Improve Education for 400 Children on Idjwi Island

Friends and supporters -

We expect that many of you have read news reports regarding the conflict in the Kivu region in DRC.  Idjwi Island is in Lake Kivu and the conflicts has had an effect on travel to Idjwi Island and the availability of resources on the island.  This has resulted in a number of complications, including increased food insecurity.  Even with these challenges, the students are attending school.  Our local medical team from Idjwi and the mainland has continued to provide regular medical support and interventions childrent suffering from malaria, anemia, trachoma, scabies, and severe protein-malnutrition.  We are planning further full-scale medical missions when the circumstances permit.

As always we greatly appreciate your support for the children in Buhumba Village.  

Hello friends! We have lots to report from the Buhumba Primary School on Idjwi Island in Democrative Republic of Congo.  The big news is that this fall our 500 students have fresh water at the school.  We have replaced the prior source, which was good for washing hands and toilets, with fresh water that also is safe for drinking.  This new water source is a welcome addition to the school and should help with the overall health and hygience for the children.

We are also thrilled to welcome our global health team for an extended medical mission next month.  The children on Idjwi Island suffer from malnutrition, regular infestation with worms and parasites, and high mortality from preventable and treatable diseases.  In our regular medical missions, we test and treat common neglected tropical diseases such as intestinal parasites, schistosomiasis, scabies, malaria, and trachoma.  The upcoming expanded mission will provide important preventive efforts for these conditions, and will also provide interventions to prevent mpox (there is a deadly new strain in the region).  We are extremely grateful for the commitment and dedication from Dr. Annie Sparrow, Dr. Bisimwa, Nurse Faida, and the medical students and support team that lead these efforts.

We believe in the children in Buhumba Village and want to provide conditions to support their learing.  We will continue to support these programs.  We appreciate the regular support from our generous contributors.  We would welcome additional support today -- #GivingTuesday - when there are matching gifts through GlobalGiving.