Improve Education for 400 Children on Idjwi Island

Meet Jacques. Jacques is an invaluable member of our team at the Idjwi Island Education Fund. Born on Idjwi Island into a family of eight children, Jacques was successful in school and completed an associate's degree in nutrition and dietetics from the Institut Superieur des Techniques Medicales de Bukavu.  Bukavu is on the mainland, south of Idjwi Island and is the largest city close to Idjwi. Since 2017, Jacques has been working with us to provide local support during the medical missions to the school. He has provided tremendous assistance to the medical team, helped with procurement, translations and local logistics. Between medical missions, Jacques visits the school, meets with students and faculty, and provides our team with regular updates on developments at the school and the needs of the children. Jacques is quick to contact our team when our school children have immediate health needs. This contact has allowed us to mobilize our team to provide time sensitive support. 

Jacques also works on special projects. In the last few months, he has helped to identify contractors who might be able to bring well water to the school, and works with our team here and advisors there to develop a possible plan of action. Clean, running water would be a tremendous local resource for our kids and the school, not only will it provide water for drinking and cooking, but the opportunity to wash hands and improve hygiene will help to prevent illness across the community.

Jacques and his wife have two boys and two girls. Their older children are in primary school.

The regular support from our donors allows us to keep Jacques on staff and to provide these invaluable programs for the students.  We look forward to providing you with updates from Jacques during 2019!