A Game Changer

Jeunesse Sportif de Kandale has won the tournament. From a field of 20 teams and a generous supply of intrigue, Kandale beat Kifuza 1- 0. Late in the afternoon with failing light, Kandale and Kifuza were tied 0- 0. The tie required the teams to compete the following morning for extended time, wherein Kandale scored the winning goal. Prior to the quarter finals there was a great deal of controversy about a team member who had received a red card, but somehow managed to participate in the matches that week. The teams were very frustrated about this evasion of the rules and the games had to be delayed for a week until Mangala, the Vice-President of REVE Kandale, could arrive from Gungu to make a determination. One of the judges, who happened to come from the village of the team in question, decided against a forfeit of the games. Apparently, the judge was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Mangala interceded and eliminated the team for the violation, and the games proceeded. Other concerns involved ‘black magic’ and potential ‘spells’ invoked in one of the team’s rooms. The semi finals involved the four towns of Kifuza, Sangu, Mukwatshi and Kandale. All four teams were strong, and the competition was fierce. The greatest difficulty was overcoming the heat and lack of light. The games could only be played early in the morning and in the late afternoon, but the afternoon games were often delayed until the following morning as the setting sun established the day’s end.

The quarterfinals:

Kizanga vs. Sans Doute de Mukwatshi 0-3
Jeunesse Sportif de Kandale vs. Wayaweza de Kiboba, forfeit by Kiboba

Sangu vs. Ndumba 4-3

Tago vs. Nouvelle Generation de Kifuza 2-3

The semifinals:

Mukwatshi vs. Kifuza. 2-4

Kandale vs. Sangu. 3-0

According to Mangala, all of Gungu was shut down for the Closing Ceremony and Kandale was packed with excited fans. People arrived by motorcycle, bicycle and on foot. Many people traveled 50 km or more for the event. Mangala, in his closing remarks, was deeply moved with the presence of so many people, and he praised the teams for their hard work and genuine camaraderie, and for all the support they received from their communities. It was truly a unique event for the community at large. Kifuza was in second place and all the members received silver medals and cash awards. Sangu, in third place, received bronze medals and cash awards, and Kandale, the first-place winner, came away with a gold trophy and cash awards. All participating teams received a new soccer ball as well. Many people put in a great deal of time and effort to make this event possible, least of which is Kick for Nick and Dwight Short, who have supported the progress of the sport for many years, including gear, medals and development of the field. In Kandale many individuals spent long hours promoting the event while others worked very hard in creating the infrastructure, including barriers, shelters, and toilets. The organizing team negotiated the sound system from a local merchant for the event and according to the police, everyone was on their best behavior with no alcohol on the Mission or youthful ‘indiscretions’. Evidently many friendships were rekindled, and old ones resumed and, if the rumor mill is accurate, many romances were sparked as a result of this momentous occasion. It was also an opportunity for the community of Kandale to reflect upon the possibilities for the future. All the tukuls were rented out and many individuals took advantage of this event to sell a variety of foods and beverages. From a marketing point of view there is a great potential for the community to organize this aspect of the event.

Here is a link to a two minute video of the Closing Ceremony for the Tournament, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lost6gJ5sow. The sound leaves a little to be desired but it genuinely captures the excitement on the field. Enjoy!!!

This event was also an incredible occasion to showcase the new classrooms under construction and demonstrate all the improvements that have occurred over the past several years. The people of Kandale are proud of what their community has become and, as if riding the momentum of the tournament, the community has turned their efforts back toward the classrooms and dormitories. There was a mishap with a truck hired from the Trappists monks in Kasanza, involving some sort of engine explosion some 15 km from Kandale. Luckily the truck was able to complete the delivery of new desks, tin, cement, rebar, and wood to build the roof. The desks were fabricated in Kikwit but assembled on site as it was more efficient to transport the materials than the bulky fully assembled desks. Several carpenters traveled with the shipment to do the work. Saint Mark Presbyterian Church donated money to complete the renovation of the 2 girls’ dormitories, that will house an additional 40 girls. This renovation requires the structures to be built from the ground up, repairing the dilapidated walls and new ceilings. There is now enough money to complete the seven classrooms, and a generous donor has given money to buy desks for all 7 classrooms in memory of her friend who died of COVID-19. Presently funding is still needed to purchase windows, paint, and many supplemental items.

