Kids in the Congo!

The Lack of education: a hidden tragedy...

My name is Salvator Musande. I am an Assumptionist missionary from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I am here opening a small window about my life and I invite you to see through that window to discover more about my dreams.

When I went to first grade, I was in the company of approximately 20 other children from my village. No one in the group attended pre-school or kindergarten. Not only our parents could not afford it, but also neither existed in my village. However, the excitement was very tangible. Bare-foot, tattered clothes, and armed only with slates, we were among the “privileged” children who could go to school.

Soon the group dwindled. By the time we finished primary education (6th grade), we were, if I remember well, 5 and only 2 made it to the end of high school. This is really shocking. And when I look back, I feel very fortunate to have beaten the odds. Unfortunately, what happened to my peers is still happening today. And this is not limited to my village only. It is a reality for too many children and villages of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is situated in Central Africa. Known as the Belgian Congo prior to 1960, it was renamed Zaire in the early 1970s and then Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997, after the first Congolese war. It is one of the poorest countries in the world with yearly per capita income of $300 (2009 estimates).

The DRC has been devastated by war and conflicts for the last 14 years. The situation is grim and, at times, there seems to be no light at all at the end of the tunnel. The collapse of the socio-economic sector has led to a dire impoverishment of the population. The extent of this abject poverty is appalling. In that context, few, indeed, very few families can afford sending their children to school. In fact, school enrollment rates and the overall quality of education have dramatically dropped. Unfortunately, for most Congolese children, education is an elusive luxury. And, believe it or not, I am not talking about college education; I am talking about elementary education. The picture is bleak! That bleak picture reflects one of the DRC’s hidden tragedies: the wasted potential of people trapped by relentless lack of education. This is a horrible handicap to the country and its people, and indeed to the world.

Ever since I came to the United States five years ago, I have been telling people how fortunate they are, even those who believe that they are not. Of course, the level of poverty is a relative notion. In my case, the gap between the two countries is abysmal. There is so much that Americans can offer to children in the DRC. In fact, sponsoring the education of a child over there would be a major contribution to putting into place the building blocks of a new Congo. Sponsoring a child is giving that child hope and opening doors of opportunities that only education can provide. The cycle of poverty can be broken.

In September 2000, world leaders met at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. They approved the United Nations Millennium Declaration, committing their nations to a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty and setting target dates for the accomplishment of the goals. Known as the Millennium Development Goals, (MDGs), the target year was set for 2015. The goal of achieving universal primary education would ensure that all children, boys and girls, would be able to complete their primary education. With four years to go until the deadline, the necessary infrastructures are still not in place for this to become a reality for Congolese children.

One might ask, do I really care what happens to these children and this country? Yes, the reality is heartbreaking. It is also appalling to find out that, in a world that has become so much smaller through the use of the Internet and other technological innovations, people are still unaware of what is happening in other countries. It may well be that we have become overwhelmed by other people’s tragedies. What is sure is most of the people I have spoken with, know very little if anything at all about the Congo, a country whose minerals are used to manufacture the electronics that Americans cannot do without (cell phones, IPods, laptops, to cite a few).

You do not have to be a millionaire to help.

Every donation is welcome. "It takes a village to raise a child" goes an African proverb. Will you become part of the village and contribute? I believe that America has indeed a lot to offer and as generous people join this venture, we will be able to educate a good number of children. We offer $50 per year to elementary school children whom we support and $75 per year to high school students. I am happy to inform you that, as of 2010-2011 school year, we have been able to support 30 elementary school children and 3 high school students thanks to your donations. I take this opportunity, once again, to thank all those who have been generous to me and to my project.