Archive for the ‘By Virginia’ Category
This week we have been a little bit disconnected with the migration of our server. So I will tell you about the activities we have started on Monday: planting trees, mostly Moringa Oleifera, with its wonderful nutrient properties. So far we have planted 200, each one with its own enclosure.
We have already ordered 1.000 more, and they will be planted mid March, the day we inaugurate the two buildings (Kengele and Mutsora Primary Schools). This was all possible thanks to Lisa who has kindly donated the money on behalf of her dearest friend Lisa as well. From all the children in Mutsora, asante sana! It is time for me to say goodbye to all the readers in WildlifeDirect. There are no words to express how grateful I am for all your support during this time. Hope to see you in the blogs!
The Bitter End, UNICEF and DMS are working on a book in which children around the world, aged 10-16 years, can write their personal views of the future, their fears, their hopes, their beliefs, their desires. It will become a unique book, representing the views and ideals of the next generations inheriting the earth, published worldwide on the International Day of Children’s Rights and the Davos Global Summit for political and business leaders in 2009. The children of Kengele Primary School participated today in this project and hopefully one of their stories will be selected!
On another note, we would like to wish good luck to Rebecca for the fundraiser she is organizing, together with her sister Rachel, on the 8th of March. Rebecca is a teacher in St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia. All funds will be donated to both Kengele and Mutsora Primary Schools. As for the rehabilitation project of both schools, the construction of latrines has begun.
As Samantha wrote on her last post before leaving DRC, the batch of supplies has now been delivered to the health clinic in Kanyaruchinya: 10 Bags of OMO Soap 20 Bottles Yddis Detergent 10 Chlore bidons 4 Baby washing basins 1 Kerosene bidon for lams
We are now on the final road to finishing with the rehabilitation of Kengele and Mutsora Primary Schools.
Sometime soon we will be inaugurating both buildings, with William from Soderu and Roberta from the EU. Educational and fundraising projects are underway and we will be working with children from both schools on new and exciting ideas. We will be posting on these regularly.
The old and the new, side by side
Website founder Rick LoBello, on a limited basis, is offering a copy of his Favorite Wildlife Encounters DVD to anyone who makes a contribution to WildlifeDirect (valid within the US only).
To qualify for the DVD please e-mail a copy of your WildlifeDirect Inc receipt to rickllobello@cs.com. Favorite Wildlife Encounters takes you on a tranquil journey into the landscape of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, Wolong Nature Preserve (home of Giant Pandas in China) and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda (home on Mountain Gorillas).
Today the wooden benches have been moved into the new building in Mutsora Primary School. A few shots on the outcome. For 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 happen.
Assembling the benches
Some previous testing on the street by curious children passing by
And voila! Tomorrow the painting begins
As part of the rehabilitation project carried out in both Kengele and Mutsora Primary Schools, the provision of benches for every classroom is part of the project. 132 wooden benches, 6 tables and 6 chairs (for the teachers) are being manufactured now by Paida’s industrial carpentry, which belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Butembo and Beni. That will be the stock of 6 classrooms for one of the schools. The others to be ordered once these are finished.
Belgium old machinery from the colonial period
Benches piling up
I know that title doesn’t sound good, but this week we have had a serious storm in Mutsora with very strong winds. Which ended up in a big tall tree falling on top of one of our tents.
Luckily nobody was in there, and no one got hurt.
We are currently rehabilitating two primary schools in Mutsora, a project that will be finished by the end of this month. The Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Presentation that owns the land and runs both schools are the same ones responsible for this little orphanage, where they take care of 13 homeless children, and has been running since 1948.
Sister Rosalie downloading one of the boxes from the car
I have been very lucky to bring many extra kilos with me from Argentina, so I would like to thank the following people for the donated toys, shoes and clothes: Alejandra P. Cinthia E. Poty S. Agustina and Millie R. Orlando and Facundo E. And many thanks to Lucien A. from Tam, who has allowed me to board the plane with 90 extra kilos!
It has been a good surprise to see the buildings almost ready. The rehabilitation of Kengele and Mutsora Primary School are not a dream any more, but the result of progress, hope and hard work.
The old and the new buildings, standing side by side.
Mutsora Primary School
Kengele Primary School As scheduled, Safari (on the right) from Soderu is confident that both buildings will be ready by the 25th of January.
No more learning in classrooms like this, with no walls, as from next month……
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