Colette leaves for Kandale in a week to continue the hard work of building the school and organizing the community. As always, our thoughts and prayers go with her for a safe journey and a productive experience in Kandale. Kwenda mbote Mama!!!

A Match Made in Kandale

It is difficult to foresee where your efforts will converge somewhere in the future, but one continues in blind faith, as it were, in the belief that good will come of your actions. The game of soccer has long been a source of joy and a positive focal point for the young people of Kandale. Soccer is the most popular sport across DRC and It is enjoyed by everyone-- men, women, and most of all, young people. Back in the 90’s students in Kandale began to organize soccer teams and regularly competed against other local teams.

In many of the communities it is not uncommon to find young people playing with a ball that is little more than errant pieces of clothing, paper, and plastic compressed under the tension of twine or strips of raffia palm. Often, it was made of grass meticulously woven together. Every village has a designated field to play on. The desire to play is very strong. In 2012, Colette coordinated with three UK organizations, Kits4Cause, Boots4Africa, and The Great Football Giveaway and received boxes of jerseys, professional balls and soccer shoes. While there were challenges finding feet that would fit the shoes, the balls raised the game to a whole other level.

Many years passed and the youth of Kandale remained passionate for the game. Colette tirelessly researched other charities and found Kick for Nick and Dwight Short. In 2017 Dwight Short donated 100 professional soccer balls to the community and Kick for Nick contributed many soccer kits filled with a variety of gear including, jerseys, shorts, nets, whistles and flags. Kick for Nick was making these donations in memory of their son who was killed in combat in Iraq, (featured in the photos above, left and middle). He loved the sport and actively collected soccer balls in the USA to take with him to Iraq. Dwight Short made his donations in memory of his aunt, Lodema Short or Mama Kanemu, as she was fondly called by the community members when she served as a Mennonite missionary in the Congo, (featured in the photo above on the right). These contributions further captured the imaginations of the youth and the community.

Opening ceremonies features the Head Pastor for the 27th Congo Mennonite Community in Kandale, The Rev. Ernest Kimbondja Mputu, giving his blessing. Chef de Secteur Khenda and Head of the Organizing Committee, Me Galunga Gago, and Mangala Muhipo Christophe, the Vice-President of REVE Kandale, perform the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The community of Kandale began to dream of a regional match that would attract the youth from the surrounding Kandale prefecture, some 95 villages. As Colette describes it, the groundwork for this idea had been growing for many years, with people were coming to the REVE Kandale office in Kandale on a regular basis in the hopes of securing a soccer ball for their community. In January, as there are no telephones or radio broadcasts, Newton began to spread the word on his motorcycle. As he ventured out, the news reached neighboring prefectures and before too long there were 32 teams from three prefectures, representing over 250 villages that were interested in participating. An event such as this had never happened before in Kandale.

In recent years, the Kandale youth have participated in many soccer competitions, including the Inter-Africa Mennonite Mission (AIMM) Leadership Coaching Forum in Mukedi two years ago. The team walked 55 miles to the distant village of Mukedi to compete in the tournament. It was a long journey that required them to sleep ‘en brousse’ with all the unknowns of the road. Yet despite the difficulties of the trip, they were victorious. The long journey home was filled with joyous singing.

For all its development, Kandale is a remote community and there are no ‘modern’ distractions such as the internet, a movie theater, a coffee shop or parks. The three big features in Kandale are the church, the school, and the hospital. Events like the Mukedi match was of significant importance to the pride of the people of Kandale.

The tournament was scheduled for June 6th. Members of the Kandale community spent a great deal of time preparing the field, building bamboo fences to encircle the field, fabricating shaded enclosures for judges and dignitaries, as well as the digging of several new latrines. Dwight Short, Kick for Nick, Hope for Congo and AIMM together provided a lot of the material and financial support for the purchase of banners, medals, prizes and the training of 10 local referees who were chosen from 15 applicants. All the referees were educated according to FIFA rules and regulations. 20 teams from the 32 applicants were selected and each team was required to contribute $30 to REVE Kandale to supplement external contributions.

On the 6th, opening ceremonies began with much pomp and circumstance, Congolese style, of course. There were many speeches, including one from Mangala Muhipo Christophe, the Vice-President of REVE Kandale. He had not visited Kandale in five years and was overwhelmed with all the changes. As the days are always hot in Kandale, the games are being played in the afternoons while sufficient daylight remains. Many local entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the opportunity to provide fish, beignets, luku, (a cassava bread), and water for the many visitors which number in the thousands. Even patients from the hospital have ventured out to watch. There are several police on hand to maintain order, but as of now it has remained a joyous and peaceful event, not requiring their services.

