Monday, 15 ^th June 2009.
Mr. Robert Hendricks, a sponsorship partner fom Nederlands, visited Fanta Tolno, his sponsored child in Firadou,Yende Rural Development Community in the Kissidougou Prefecture of the Republic of Guinea on April 28, 2009.

We would recall that it was after the death of Mrs Hendricks who was the first sponsor to Fanta that her husband Mr Hendrick took over and continued the sponsorship of Fanta.

Mr Hendricks, in addition to his sponsorship contributions, has spent millions of guinean francs to treat Fanta in Cote d’Ivoire where she also learnt tailoring.

Our visitor traveled from Conakry to Kissidougou Country Office about 600 KM away to meet Plan Guinea staff before going to Firadou.
He was warmly welcomed by Barthelemy Tonguino, the Sponsorship Support Manager (SSM), who briefed him about the child protection policy of the child rights policy of Plan.
Mr Hendricks, accompanied with the Sponsorship Administrator, the Kissidougou Zonal Coordinator, a technician from the audiovisual department and the Professional Animators Supervisor, was warmly greeted on arrival at Firadou by a large crowd of people including traditional musicians and local authorities.

Mr Hendricks later visited Fanta’s family including Fanta’s bedroom where the two of them embraced in tears of joy.

Fanta’s family saluted Mr Hendricks and thanked him for his late wife’s support and for his own support. The family offered some gifts to Mr Hendricks who in turn gave some gifts to Fanta and family. Mr. Hendricks promised to continue his support and transfer it to Bernard Tolno, younger brother of Fanta who will soon reach 18 years and retire from sponsorship according to the rules.

A minute of silence was observed on the memory of late Mrs Hendricks and the family prayed for her soul to rest in peace. Mr Hendricks thanked the community for remembering his wife. The Chairman of the Yende Rural Development Community, on behalf of his people and Fanta’s family, presented some gifts to Mr Hendricks.

Before ending his visit, Mr Hendricks went to see the children of the local primary school where he distributed gifts to the best five pupils of each class and later shared the traditional meal with Fanta’s family and his entourage. On his return to Kissidougou, Mr. Hendricks visited the town’s school cybercafé and paid a courtesy call on Plan Guinea Country Director where he thanked Plan Staff and the community for the warm welcome and the job being done on the field.

The SSM praised and thanked him for the visit and for his continued support to Fanta’s family. He added that “without good health, no child can develop his full potential” in reference to Fanta’s medical treatment in Cote d’Ivoire paid for by Mr. Hendricks.

Mr. Hendicks left Kissidougou on april 29, 2009 very relaxed.

Lamine Mansare
Sponcom Agent
Translated: by MTD