On Tuesday the 23rd, a truck arrived from Kikwit carrying the needed supplies to complete the roof of the third block. The lumber, the tin sheets and cement were all unloaded.
Presently the wooden support structure for the 3rd block is about to be installed and the tin sheets should be in place in another week.
The drop ceiling was put in place on the second block and the students eagerly carried their chairs and desks into the new structure.
All the while, just a stone’s throw from the ongoing construction, the First Regional Women’s Football match has been going full force. As of this writing, all 32 teams have competed in the first round of elimination and the remaining 16 teams have moved on to the quarterfinals.
The excitement is explosive and the attendance of the matches has been jammed packed. Colette has commended all the members of the advisory board, the referees and the athletes for their professionalism and impressive sportsmanship.
It has been a very positive event, and Kick for Knick and the family of Mama Kanemu have played a very important role in supporting the growing enthusiasm for football in the region.
Individuals have been calling from towns that are hours away by motorcycle in the hope of catching their local team playing. She has received innumerable messages of praise and wonder as this is the first serious women’s match to have ever taken place in the region.
The first quarter final match between Kudi and Malundu was one of the most impressive. In many of the previous matches the players ‘moved like fish in a pond’, to quote Colette, but the Kudi and Malundu teams were very well organized and implemented complex strategies on the field. Malundu won 3:0. Malundu has one of the best players in the tournament, a very young girl who has scored 6 goals on her own already. They play Nzemba Giboba next, which is another great team.
Several members of the community have been coming up with ideas to take advantage of those in attendance by marketing fresh produce, frozen fish, beignets and offering a variety of beverages. The demand for frozen fish has been growing steadily. Several booths were set up including a nail polish booth, a hair salon, phone services and air time.
The events that have been highlighted in the past several Communiqués have a resounding impact on the community and the region. The fact that these projects and events materialize successfully is a testament to Colette’s hard work on the ground and the seemingly endless organizational meetings. They are also a testament to the constant support of our donors. And finally a huge shout out goes to Eudes Mashini Fana or Cephado to his friends, for his tireless photography and incredible action shots. The images speak volumes to the excitement, the camaraderie and the fierceness of these events. They document a unique moment in Kandale, one that will live on in the memories of all those who have participated.