Distances are different in rural areas, especially when there are no vehicles and often only footpaths exist to cross these distances. Traveling to visit remote family members and neighbors becomes an undertaking, and reserved largely for weddings, funerals, and State visits. Phones are very uncommon, let alone finding service, so inter-community communication is limited. There is no Radio Kandale…yet, nor radios in many of the villages to receive the broadcasts…yet. The tournament created an unexpected cause for celebration. As a result of this unusual gathering, people from way outside of the community have traveled long distances to support their team and began to discover friends that they hadn’t seen for many years. It was a pivotal opportunity that reunited the community at large, where many old friendships were rekindled, and new ones made.

As of last week, the many teams were still completing the first round of eliminations. Kandale has made it through the first round and the players will be taking to the field in their bare feet, (the shoes of 2012 have long since disintegrated from constant wear), and tie-breaking rounds are to be played shortly. If you want to follow the progress of the games, Colette has been doing regular updates on her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/colette.ramm

All the hard work that has gone into making Kandale a thriving center is coming to fruition and this tournament reflects the commitment and hard work of many individuals and organizations working together. In Kandale, as with many other rural communities, there are very few opportunities and young people can lose their way.

This tournament serves as a source of inspiration for both the youth and the greater community. It has generated so much enthusiasm that former members who are now living in Kinshasa and Angola are eager to return for the next event and maybe even play for their home team again.

Mid-Year Appeal

We’ve made progress!!!!

From sticks and thatched roofs to brick walls and metal roofs.

The challenges are formidable.

Roads and distances: a trip to Kandale can take six hours or three days from the provincial capital, depending on the state of the road.

Attracting and keeping teachers: a supportive community and solid schools attract educated people to stay or return to rural areas.

Families struggle daily to come by food and water: a subsistence level economy is the norm for Kandale’s population of 70,000 people.

Our success depends on individuals like you.

Click here to read RKF Annual Report -2020.

Thank you milles fois for your support.

Please help us complete the new block of classrooms before the school year begins in September.

Click here to wach a video!

Consider increasing your annual donation or becoming a monthly contributor.

"REVE"rie Part 2

Here is the second part of Colette's description

from her recent trip to Kandale.

At 8:00 my meetings begin. Beneath the adjacent forest we gather to discuss the objectives of the day. This part of the forest that abuts the compound is regularly swept and kept clear of debris to limit the potential for stray snakes. The REVE Kandale staff gathers. We discuss the daily progress and then talk about how to organize the work that needs to get done. There are people who want to buy bricks from across the Kwilu River some five miles away. There are others who have been waiting patiently to get a tour of the 10 year old forest, which I am always eager to show off. Others arrive to discuss the possibilities of recreating the vibrant community they observe in Kandale for their own village. The compound draws people from near and far.

Upon returning from the forest, I begin to prep for my meeting with the potential brick buyers from across the collectivitée or prefecture. Chaud Chaud had brought a calabash of palm wine to share with the visitors. He wants me to be a good host. We reflect on the fact that the mission does not allow palm wine/alcohol or tobacco on the grounds, but for the sake of good manners, I agree to take it with me, but in a plastic water bottle so as not to draw any attention. I place it in my bag and head off.

Palm wine or malafu as it is known throughout central Africa, is harvested from the sap of the palm tree and fermentation is induced with secret ‘nkisi’ or ingredients. Palm wine from the samba palm is very satisfying. In the morning it is very mild and sweet, and often it is heated up to brace against the chilly morning air of the dry season. As the day progresses the beverage becomes stronger and stronger until it becomes undrinkable with a strong vinegary taste. As I am so accustomed to beverages in the US being hermetically sealed, I was unprepared when the bottle exploded in my bag and saturated all my belongings inside. Fortunately I was carrying my laptop in a separate bag.

