"The Teacher Who Changed My Life" by Bill gates

Dear Mr Gates

Thank you for sharing this inspiring story with us. I am currently in the process of building a 'Mini Community City' in the JHB area in South Africa, a first in S.A. and possibly a first in the world and our main focus is to keep the youth off the streets and to teach them skills, to give them hope for the future.

Most of the 605 000 children in our community have an education but I doubt that many of them had a teacher such as Mrs Blanche Caffiere to inspire them. As you mentioned, if it wasn't for the guidance of this very special teacher, you might have been "turned off by school". Most high school drop-outs turn to crime because there seems to be no future for them. There is no employment for these youngsters and even the few who were fortunate enough to graduate from University are devastated because after doing their best to succeed in life there is no employment for them as well.

71% of our community of 3.2 million people live below the poverty level. They have access to education and health care but they have no hope in their lives. The crime rate is escalating because of the high unemployment rate. Our organisation wants to be the 'Mrs Blanche Caffiere' in the lives of these youngsters. We want to give them hope and the opportunity to discover their talents and to find their place in society again.

We have so many ways in which we can help them:-

1. There are three large skills workshops where they can learn a trade such as building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, carpentry skills etc.

2. A computer school for those who would rather study IT skills.

3. The school of Music, Art and Drama for those who are more creative.

4. The 'School of Talent' where they can learn anything from bead work to hairdressing. We encourage these pupils to start their own businesses with the skills that are taught in this school.

5. All sports facilities are available to them in our Community Centre including a fully equipped Gym.

6. We have designed a 'State of the Art' Teen Coffee shop so that they have a special place to hang out.

7. A go-cart track, trick-bike course, skateboard-rink, Laser Quest, wave-pool and many more fun activities to keep them off the streets.

These facilities and many more are available to our entire community and the youth are subsidized by those who can afford to pay to utilize these facilities. We would like our Community Centre to be an example to other Metropolitan areas in our country and even in the rest of the world.

We are a team of skilled individuals who have decided to dedicate the rest of our lives to enrich the poor, giving them hope and dignity - their rightful place in society. I am aware that you must be inundated with requests for assistance from so many organizations, please be kind enough to take the time to find out more about our project so that our ideas can be spread around the world. My email address is [email protected] Please use the reference TIGA01 for all correspondence.

I look forward to providing you with additional information.

Thank you

Kind regards

Heather