Significant Step Forward – Electricity!
The Project in Nsioni with Joseph made a big step forward! With Madlen’s help, we’ve been in good communication with him and understand his difficult situation better now.
He has a great vision, many ideas and is talented in handyman tasks, inventions and farm work - agricultural as well as animal and fish breeding. He has 7 children and in order to provide for his family he set up a small workshop in Kinshasa where he builds ironing boards, hand washing devices etc. Traveling to Nsioni costs him a whole day and around 100 dollars one way. He was brave, trying to keep up with all these projects but it became clear that in order to set up a vocational training centre, he has to live on the farm.
He tried to move his family there already before, but the conditions were too hard - without drinking water and electricity. His children started to get sick, so he had to move back to Kinshasa. After some good communications with him, we decided to start solving those challenges one by one.
We invested in the purchase and installation of an expensive electric cable in order to bring electricity to his house. The house will be used partly for living quarters and partly as a workshop and future training center.
Joseph went right away to action to get the electricity installed. Wiring electricity in the bush has its own challenges. Not only do you have to purchase your own cable, you also have to set up poles! So, Joseph bought and erected 6 poles, each 6,5 meters high, had the cable attached and arranged the electricity to be connected.
Madlen offered help with the purchase of the electric cable including needed accessories, good quality tools for the farm and a proper water pump. We also financed the food for the workers as well as seeds and seedlings.
Joseph organized a team of workers who cleared the land and planted the seeds and seedlings. He reports: I believe that I am surrounded by men and women of good will who are willing to use my ideas for the good of humanity. My goal in life is to give my life for others … Food for the whole team is very important because the work is really hard.
People in that part of the country are desperate for work and hope. They are willing to work for food in order to survive.
Since the school year is over, he is now planning to move with his wife and 5 of their children to the farm. The 2 oldest children will stay with relatives in Kinshasa for work and higher studies. We are impressed with their decision to forsake the capital and move to the countryside.
A Well
The next step is to start digging a well which will be a blessing for our project and the whole area. Joseph wrote: Once we have a good well built by legal standards, it will also help the surrounding population, even by selling drinking water at a very low price so that we always have a little money to maintain the well.
COLK Orphanage Fire
Gilbert informed us that the COLK orphanage had problems with their electric wiring, which caused the top floor, the boys rooms, to burn down. We sent some money via Madlen for the reconstruction. She also offered them to take their orphans for an educational camp she is organizing during the summer holidays in her orphanage.
Jean’s Project
Since the area where we planned another project with Jean experiences tribal uprisings, we have to put this project on hold for now.
Congo’s Cobalt
We have seen an increase in news reports about the ongoing fightings in eastern Congo, where some 50 militia groups are driving out the local population so that multinational companies can mine the extremely valuable mineral resources there and take them out of the country. We hope that the sale of electro cars, those which use cobalt for their batteries, does not spread worldwide, as most of the cobalt needed for their production comes from the DR Congo, causing endless unrest and suffering.
Miscellaneous
Besides our work for the Congo, which includes fundraising, planning, organizing and overseeing the projects, Lenka continues with her weekly classes and meetings with her group. Wolfgang is trying to get our book published more widely, including the publication of the French and Spanish versions. Our friend Zdenek completed an e-shop on our website in 3 different currencies. Now the book can be ordered more easily in English, German and Czech https://w-p-schmidt.com/. Proceeds from the books go to our projects in the Congo.
Wolfgang is also researching for and working on writing his next book. Anissa passed an important exam which enabled her to get accepted in her dream Czech-English High school for the next 4 years.
               
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