After the meeting I return to the Multi-Purpose Center for an impromptu lunch. People may have brought fresh fish or vegetables. The afternoon will bring rain and I will be working with Newton inside on the computer. I am teaching him about spreadsheets and the importance of balancing the books. At present the school is not in session, but in anticipation of the students return, I am organizing the kits collected from the US for Kandale girls through our “Girl2Girl” campaign led by Saint Mark PC youth. I will also be assembling the soccer kits from our generous donors, Kick for Nick and Dwight Short, for the Kandale youth tournament in 2021. Later in the week I plan on meeting with a photographer to try and capture the changes happening all around.

As the afternoon progresses with the impending sunset, mourning doves begin to coo in the palm trees and with more trees in the new forest, there are more and more birds. The forest is a continual source of new stories. One of my young guests from a nearby village identified the return of a caterpillar species that hadn’t been seen for many years. He first identified the smell, then the droppings and finally discovered them on one of the branches. A wild, native fruit called fita fita, has returned as well. Fita fita is shown in the middle image in the caption above. A story describes two girls who abandoned the wood they had gathered for cooking, to go and harvest the fruit, only to have lost the wood. The forest occupies some 34 acres and it has become a place of mystery.

Thank you all for joining the REVE Kandale Update webinar on April 8, 2021. Here is the link to the meeting recording for those of you who could not attend.

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/Zb16zcCwv5ZA04BxkK9ghSoRhVzRdqVUxglcw1AcdlXPxtHCa-pFeu6i1NBJtRmD.uLSnyz_CEjPK_JhS

Access Passcode: ?=LZ2TqN

REVE Kandale Building Project

Here is a an excellent video that was presented at the webinar. It was created by one of the Board Members of REVE Kandale, John Sullivan. It embodies the resiliency of the people of Kandale.

https://vimeo.com/522585304

"REVE"rie Part I

Colette has returned from The DRC two weeks ago. After 10 weeks in Kandale she shares this initial reflection:

Every morning at 5am the Mission bell rings to call the church elders for their morning prayers. It is a sound that resonates within me from when I was a small child. I jump out of bed even though it is still a little dark out. I am motivated to get started with my day because once the sun comes up, the day starts. The sun and the heat wait for no one. I brave the cold water for a bath and as usual I run out of water from the bucket before washing all the suds off of me. On my return from the outdoor shower, I see the big paddle of liquid glue from the Mumyombo tree. The village carpenters will come soon to collect the glue for their woodwork. The heat has begun to push out the lingering shadows and I rush to my hide out under the Mumbunze tree. It is quiet and serene. Red ants are busy building their nests all over the tree, but they are too busy in their task to pay me any attention. The pastor arrives and he is eager to greet me and share a prayer, but I need a little more time.

From the shade beneath the Mumbunze tree I peek through the overhanging branches and I see people coming and going. At 7 AM it is my place of sanctuary. The morning sun has already risen and begun to heat up the village and its many pathways, but here under the branches it is cool like a cave. I hear the night watchman, Kisenda, sweeping in the distance under the trees. He creates beautiful undulating designs on the ground with his broom. He is sweeping up the dried leaves and I hear his handheld broom scratch across the dry ground. Men and women come early to gather the leaves from the Mumbunze tree to make their morning tea. The leaves are renowned for their curative properties.

Kisenda can identify everyone by their footprints as they pass through the compound. What a genius I say to myself. His nickname is “Chaud-Chaud” because he does everything quickly. Last night, there was a gentle knock on my door, and I saw Chaud-Chaud’s flashlight. When I opened the door, it felt like daytime because of the full moon. The night sky was in full glory, beaming with stars. Chaud-Chaud did not say anything, but I know why he mastered the courage to wake me up. I grabbed my camera to take a few pictures. When I showed him the photos, his lips turned into a big smile and he released a heart felt laugh in amazement.

In the trees, birds are pulling at small dark raisin like fruit. They are loudly quarreling back and forth, “chi chi chi chi.” Soon the day watchman comes and greets Kisenda and then the pastor returns to greet them both, “Udi mwa bonga, tata. E ngudi mwa bonga.” Other people from the village come and leave pineapples or peanuts. There is laughter and loud greetings. Visitors come to ask if I am approachable and can they touch me. The day watchman laughs and tells them that I am very ‘gentile’ and yes, you can touch her.

