On the 18th of July 2022, Andrea and Ildiko (SNI board members) along with Dr. Monika Monos (ENT specialist, head and neck surgeon) arrived at the N’Djil International Airport in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
It had been eight months since our last visit and we were eager to see the progress that had been made to the soon-to-be-operational Bana Mayele (which translates to “smart children” in Lingala, one of Congo’s national languages). Many of the orphans who are currently living in appalling conditions will be housed and educated at the Bana Mayele facility.
The first several days flew by as Dr. Monos examined and treated over a hundred children. This ranged from treatments of ENT (ear-nose-throat) infections, as well as different forms of skin diseases. Andrea and Ildiko were vital to the smooth operation for Dr. Monos’ Congolese makeshift clinic, assisting as ad hoc medical staff and nurses, providing the much-needed medical attention for the children.
On the 26th Michel (SNI member) and Paul (field project manager, HAI director) arrived in Kimbondo, and the next day the much-anticipated visit to the Bana Mayele site took place.
From the first step into the facility, there were clear signs of progress in the construction work. The sports court had been outfitted with basketball hoops and the water tanks were mounted on the tower supports and connected to a 400-meter deep well to pump fresh water throughout the whole facility.
As we entered the school rooms we were able to inspect the school desks, tables, and benches that had been sponsored thanks to SNI supporters. The simple yet sturdy, locally produced furniture is ideal for the environment, and can easily be repaired or replaced from the nearby workshop.
With the primary goal of ensuring that the classrooms are completely operational by the end of the year, additional progress has also been achieved on the restroom facilities in the two school houses.
Overall, the process is exactly on schedule, and we are pleased to report the successful start to a long-term relationship with Bana Mayele. This will guarantee that hundreds of kids enjoy top-notch education and living conditions.
We are currently waiting for the last inspections, and hope that with the start of the new school year we will be able to finish setting up the classrooms, thus giving the kids access to the clean and organized environment they need for learning.
Our short-term goal is to equip the classrooms with necessary learning tools, such as printers, projectors, ceiling fans, educational books among other things. Multiple dormitories are being built and furnished as part of our long-term plan providing a safe and welcoming home for the children.
Our hope is to return to the DCR soon enough to even more progress to the Bana Mayele school.
