I am writing to thank you for the many projects that were only successful because of your support of FOL. I have received four FOL grants in my first year of service for Peace Corps Lesotho. I am writing to tell you how wonderful my first year went because of my FOL projects. I arrived in Lesotho in July 1999 and now, one year later, have accomplished so much.

My first FOL grant went to buy crayons, markers, glue, and scissors for my students. I can tell you how this came to be the best thing a new Peace Corps Volunteer can do. All of the neighbor kids would come over every night for months to draw pictures. It was an excellent way to get to know my community - children and parents, too. Thank you!

The second FOL grant went to buy supplies for a very, very successful HIV/AIDs education event. Together with CARE Lesotho and a few Peace Corps Volunteers, this was one of the best days I have had in Lesotho. The event was held at the Botha-Bothe taxi link in central camp town. We bought key chains and safety pins and paper. Re ribbon was donated - to make AIDs ribbons with the safety pins. The key chains had messages about preventing AIDs. The paper we made into fliers with HIV/AIDs information. The CARE Lesotho peer educators taught in SeSotho while we coordinated people to move towards the event. We asked questions and gave the gifts we purchased for correct answers. After lunch, the peer educators moved into the central taxi link and got on the taxis to educate the people. We played the same game on the taxi as we did before lunch. We would ask a question and the correct answer would receive a keychain, ribbon, sticker, or condom. The day was so successful that we are looking to do these events throughout Lesotho at each main taxi link. Thank you!

The third grant I received was for painting a world map at my high school. The project is not finished yet, but the students and teachers are quite excited. Thank you!

The fourth grant I received went towards creating environmental additions for the world map. I am an environmental educator here, and I wanted to tie the map into my primary project. I am hoping to create different additions such as biodiversity regions, locations of endangered animals, locations of natural disasters, climates and many more. The additions can peel on and off of the map, and a manual will be created for the correct answers and different game possibilities. Thank you!

So as you can see, I have been doing quite a lot and have you to thank. Unfortunately, my camera broke during training, and I have not purchased a new one. Hopefully, my uncle will bring me a camera when he visits in September. I will be able to send you a photo of the map. I also wanted to let you know that I have been voted to sit on the FOL committee for VLC (Volunteer Liaison Committee). The committee truly believes FOL is one of the best things that Peace Corps Lesotho has.

We all appreciated what you have done to help us while we are in the field. There are so many small but so important projects that are accomplished because of FOL. You have helped to make my first year in the Peace Corps a year that I will never forget. I give you a million of my thanks and a million of my memories. Thank you so much.

Amy Franklin
PCV 1999-2001