The great day has come! To the sounds of music and rejoicing, 16 young women processed in the beautiful dresses they had made. Although many were illiterate when they began their time at FEBA, they have studied and passed rigorous state exams to reach this day of celebration.
So many gathered to celebrate with them: family, friends, teachers, and many VIP’s, including the head of the government Department of Vocational Education who presented their state certificates. Then they received sewing machines from FEBA’s partners.
The highest ranking graduates gave speeches, expressing their gratitude for the constant care and support from Maman Monique and their teachers, and their hopes for the future.
In the background of the joy are the things they have overcome, including serious illnesses, food insecurity, the constant challenge of getting to and from school in this crowded city of many millions, through floods and traffic accidents and exhausting effort. These young women have earned their success!
Impressive Student Collaboration
Most students at CCS in Goma had not seen a computer until three years ago when Hands Across the Water sent two computers along with a solar panel to power them. For many, this was also their first glimpse of electric light.
Yet this spring a group of robotics team members from Princeton Stem Academy came together to work with the children at CCS in Goma to teach basic programming skills.
The American students worked with a French teacher from High School North in Plainsboro, NJ, to translate instructional videos into French so that the students in Goma could understand them. Because it took a while for the videos to be completed, the Congolese students and their computer teacher made the activity a summer program.
With their teacher’s guidance the CCS students were able to complete the programing tasks necessary to set up and play a rudimentary form of “Pacman” on the three computers now in the computer lab. This was a wonderful international collaboration which we hope to repeat next spring as the robotics competitions wind up. Elementary students in Congo will not have an opportunity like this unless they attend CCS!
Sharing Is a Way of Life
The desperate situation of violence in eastern Congo continues and deteriorates further. Some of the refugees themselves have come into the city to help CCS rebuild and some of the women participate in the Rafiki Sewing Club (see news for July). As part of the communication, Mulamba Shabani, the principal of CCS, dared to make a visit to one of the refugee camps surrounding Goma.
In Kinshasa, Maman Monique has again been busy collecting clothing for the orphanage in Goma and the refugees. She has contributed herself and encouraged any FEBA members who are willing and able to bring something to share. She also asked the 16 young about-to-be-graduates to offer two of the special creations they made during their internships, and the young women did!
Let’s put this in perspective: After the basic training, each student completes an internship during which she makes twelve articles of clothing by herself, with material provided by FEBA. Usually these items are also made for herself; most girls arrive with only one or two changes of clothing, and the internship means that she leaves with a wardrobe. Thus, giving two of the twelve for unknown orphans or refugees is a significant expression of generosity, a way to thank FEBA for all that it has provided by passing on the gift to those in greater need.
An Update on Microloans
Despite the still rising inflation and increasing food insecurity in Kinshasa, the members of FEBA who received microloans in January are persevering. Most of the 100 women are able to repay the principal, at the rate of $15 every two weeks, though a few are struggling and unable to pay back. As soon as the money is returned to FEBA, it is granted in the form of new microloans to other women.
One of the successful recipients reported recently what a change her microloan has made in the life of her family. They used to eat once a day, if that; now they can have both breakfast and supper! What a joyous change!!!
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