Munanyi wabonga !!!
or Happy New Year !!! in Kipende.
Mama Tumba, Head of Tree Care and Deputy Custodian
A primary school student extending his reach to learn a third language.
The New Year is a time to look toward the future and to take stock of the past. Often, it all comes down to the simple things, the successes, the challenges... For the people of Kandale, it is putting glass in the windows of the primary school and latches on the doors, and building stairs leading up to the open doorways. The formidable task of building the walls and constructing the roof has come and gone. Teachers can now focus on the task of educating the new minds that are sitting before them and not worry about goats jumping through the open windows.
REVE Kandale Staff Members with Steve from Kikwit and Macaire from Burkina Faso shaking hands
In the garden the children are being taught the basic principles of economics and supply and demand. It is the rainy season, and the three cisterns are full of water, but in a few more months the trek down to the spring will resume, but that is still months away. Discussions continue on the best course of action for drilling for water.
Economics 101 with veteran teachers Khenda and Azita
Many of the crops have reached maturity and the grains can now be ground with the new flour grinders. Market Day is flourishing, and people are arriving from the surrounding areas to purchase produce and other goods that have appeared. With the lessons from the ABCD presentation, positive ideas for the community are shared from shaded gatherings to cooking pots.
Glaziers installing glass in the Primary School windows
More and more areas have been lighted thanks to all the new solar panels and friends can linger a little longer in the evening and dream about the upcoming soccer tournament. The girls at school have a safe place to sleep and a new place to prepare their meals.
Papa Kitangwa is back in Kandale to provide sewing training. He is checking all the machines one by one for a tune-up and making repairs where needed. So far, all the machines are in good shape, except for a few minor repairs. Once the machines have been looked over, he will meet with the Lycee leadership to set-up a training schedule for the coming year.
REVE Kandale Staff Members
Children see the changes and are beginning to feel connected to the larger world. It may not be a rapid change, but it is constant and positive. We truly thank you for all your support this past year. You have made a tremendous difference!
