Report on the experience of the trip to Congo
(28. Sept.-15. October 2015)
Finally – after three postponements of the trip – Erwin and I were able to travel to the Congo. For 21 days, we traveled around Kasai Occidental in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and visited our various projects.
First, we spent three days in Kinshasa, taking care of various things for our trip into the bush and visiting Heidi’s school. I was glad to finally be able to continue my journey, as the capital was noisy, dirty, chaotic, and very corrupt.
In Kananga, we were warmly welcomed by Etienne, Silvain, and Isidor. The first quiet night! After lunch, Kaspar, our driver for the stay in the bush, picked us up, and we were able to continue our journey towards Kamutanga.
Much faster than expected, as the roads were dry, we reached the hometown of Joseph Kalamba. The whole village gave us an incredibly warm welcome. From the young to the old, students, village chiefs, musicians, and dancers accompanied us to the guesthouse, where Joseph was eagerly waiting for us. We enjoyed being in the countryside. It was much quieter, the air was fresh to breathe, the people were friendly and “curious,” but the very high humidity was challenging for us. During our stay in the bush, Isidor treated us to local dishes and his Italian specialties. Joseph, Erwin, and I greatly enjoyed the shared meals; we had plenty of time to chat.
Almost every day, we were out and about together – it was lovely.
Much has changed since 2009. The villages of Kamutanga and Mikele have grown larger. The weekly market on Fridays in Mikele attracts many people from the region; everyone hopes to sell something.
The health centers in Kabila and Kalangala have developed positively. Many patients and women who have given birth bring life to the facilities. There is light in all the rooms thanks to the newly installed photovoltaic systems. Dr. Samuel accompanied us during the visits and informed us about their operations. He oversees all five health centers and also visits patients in the villages within a radius of over 50 km. (He really wishes for his own Jeep.)
In Mukenge, at St. Joseph Hospital, I was able to spend an entire morning with Dr. Samuel in the operating room. It was an impressive experience. This allowed me to see the many obstacles and difficulties Dr. Samuel faces in his daily work. Through these experiences and constructive conversations with him, we jointly compiled a list of the most necessary materials for his ongoing work. I got to know Dr. Samuel as an empathetic, diligent, and interested doctor.
The vocational school has also changed very positively. This time, we witnessed many students engaged in their work. Carpenters, electricians, auto mechanics, and seamstresses carried out their tasks with discipline and enthusiasm. They proudly showed us their results.
The UNI KAM has been in operation for over a year. Unfortunately, we did not meet any students, as the academic year does not begin again until mid-October. However, Joseph still showed us his university, including the library and the lecture hall, both of which are still under construction. The two-story building for the students of the agricultural school (UNI) is also being built.
Behind the university grounds, the women of the village have cultivated and prepared a three-hectare field for growing various palm trees, vegetables, and fruit trees. It is truly overwhelming how positively everything has changed. Joseph and the leaders of the schools and health centers can be proud of the results. We are also excited.
We also visited other more distant villages with Joseph. For example, we were able to go to Lubundai to meet a farmer who breeds different varieties of corn. Joseph received a 100 kg sack for his agricultural school free of charge, hoping for a good collaboration.
In Tshimbulu, we visited the district hospital St. Michael, which had been run by Italian sisters until a year ago. Today, local sisters are responsible for its operations. The cooperation between this hospital, our health centers, and Dr. Samuel is going well and is well organized.
Whenever we were traveling by Jeep, we visited many schools of the cooperative. Joseph will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Cooperative Bidiep Bidiep next year (2016). Over the years, Joseph has planned and built 140 schools with a lot of ambition and enthusiasm.
He has many goals in mind; for example, he wants to plant thousands of mango trees with the students of the agricultural school in the coming years. He dreams of a mango tree avenue between the villages of Mukenge and Kamutanga (a distance of 15 km). The community should and must also think about future generations!
On weekends, soccer is played with great sportsmanship. Various teams from the schools and health centers compete for victory. There is even a women’s team. A significant advancement.
Joseph has always been very concerned that education and health should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their religion or tribe.
Happy and satisfied, Erwin and I return to Switzerland with many positive memories. The trip to Joseph’s homeland and the various visits to the projects deeply impressed us and exceeded our expectations.
We can confidently inform all members of the association, friends, and donors that every cent has been invested and utilized in the right place.
Let us continue to fight for the future of children and young people and continue to support the community in the areas of education and health.
End of October 15
Katharina Küng