The sun begins to find me between the branches. Yellow butterflies are dancing along the path. Before too long my phone alarm will ring and the meetings will begin at 8. I am savoring this opportunity to reflect on the progress of the village, how much has been accomplished and how much more needs to be done. REVE Kandale Staff and volunteers begin to arrive at 7:30 and collect their materials from the office. The day guard provides them with a key to the compound. I hear the chickens outside chasing after each other and squabbling after some stray grasshopper uncovered during the sweeping. All around me are small Mumbunze saplings tentatively moving upward. Beyond my ‘cave’ Mutunu trees or ‘The Blood of Jesus’ trees, known for their blood-like sap, outpace the Mumbunze trees into the air. In the breeze there is the faint smell of caterpillars from deeper in the woods.

The alarm from my phone begins to chirp and I know that the meetings will start soon.

A Call from the Congo

Three Sunday mornings ago I was woken up by a phone call. The other end was quiet, and I suspected it was a marketing call. Yes, I still have a land line. For some reason I hesitated and then Colette began to speak. I hadn’t heard from Colette in over a month since she left for the Congo, and it was great to hear her voice once again. Without her stories, the Communiqué has been silent. We only had a few minutes to talk and Colette was brimming with optimism about all the changes going on in Kandale. It is always great to receive new images from Newton, but to see it and experience it, especially as someone who grew up in that village, it is a thing of wonder.

A few days later I spoke with her husband, Greg, and he indicated that she was able to receive texts, so I sent her a text, but to no avail. Then I downloaded WhatsApp on to my smart phone and sent her a message. This past Thursday night my phone came alive with images from Newton. Again the connection was not great but he was able to send me a variety of images and videos. In addition Greg sent me several of her photos, and a video. The walls of the school reaching up into the sky are quite a sight, and to see them aligned with the Caritas classrooms, it is evident that an educational complex is no longer a dream, but a growing reality.

Other areas of growth are evident with the 10-year-old forest and sanctuary on the REVE compound. According to Colette people are coming in from the surrounding areas to see this wild area. Many people have come from neighboring towns to look for specific medicinal leaves and herbs that have become difficult to find. The forests are so protected that even a very dangerous, but unaggressive, Gaboon viper is left alone to hunt for rodents. The forest is giving back, and there is a renewed respect for what has been lost.

The photos above have been captured from a short video included below, that demonstrates the wiring of a rebar support for the school construction, and the presence of several women working side by side with the men.

https://vimeo.com/504166746

As Bob Dylan once wrote, “The times they are a changing.” This is very true for our political system here in the United States, but it also holds true for the all the new development on the ground in Kandale. The contract with the engineers mandated that local individuals would be hired to do the lion’s share of the construction of the new school classrooms. Our desire is that the local workers will be trained in the various aspects of construction with the notion that they would then be able to apply their skills toward other building projects whether locally or regionally. In addition the engineers were also required to hire women as part of the labor force. The fact that women are working side by side with men is breaking new ground, yes, a pun, in the Kandale community. While it is common knowledge that women work exceedingly hard to feed and clothe their families, they are now moving away from these traditional roles and it is drawing a lot of attention far and wide in the community.

The students are still quarantining although there are no cases of Covid-19 in Kandale at this time. Lastly Colette wanted to tell me how beautiful the new donated periodic table looked in the multipurpose education center. As always we hope that you are all well and staying safe. We look forward to Colette's safe return in the weeks ahead.

A Leap of Faith

The walls of the primary school are reaching up into the sky. They are eager to hold a roof and to house a dream 10 years in the making. These walls will support the dreams of hundreds of young minds and before too long they will nurture the optimism of thousands of individuals eager to make a difference in the world.

These walls have been built brick by brick and are a monument to the commitment of REVE Kandale and the community. Everyone in Kandale has had a hand in its creation - from the purchase of the brick making machine to the sand collection by the river banks and the red clay from the adjoining hillside; from the purchase of cement and water tanks in Kinshasa to the cultivation of the gardens that feed the workers; from the intense compression that is applied in making every brick and to the gentle hands that turn them in the sun for drying.

All these parts are coming together, and now we need a roof to complete the dream. Think of Kandale on this Giving Tuesday.

We wish Colette a safe journey to DRC and Kandale. Kwenda mbote Mama.

A Year Like No Other, and Still More to Do

Dear Friends,

As a difficult year comes to an end, we at REVE Kandale Foundation want to thank you for your generous support, which has meant so much to our friends in Kandale.

We wish you the very best Season’s Greetings and look forward to a prosperous New Year. The Kandale community, under the leadership of our partner organization in DRC, REVE Kandale, has accomplished a great deal in the face of so much adversity over the past year.

