by Halcyon Martin
171 Schools are able to reopen as they fulfil the govenment’s Covid-19 safety requirements.
Our partners, Comfort Congo, support and oversee 171 schools in North Kivu. Over the years North Kivu has been devastated by conflict and influenced by armed militia groups causing death, destruction, injury, displacement, hunger and extreme poverty for many thousands of people.
Comfort Congo has made it a priority to provide education for as many children as possible, including the most vulnerable. They know that education will give these children the opportunity of climbing out of poverty. They also hope that any influence that they can have will impact the fabric of society and contribute to lasting peace and hope for the future in the region.
It is a difficult journey as the government does not offer much financial support to the schools in the area. There is very little in the way of money for resources or salaries and the school buildings are often dilapidated. The pandemic has brought the situation into even sharper focus. The schools were forced to close for a period of time, meaning no school fees, leading to no pay at all for most of the teachers. When the schools were finally allowed to reopen there were understandably strict guidelines for measures that needed to be taken before opening would be allowed. Sanitiser needed to be made available, handheld infrared thermometers needed to be purchased and hand washing stations needed to be installed, it was a very big ask for these schools.
With a successful application to Childs Charitable Trust Comfort International has been able to facilitate the purchase of thermometers, sanitiser, hand washing kits and other emergency sanitising equipment for the schools which we support. Save The Children have also supported Comfort Congo directly. Both together have allowed all of the schools to reopen and the education of tens of thousands of children to recommence. It has been really important for these schools to open as soon as possible as education interruption frequently leads to education termination among such vulnerable communities. For children of displaced people, pygmies, orphans, rape survivors and the very poor this is an opportunity to recover hope in a Covid disrupted world.
We are also grateful for our many supporters, including Love Wales, who have given in order to provide emergency food for the teachers. Not only is this providing desperately needed food and supplies but also hope, reassurance that they are not forgotten and the will to continue teaching when the schools reopened. These teachers are truly amazing and they see that the future of their community and their country is at least partly in their hands.
Many of the school buildings are very, very basic. Over the years Comfort International has partnered with Comfort Congo and other NGO’s to secure land and build more robust buildings, so we celebrate with Comfort Congo each time there is a step forward in provision for the schools. Recently ALARM (African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries) contributed funds to build two water tanks, one at Walugaba school and one at St Jean school. These will really help the schools on a daily basis, especially with the increased requirement for hand washing during the pandemic.
Please remember Comfort Congo and these teachers, pupils and schools of North Kivu. Their work and perseverance could change the future of the region of North Kivu and the nation of D.R.Congo.