The Ambassador’s Special Self Help Funds are designed to support and aid in building local communities. We were impressed with our first visit to Ngwanza Schools. This orderly complex, located in the low-income community of Kimbanseke, educates children from pre-school through high school. Classrooms were clean, spacious, and well lit. Students can utilize after-school study areas if they are unable to study in often very congested living conditions at home.
The Primary School requested funds to construct latrines for the 900 plus female students and teachers. Upon conclusion of the project, the school extended an invitation and a warm welcome for the Embassy to participate in an inauguration of the newly-constructed latrines on May 5, 2016. Our hope is to one day return to follow up with the children and staff who benefited from the project and subsequently used their talents to continue improving the community.
Institut Superieur en Sciences Infirmieres is an amazing education facility which educates nurses. ISSI requested funds to purchase computers for their multimedia classroom. The Institute endeavors to provide their students with the most current medical information and technology. It was a pleasure visiting ISSI again to see the newly-purchased computers installed in a climate-controlled multimedia room. Students will now have access to current best practices in medical information and technology. ISSI is connected to the modern Monkole Hospital, which serves a large low-income population on the outskirts of Kinshasa. We hope graduates from ISSI will use the knowledge gained at this institution to improve the medical care of Congolese nationwide.