Muoyo -- Life to You

What Rural Schools Are Like

The fairy tale of the three little pigs can tell us a lot about the schools in rural Congo. The schools are made out sticks, mud, and palm fronds. The big bad wolf just huffs, puffs and blows them down.

 

Some things, you do not forget. It may be a fairy tale, a nursery rhyme or a song. It may be a Bible verse or a Bible story. Or it may be an event or image. For me, it is the blown down school classroom in Bulape, Congo. It was during our April 2005 mission trip to the Congo.

 
Most of the classrooms at one of the two elementary schools were damaged or demolished. The classrooms were not demolished by a tornado. But it caused by a rain shower accompanied by a strong wind. It was an event that I will never forget.

The classrooms at two of elementary school are built in the traditional rural Congolese fashion. They are made out sticks, mud, and palm fronds. It was destroyed by nature’s big bad wolf. We were moved to build better, stronger, and longer lasting elementary schools. Bricks, as used by the third little pig, would withstand the winds, rain, and the big bad wolf. But we quickly found out that bricks and cement are expensive commodities in Congo. They were even more expensive in rural Congolese villages like Bulape.  We were determined. So, the school renovation program would take a decade to complete instead of just few years.

Last fall that was all changed, another building process was revealed to me. After seeing a news story about the plight of roadside vinyl billboards in our landfills, I thought of win-win situation. A solution to getting rid of or use the unneeded vinyl billboards and a solution to building better, stronger, and longer lasting classroom. We would use the vinyl billboard as a light-weight, durable building materials. It would be like a big vinyl camping tent with a wood frame.

Under normal conditions, traditional rural schools have to be replaced or rebuilt every 2-3 years. The mud, sticks, and palm fronds are just not good building materials.

 
In the spring or summer of 2011, we plan to replace half of the classrooms (six) at the two (rural) elementary schools in Bulape. New vinyl classrooms will replace the current classrooms of mud, sticks, and palm fronds. We have purchased a portable saw mill to produce lumber. An Architecture Mission Team of Andrews University, a Christian university, is working on a sturdy, durable, and usable design. And we will start collecting enough the vinyl billboard to complete six classrooms.

 

The First Vinyl School Is Funded

Late this year or early next year, you will be able to fly over the village of Bulape and immediately identify the newest elementary school below.  It will be buildings that advertise some American event, product, or service.  It will be buildings made out of used vinyl billboard signs.

 
Last month, I wrote about the ‘Built to Last’ project.  It’s a project to build classroom made out of used vinyl billboard signs for rural Congo.  At the end of article, I mentioned that I had just spoken at the Presbyterian Church in Hartford City.  The following week, I heard from a couple of the church.

I had met with the couple after church.  During this period, I discussed the project in more detail.  I had estimated that a complete school will cost about $3,000 or $500 per classroom.  They responded and provided enough funds to build an entire school consisting of six classrooms.  Also, they funded a (to be designed) rain water collection system for the school.

“We were delighted to learn more about the ministry in Congo to which God has directed you these last years.  As we have talked about our visit since, we believe God would have us share a portion with you of a gift we have recently received.”

Thanks be to God.  Thanks again for Faith’s donations to the project.  As a result, others have joined me and provided the seeds for the first vinyl classroom school.

Built to Last - The Vinyl Classroom Project

Built to Last

The fairy tale of the three little pigs can tell us a lot about the schools in rural Congo.  The schools are made out sticks, mud, and palm fronds.  The big bad wolf just huffs, puffs and blows them down.

Some things, you do not forget.  It may be a fairy tale, a nursery rhyme or a song.  It may be a Bible verse or a Bible story.  Or it may be an event or image.  For me, it is the blown down school classroom in Bulape, Congo.  It was during our April 2005 mission trip to the Congo. 

      

  

The classroom was not demolished by a tornado.  But it caused by a rain shower accompanied by a strong wind.  It was an event that I will never forget.

The classrooms at two of elementary school are built in the traditional rural Congolese fashion.  They are made out sticks, mud, and palm fronds.  It was destroyed by nature’s big bad wolf.

We were moved to build better, stronger, and longer lasting elementary schools.  Bricks, as used by the third little pig, would withstand the winds, rain, and the big bad wolf.  But we quickly found out that bricks and cement are expensive commodities in Congo.  They were even more expensive in rural Congolese villages like Bulape.  We were determined.  So, the school renovation program would take a decade to complete instead of just few years. 

Last fall that was all changed, another building process was revealed to me.  After seeing a news story about the plight of roadside vinyl billboards in our landfills, I thought of win-win situation.  A solution to getting rid of or use the unneeded vinyl billboards and a solution to building better, stronger, and longer lasting classroom.  We would use the vinyl billboard as a light-weight, durable building materials.  It would be like a big vinyl camping tent with a wood frame.

I found a local source of vinyl billboards.  They donated to us two and a half billboards.  The missing is another part of the story.  Also, we need a way to produce large amounts of consistently milled lumber in Congo.  A small portable sawmill came to mind.  We even located another local dealer.  Now, we just needed some extra funding.  Faith’s Mission Ministry Unit and its Enduring Gifts Foundation agreed to fund the sawmill.  The final step, designing a vinyl classroom, may be worked by Purdue University’s Chapter of Engineers Without Borders. 

For more details, please review a copy of recent message delivered at the Hartford City Presbyterian Church, download a copy of my Powerpoint Presentation, Download Built To Last - sermon.

Jesus answered the Jews saying: "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." John 10:25-30

Thanks to Faith Presbyterian Church generous donations, our school renovation program will take a few years instead of a decade.

Written by Woody M. Collins

President, Congo Helping Hands, Inc.

www.CongoHelpingHands.org

It Was More Than Just An Old Dusty Typewriter

In July 2008, I wrote an article about the plight of the School Lycee Dinanga, the girl’s commercial school in Bulape.  Last year, less than a hand-full of students in the entire village of Bulape passed their government examination.  What difference did an old dusty typewriter make?

 

 

Last week, I got a SMS (text) message from Justin, the headmaster of Lycee Dinanga and Congo Helping Hands’ project manager in Bulape.  Justin’s text message was short but it was powerful.

 

“All my 6 students from the 6^th form typing finished.  I mean they succeeded the government exams.”  WOW!  That’s great news.  I wanted more details.  Justin did not use all of his allocated 160 characters for his SMS message.  I had to send him at least two more messages to get more details. 

 

However, those few words meant so much for so many people, both here in Indiana and there in Bulape.  They represent some dreams answered.  And they represent the spark for more and bigger dreams.

 

The parents of those students should be proud of their children.  Those parents made sacrifices of time and money to allow their girls to attend and finish school.  And the students themselves need to be commended to sticking to it.  The conditions that they endured to finish are unbelievable.  The teachers deserve a hand, too.  After about four years of operations, the teachers finally started receiving their government pay.

 

You, the supporters of Congo Helping Hands, should rejoice in this step forward.  Some of you looked for and found those old dusty typewriters.  Others of you help pack and transport those old dusty typewriters.  Many of you supported us and our Congolese partners with your prayers and financial support.  Without YOU, these students would not have succeeded.

 

Visit http://www.CongoHelpingHands.org and http://www.EndingExtremePoverty.org for additional information and updates. 

 

A PDF version is available (free).  Download Your Old Dusty Typewriter Made a Difference 

 

 

By Woody M. Collins

President

Congo Helping Hands