As you read this message, the community is finishing work on the foundation for a new seven-classroom block for the primary school. They have enough materials to begin raising the walls, but are still well short of what they need to complete the building.

Your donation will help us ensure that the children of Kandale have a safe and nurturing environment in which to live and learn, including completing the seven classrooms by the opening of the 2021-2022 school year. And thanks to a generous donor who has pledged to match contributions up to a total of $1,000, your donation will go even further to help the Kandale community.

The children in Kandale are counting on your support to build enough classrooms so that they will no longer have to travel by canoe across the Kwilu River to attend classes in a neighboring village.

We are proud of all that the Kandale community has achieved this year.

Schools in Kandale and throughout the DRC were closed abruptly in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Nonetheless, students were able to take the all-important state exams in September in the multipurpose education building constructed with the help of donors like you. For the first time, they were able to sit for the exams in a safe environment without interruption from the heavy rains.

The improved conditions no doubt played a role in the 83 percent pass rate for students at Institut Gufwa Gubila, one of two secondary schools in Kandale. We are still awaiting results for students in the technical programs – including sewing -- at Lyceé Gina Gisanga.

Your continued support can help us realize our dream of education for all of the children in Kandale. REVE Kandale is ready to provide the labor and muscle to get the work done; the community merely lacks sufficient funding to buy the materials. Will you continue your support and consider a larger contribution so we can realize that dream?

Hope

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”

— Desmond Tutu

We welcome the arrival of Newton’s new child and congratulate him and his wife, Marie, on their beautiful daughter.

She is the embodiment of hope for the next generation that will reap the benefits of all the hard work happening on the ground in Kandale. The newest member of the community was born at night under the light powered by the solar panel installed by Dr. Klontz in 2018. The government in Kinshasa has lifted the travel bans for the western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo as the incidence of the Corona virus is negligible. As a result of this decree, school has resumed and the engineers have been able to once again travel from Kinshasa to Kikwit and on to Kandale.

The people have gathered for the benediction by Reverend Mputu Ernest to bless the space and the new construction.

Now that the rainy season has returned to the DRC, there is ample water available to utilize all the materials that have been stored up in anticipation, the bricks, the crushed stones, the sand and the many hands eager to get to work. Many volunteers continue to break rocks while others are filling up demijohns from the water tanks purchased with donations by the members of Saint Mark Church.

The foundations for the two blocks of seven primary school classrooms, has been completed and the construction of the walls has begun. The cost for the project still requires $56,000 to bring it to conclusion.

As it stands the results from the National exams have improved significantly this year as a result of the quality of education and the conditions under which the students are learning.

In the above caption the first bricks have been placed upon the foundation. To the right is the young couple, accompanied by Rev. Ernest, who have been hired to oversee the girl’s dormitory and to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Colette will be leaving for Kandale on November 29th. She spent last weekend working with the youth group of Saint Mark Church assembling care packages for RKF’s Girl to Girl Kit initiative to help girls in Kandale stay in school. The kits include uniforms, sheets, solar lights, school bags, hygiene kits, hand mirrors, flip-flops and pens. The intention is for the youths at Saint Mark Church to have a real connection to the girls in Kandale. Days for Girls has donated 50 reusable hygiene kits toward the initiative.

As always we wish to thank Newton for all his photos and keeping Kandale in our hearts and thoughts. The REVE Kandale Foundation purchased a new phone for Newton so he can keep us informed about all the activities in Kandale.

When Colette visits her home village of Kandale there is always an incredible amount of organizing and communicating that needs to be done. On one of Colette’s visits to Kandale, she became aware of a former ‘mentor’, Jeanne, from when she was a youth in school. Jeanne Lusambu had been a source of inspiration for her and she was surprised to find that Jeanne suffered a mental breakdown and was having a great deal of difficulty taking care of the most basic aspects of life and fitting into the community.

There is no awareness in Kandale for mental illness or social services to support people like Jeanne. Like many girls in Kandale, she dropped out of school due to lack of financial support after her father passed away. Years later when her mother passed, she was never able to find her place in the community. Many members of Kandale have made sure that she has had food to eat, but it was never enough to provide her with a purpose. Colette made a request to the Coordinator of Kandale that Jeanne was to be given work at the Foundation. It took Jeanne a long time to realize that she was now a member of the REVE Kandale Foundation, and little by little, with a small stipend, she has become a stalwart member of the community where she is valued and respected.

