make a pledge of donation, as small as it may be, every few months for Africa. And when it's time for back to school, I usually give a little more each year to help as many children as possible go back to school in Burkina Faso, my native land (I became an American citizen ten years ago). Without my assistance, there would be no way for them to attend school, no food, and certainly no clothes and shoes to wear back to school. In our village, my family is simply too poor to afford the school tuition and supplies.

The children are wonderful, bright and good students, unquestionably deserving of a chance in life buttressed by a solid education, like that of American, European and other Western children. This is why I always make sure to help with any money my family needs, even if I have to ask others to give to supplement what I can send to save them. It's a sacrifice, but it's always one I am willing to make joyfully each year to assure that my nieces, nephews, and other children attend school and get the type of education that is unassailably theirs to have. I was given that opportunity in my formative years and I am passing the torch to the next generation, hoping they will remember to do the same someday.

As one of your students, Mr. President, I am trying my very best to do good for our young children here in America as well. I have written a children's book (of which I previously mentioned to you) to teach American and other Western children and their parents about daily life of African children in a village. It is my intent that it will help educate them about the reality of what it means to go to bed hungry or ill --- no food to satisfy your hunger nor medicine to treat your illness. Conversely, I also want them to know and understand the joy and family unity and love that is ever-flowing like a river among African families. I wrote it with love and hope that, once in print, it will reach and teach those who want to learn, better themselves with greater knowledge and awareness, and hopefully pass on its virtues to the next generation. I believe we can all be part of the solution, no matter who we are.

This is my heartfelt story, dear President Clinton. I hope you like it.

Please accept my warmest regards and admiration for a job well done on your new book and the work you are doing for so many around the globe.

Sincerely,

Salimata Sawadogo