Earlier in the year, in the 'Oasis' edition, The Communiqué wrote about the conflicts that were occurring in Eastern DRC. At the end of this June a peace deal was signed between DRC and Rwanda. It is a hopeful sign. The Kandale Community has not been directly affected by these ongoing conflicts, and any movement toward a sustained peace is a movement in a positive direction.
Many weeks have passed since the last Communiqué, but progress toward a better life continues in Kandale. As of last reporting, the roof on the first block of classes was completed and the foundation on the second block was constructed in anticipation of the brick walls.
Exams D'État
The students have since moved into the first block of classes despite the absence of windows and doors, but the structure is far superior to the adjacent mud classroom. That ‘mud’ classroom has since been dismantled and the clay/sand walls have been repurposed toward the construction of the new block. Construction was postponed as Colette contracted malaria and needed to return to Kinshasa. Colette is presently in excellent health and she is preparing for her return to Kandale toward the end of August.
Grinding the Corn Harvest
Clearing the REVE Kandale compound and discovering caterpillars.
The ABCD training was delayed until the beginning of September. As with many conferences there are many moving parts and all the presenters will be available for this final part of the cycle. The ABCD training that started in 2022 has been organized in a very deliberate way. Initially, participants were presented with ideas around community development and business marketing. The next training focused on entrepreneurship and an evaluation of the experiences of the participants. Recently in April, there was an extensive presentation around the many aspects of agriculture. As always the experience of the local farmers is an integral part of the discussion.
This training was very popular and it will be repeated in September. The agriculture lessons will be revisited to ensure that anyone who missed the first session can be in attendance. Additionally, there will be workshops on how to make soap and bread.
The girls’ soccer tournament was delayed as well and to quote Colette, “the delay provided a greater opportunity to organize all the communities”. With 32 separate communities participating, it has become quite the undertaking, training coaches, communicating with all the communities about the goals of the event, and preparing Kandale for this event. Kandale has been hosting several exhibition matches in anticipation of the tournament. As part of the tournament a Congolese- born trainer will be arriving from the US to provide training for all the girls participating in the competition. The goal is to present the idea of respect for this unique opportunity. Participants will be taught discipline and fair play during the games, in order to foster positive inter-village relationships with all the visiting communities.
The local team leader, Merveille, made the decision to utilize the remaining cement to make more bricks for the construction of the second block of classes rather than have it deteriorate. This will require the purchase and transportation of more cement from Kikwit. Fortunately there has been significant progress on the reparation of the road to Gungu as a result of the intervention by an MP in Kinshasa. Word around town is that the road has been significantly improved.
Ami Du Livres
In a growing forest, saplings extend toward the light and grow into trees. The trees in turn provide shelter, sustenance, and connectivity. With the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development, communities in DRC are relying more on community-based organizations such as REVE Kandale. The REVE Kandale Foundation is dedicated to community development and establishing programs that greatly encourage self-reliance. The list of empowerment programs in Kandale is long and continues to grow. The stories continue to be told and Colette will be busy creating many new stories upon her return.
