Improve Education for 400 Children on Idjwi Island

This month more than 300 eager children are returning to school at EP Buhumba on Idjwi Island! 

This new school year is especially exciting because we have started construction on a new school and administrative office for the primary school. 

In April, members of our board traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where we interviewed multiple contractors who have experience building schools in Eastern Congo. Following a competitive bidding process, we hired a contractor with experience building schools in Goma and with construction projects on Idjwi Island. After inspecting the site and obtaining sketches from an architect, our local project managers have prepared the site and obtained the materials for the construction. In Goma, we filled a truck with materials and sent the truck to Idjwi by boat.  After unloading the materials, we used the truck to deliver stones from a local quarry on Idjwi Island. The construction project is providing valuable jobs for workers on Idjwi Island, all under the supervision of trained and experienced engineers. We expect to have the foundation completed by early October.

The construction is not interfering with the ongoing programs at EP Buhumba. The students are still attending classes in the existing school (which can be seen in the background of the photo).  Their regular curriculum is being complimented by instruction in sustainable farming through our Bustani Garden Project, which is providing practical training in proper techniques for soil preparation, crop rotation, and cultivating local crops. 

Thank you for your continued support for this important project.