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A new development project has begun to take shape today. As you may already know, WildlifeDirect, together with Zoological Society of London, are rebuilding Mutsora, the station of the northern sector of Virunga National Park. Funded by the EU, the construction of buildings for two primary schools becomes part of the same project. Soderu will be overseeing the work, and the contracting company is Great Lakes Construction. Two schools have benefited form this project: Kengele Primary School, in Mutwanga, and Mutsora Primary School, in Mutsora. Each school will have a new building (of 52 meters long) containing 6 spacious classrooms. It is planned to be finished by mid January 2008. I was overwhelmed by the happiness of the school staff when I arrived yesterday to take some pictures. These images need no words to explain the appalling conditions in which these children live and study.
Kengele Primary School
Mutsora Primary School Sister Kahambu Vitaya, the Director of Kengele Primary School, was telling me they have got 565 registered students, and only 14 rooms available. Some classrooms, specially 1st and 2nd grades, hold up to 60 students each. Very difficult conditions for teachers to handle such big numbers. The government sends money for only 6 teachers. They have got 16, so the money has to be divided between everyone, and that makes u$s 11 each.
On the other hand, Mr. Kule Sayira, the Director of Mutsora Primary School, was telling me he has got 200 registered students, most of them sons and daughters of Virunga’s National Park Rangers. Although this school is officially recognized by the government, they do not get any money to pay for their teachers. They have got 6 teachers employed, who receive u$s 5 a month, because most of the children’s parents are too poor to pay for the school fees.
Sister Kahambu Vitaya on the left, Safari from Soderu in the middle, and Sister Masika Ndekeninge
Kengele Primary School and the Rwenzori mountains on the back
15 Comments posted on "Rehabilitation of Schools in Mutsora start today"
Jim G. on October 17th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
From the BBC, “DR Congo ‘to disarm Hutu rebels’” … http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7049173.stm (Wednesday, 17 October 2007, 17:16 GMT 18:16 UK/BST)
Christina/San Diego,CA on October 17th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Thank you for sharing these amazing photos. The faces of the staff and children made me smile! Education is so important to the future of the children, and the future of Virunga National Park. What a wonderful project!
Wanda, Atlanta on October 18th, 2007 at 11:53 am
I really hope that as the park moves forward and I hope into peaceful and profitable times for all for the wildlife within it that the schools and rangers children will prosper and more dollars can go toward those causes both from the tourism and from donations made thru other mechanisms even this website — such a shame to have such overcrowding when they are so eager to learn!
Jim G. on October 18th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
From the BBC: “Congo warlord flown to The Hague” … http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7050506.stm … (Last Updated: Thursday, 18 October 2007, 15:08 GMT 16:08 UK) … This is about Germain Katanga also known as Simba.
Jim G. on October 19th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
From allAfrica.com … “Congo-Kinshasa: Alarming Numbers of Children Flee Forced Recruitment and Sexual Violence by Nkunda’s Forces” … http://allafrica.com/stories/200710191239.html … I hope, and pray, the new schools will help children avoid the kind of violence described in the article. What a great project!
Jim G. on October 20th, 2007 at 9:14 am
From the BBC … “Congo rebel leader denies losses” … http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7054182.stm … I hope they reach a settlrment soon.
Atamato » Blog Archive » Re-building our park station on October 25th, 2007 at 12:16 pm
[…] all WildlifeDirect donations go to the field and none go to admin). WWF gets money from the EU. The schools in Mutsora are also funded by the EU. This is a wonderful contribution to […]
Manioc Valley » Blog Archive » Schools: Week 2 on October 26th, 2007 at 3:43 am
[…] rehabilitation project of two primary schools in Mutsora and Mutwanga is fully underway. We are now on the second week of […]
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[…] rehabilitation project is running just on time, looking […]
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[…] again with the report on the construction progress for the rehabilitation of Kengele and Mutsora Primary […]
Manioc Valley » Blog Archive » Schools: Week 5 on November 22nd, 2007 at 8:08 am
[…] again, here with the weekly report on the rehabilitation of Mutsora and Kengele Primary […]
Manioc Valley » Blog Archive » Orphanage's Donations on January 20th, 2008 at 2:04 am
[…] are currently rehabilitating two primary schools in Mutsora, a project that will be finished by the end of this […]
Manioc Valley » Blog Archive » School Benches under way on January 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 am
[…] part of the rehabilitation project carried out in both Kengele and Mutsora Primary Schools, the provision of benches for every […]
Manioc Valley » Blog Archive » Inside the New Classroom on January 30th, 2008 at 5:21 am
[…] those who have not been following the story on this project, you can read more about it here. We take this opportunity to thank Roberta from the European Union who made it all […]
School's: Last Days | Manioc Valley on February 15th, 2008 at 3:47 am
[…] are now on the final road to finishing with the rehabilitation of Kengele and Mutsora Primary […] Post a comment
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