Educate Medical Professionals in DR Congo

The last school year was not as successful as we had hoped.

We were disappointed to learn that student scores—particularly for last year’s first-grade class—were low. Student attendance was irregular, supplies were left behind, and uniforms were not adequately maintained or worn. The church-owned school management and 3 teachers wanted higher supplemental fees for participation in the program, which we did not approve. Overall, although our activities remained intact, their level of effort did not meet our expectations.

The launch of this school year—with 30 new first graders and a total of 90 sponsored students—was a sober one. With Boniface Rukumbuzi serving as new manager at SAFECO’s headquarters, we held the first of a series of sensitization workshops planned throughout the year. Participants are the principal, the pastor, the teachers, the parent leadership group, and other parents. Boniface explained to them that their lack of responsibility is resulting in poor-quality education and that they cannot rest easy just because bazungu (foreigners from Western cultures) provide funding. The change of mindset needed must be real, not professed.

Here is the community’s challenge:

• Principal: Maintain order and accountability of the school; the results reflect on you and your integrity. Activities must be carefully planned, implemented, and evaluated, with SAFECO monitoring your school's progress at least once monthly.
• Teachers: Take a proactive approach to educating the next generation of Rwenena. Submit student progress reports.
• Parents: Make sure your children attend school regularly with clean uniforms, supplies in hand, and determination to succeed in learning. Follow up with the progress and supervision of your children and of their teachers.

Besides parents realizing that their children’s education has not been what it should be, the principal, pastor, and parent committee were, as Boniface reports, “in shame, and realized that they had not lived up to their educational responsibility. Together, all agreed that this must be a year of recovery for education in Rwenena.” Our new workshops will foster this effort. We will closely monitor the recovery process.

Please affirm your encouragement to the children of Rwenena with a generous donation. For those who trust their memories and calendars, please mark October 2-6 as Giving Week, with Thursday, October 5, as the pro-rated Bonus Day. Otherwise, consider a donation today. Many thanks for your continued support!