Educate Medical Professionals in DR Congo

Some of you may be wondering about our follow-up to the report posted back in April of this year, “Giggle to Giggle, Little by Little.” We wondered who the giggling woman in a photo with her literacy class colleagues could be. Now, at last, we can tell you the name of this 23-year-old who appears so exhuberant in our earlier photos: Adeline. Here is her autobiographical interview, translated from Swahili and French:

Q: Adeline, please tell us about your life.

A: "I was born in Rwenena to a family in which our parents could not afford to pay school fees for me. I did not attend any classes. I spent all my time looking for food in the field with my mother. At the age of 18, I became pregnant by a young man from a neighboring village. He denied responsibility for my pregnancy, so I had to stay at home until the birth of my son. Throughout this time, I left every day for the field in hopes of earning enough money to get the things I needed for my son and for my maternity needs. Three years later, the same man who fathered my first child got me pregnant again. He returned to his home in yet another village, where he fathered another child with another woman, again taking no responsibility as a father. Currently my children and I are living with my parents. I still go to the field every day to get food."

For years, we have encouraged our schoolkids' parents to pay all costs for their children's education. Many do so with difficulty yet with pride.

Q: Are your children enrolled in our program, which pays for tuition, uniforms, shoes, and supplies?

A: No, my children are not in the program because I am the one paying for my son's education. My daughter has not yet reached school age.

Our big question: Why were you laughing in the class photo (shown again, below)?

A: That day at the opening of our training, I was very happy to be among the selected women. To qualify as a student in Rwenena's permaculture and livestock program (implemented by a SAFECO affiliate), it is required that we complete this literacy and human rights training. So my joy was great, and I expressed it with laughter. Even today, on the last day of our literacy training, I remain very happy.

Finally, Adeline thanks donors like you:

I take this opportunity to say thank you for everything you do for us. Our class instructor, Dogo, teaches us with great love and affection for us and our village. We also love the great lady Moza, of SAFECO. She makes sacrifices every month to travel a long distance to check on our progress. And she gives us women strength, for we are the bravest generation yet.

Don't forget to mark your calendars to return to this page on Giving Tuesday, December 3; GlobalGiving is offering great incentives, including the release of a $500,000 Incentive Fund!

GlobalGiving’s final 2019 Little by Little campaign is here! After reading this report, please consider joining us to support our impactful momentum in Rwenena.

The end-of-school-year annual ceremony recognizes top achievers in all classes at Rwenena Primary School and offers opportunities for public reflection and acknowledgments. Last spring brought a government authority, school officials and teachers, parents, and students. As an annually invited guest speaker, our well-loved field manager, Ariane MOZA ASSUMANI, addressed the gathering as our SAFECO spokesperson. Officials and parents never fail to thank us for our work. Of the event photos posted here, we especially like the photo that shows overwhelming pride of a mother whose own capacity has been strengthened by our literacy, numeracy, and human rights training program.

Moza later reflected on these community accomplishments over the last year as a result of our programming:

• Although there is room for improvement, the children and youth we support continue to make progress in their studies.
• Mothers are credited for the on-time and consistent attendance of their school children as well as for freeing enough time for a guided study review of class lessons.
• The 180 women who completed our literacy training program are now better prepared to benefit from other organizations’ initiatives. To join a permaculture and livestock initiative, for example, participants must have completed our training. This fall, we expect 47 new enrollees who have persistently advocated for a new course.

No big progress comes quickly or easily. We have reached this impact little by little. Once again, we look to you for donations to support as many students as possible in the academic year ahead.

GlobalGiving’s Little by Little campaign is under way now. As a Superstar project, we will receive the maximum 60% match of every donation $50 and under. Please donate early, as matching funds often run out before the week’s end.

Thank you for your continued support!