With Lessons Under Way

As we await a return to normalcy due to the pandemic and the subsequent quarantine, the construction of the new classrooms awaits the arrival of the engineers. This has been on hold since April. The bricks, the cement, the pulverized stones, the enthusiastic hands, and strong backs, all rest in anticipation of this new endeavor. 

For this Communiqué we wish to present a reflection from a REVE Kandale Board member and former Peace Corps Volunteer, Peter Lane, Class of ’82 -’84.

For the past four years it has been my pleasure to serve on the board of directors of the REVE Kandale Foundation. I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kandale for two years teaching English to high school students at the Institute Gufua-Gubila and Lycee Gina Gisanga. Now, almost 40 years later, (has it really been that long?!), I am proud to join with my fellow Peace Corps volunteers, many individuals from Congo and Kandale who live around the world, local members of REVE Kandale, and many friends and family to support education and conservation projects in Kandale. Our goal: help community members achieve their goal of giving Kandale’s children a high quality education in a safe and nurturing environment.

I celebrated my 22nd birthday the day before I left home for Peace Corps. I had no idea what an adventure I was in for and how it would forever change my life. After ten weeks of teacher and language training in Bukavu in Eastern DRC, I arrived in Kandale where I was immediately welcomed with open arms. Initially I was a little anxious, but thanks to my new “postmate” Greg Ramm,

(who had already completed a year teaching in Kandale), my fellow teachers and the many eager students, they helped to make the transition an easy one. Well, truth be told…a glass of palm wine every once in a while – an important social tradition – also helped.

It would be impossible to share all my experiences and their impact on my life in a relatively short blog post. But I hope the few reflections below give you a glimpse into what life was like for me in Kandale and what a special community it is.

• I was teaching one morning early in my service when the mud brick wall behind me at the front of the classroom disintegrated. Students screamed and shouted, “Monsieur Peter! Monsieur Peter!” while running out the door into the courtyard. The wall was repaired and several new classrooms were built, but even those have since fallen into disrepair. Today, the need for safe and comfortable classrooms is as great as ever!

• I became good friends with the Prefets (principals) at the two schools where I taught and I found them to be very kind and generous individuals.  They led their schools with integrity and reverence for the value of an solid education. Prefet Mangala is now in a leadership position with the regional district.  Prefet Konda still teaches and is currently serving as the REVE Kandale local coordinator. My reve (“dream”) is to one day shake their hands again and share a glass of palm wine.

• Many, many people in Kandale played a role in bringing so much joy and learning to my life while I was there…everyone who attended “l’ecole de soir” to learn a bit of English, my friends who started a rabbit raising project with me, everyone who participated in many very spirited games of backgammon including an annual tournament to see who was “le champignon de back” (a play on words that literally translates as “the mushroom of backgammon”), and my good friend Papa Djocko who taught me the local language (or tried anyway) and always put a call out if there was something we needed.

The truth is it takes a village to raise not only a child, but to also take care of a Peace Corps Volunteer. To this day I am honored and humbled by all those in Kandale who watched over me—a wide-eyed young man—while I was in Kandale. I am now fortunate many years later to be able to give back to the community that gave so much to me. Thank you to everyone who is joining me in this effort.

As the caterpillar season has come to a close, the students completed their National Exams on September 10th.  Unfortunately, with the delay of the exams there will be some confusion about what grades students will be attending and as the results return there may be some changes ahead. 

With the onset of the rainy season the many volunteers are busy during salongo planting grasses and other decorative plants to beautify the grounds of the REVE Kandale compound. Kisalu ya mbote Bamama ye Batata.

and I almost forgot...

New baby piglets!!!, a testament to all the hard work, care and planning to make this new venture a success.

As always we wish to thank Newton for all his photos and keeping Kandale in our hearts and thoughts.

Recently St. Leonard's Church in Sandbridge, England held a virtual Flower Festival to celebrate the work in Kandale. Please read the letter below and access the imbedded link below to see all the wonderful arrangements.

Dear Colette,

I don't know if you had time yet to look at the virtual Flower Festival on the church website (https://www.sandridgechurch.org.uk/virtual-flower-festival/), but I thought you might like to see

the display we put together to celebrate Reve Kandale. Feel free to share however you wish.

Best wishes

Christine Nutton