UEM Donations Contribute to Fighting “Hunger and Ignorance” in Africa

UEM African member churches are the main owners of social services in the remote areas of their respective countries. They are actively involved in development, anti-poverty projects and are trusted actors by the community. Africa is looking forward to the results of the meeting between the twelve African heads of States and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin last week of October 2018 to take stock of the G20 "Compact with Africa" initiative. Hopefully UEM African member churches and faith based organisations will be considered as important development actors. Church staff have long developed professionalism in health care, agriculture and education, areas where Germany would invest according to Germany's development minister, Mr. Gerd Müller before the leaders’ summit.  In a synergy of all practitioners, young Africans have to be educated to stop looking for a better future in their capital cities or looking at migrating to western countries. A good and relevant education is thought to be one of the efficient solutions to provide sustainable development and co-development.            

With UEM support, the Community of Disciples of Christ in Congo (CDCC) in the DRC (Democratic Republic Congo) opened a new school on the 27^th of October 2018, in Bokilimba, the sub urban area of Mbandaka town (estimated 1.3 million inhabitants), the capital of the Equateur Region. The school will be serving both as a primary and secondary school.

The population in the Equateur region is young since half is less than 20 years old. Access to school infrastructure seems more difficult in the Region than in other provinces of the DRC. Less than 8 out of 10 households live within a radius of 2 km from a public primary school. (2009, UNDP report). It is reported by UNICEF that in the DRC children from poor families have low levels of primary school attendance. They have considerably less chance to attain secondary school education. Chronic malnutrition remains a major problem in the DRC and children from the poorest households are seriously affected. Pregnancy and early motherhood is increased in rural areas. Several social projects are supported by UEM and German partnership groups to address some of these root causes of frequent problems.   

One of the ways of fighting the vicious circles of poverty and managing migrations from Africa to Europe is to increase education opportunities and development particularly in African rural areas. A great percentage of young people are likely fleeing poverty rather than conflict. They are driven by the absence of any economic or professional prospects at home.

There was a great need of a school in the village of Bokilimba until it was expressed in Mbandaka to UEM delegation during the church visit in 2016. The completed infrastructure made of six classrooms, the director’s office and three latrines has been built. It is the only school well built in the region and it rightly becomes an attractive facility for educational activities, preventing children and youth to run away from their families searching for better living opportunities far away from their homes or their country.                                              

At the opening day, on 27^th of October 2018, in the presence of local religious and political authorities, it was noticed that the new facility was very much needed by the community as shown by the picture. The entire village came to celebrate this event by songs and dance.  

Three main moments were the most important in this ceremony: the speech of a girl pupils’ representative in which she expressed children and youth acknowledgement for the donors (CDCC and UEM), for the precious gift given to the today and future generations. The Governor of the Equateur Region acknowledged UEM and CDCC support for their joint work of peoples’ development. Lastly the speech of the church President underlined the impact of UEM and German partners in the whole region. Thanks for this investment in technical training, technical expertise and some technology transfer.

Since its foundation, the school had never over 200 pupils for the six classes but this year, thanks to the presence of a very nice and attractive building 216 pupils got their enrollment, as an increase of 108 % at the primary school. In addition to this primary level, a secondary school has also opened its doors in the same building and will work in the afternoons.

The hope is growing up in this village where parents claim to do their best in order to get a place for their children in this school. This can imply the real development if more people regardless their gender can get access at a good quality of education. The hope is that, if the population is well educated, their capacity for understanding can be a catalyzing ingredient for development.

Safari Kanyena, UEM-Coworker for CDCC and CADELU and Rev Dr John Wesley Kabango, UEM Africa Executive Secretary.