Keep up with benevolence. Twelve years later, Cilongu Foundation (CF) continues to deliver philanthropic services as defined in its mission; supporting educational initiatives in Africa and the United States. Two fundamental questions that will be elaborated on this newsletter are: Why does the foundation continue to support educational initiatives? Who are the care agents that proliferate the mission of the foundation?
Why does Cilongu Foundation continue to support educational initiatives?
Education is the great equalizer and many people have reached their life goals because they were able to attend school, learn skills and dispositions that enabled them to find a job. As a result of a great education, individuals are able to provide for their families, while others are able to provide for many in the community, because their entrepreneurial vision led to starting a business, a school or a hospital to name a few. This is true for Sammy Tshibangu, the construction engineer who founded Collège Toute Grâce (CTG), a K-12 school that CF supports in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). You will read more about CTG in another section of this newsletter.
CF’s motto is “Give a Little and Help a Lot”. The motto is the chief reason why CF continues to support educational initiatives in Africa and the US. We believe that giving is a humble act that shows what one appreciates when God has provided for him/her and needs. Conversely, the recipient feels the need to pay it forward by reciprocating the act of kindness. The history of the foundation reveals our belief about what we received from others which led to the development of the foundation. We, at the foundation, also believe that it is more blessed to give than to receive. When you give, you are blessing the receiver because many times those who receive support from the foundation least expected or have not even requested the support.
Backing up students and parents! The care that the foundation provides comes in many forms; money to pay teachers, money for students to pay tuition, shoes for students to wear, school supplies for students to use, books for students to read or clothing for them to wear and sometimes food for them to eat. CF is fortunate that all of the support that is sent to the partner schools has always arrived without being lost or stolen. This is because of the individuals whom we have met in person and are responsible to deliver the supports or resources.
How much does one need to own in order to provide for others? CF operates with an annual budget of less than $5,000 a year. However, the foundation supports five schools and 600 students each year. Education does not cost a lot in a country where the dollar is the leading currency in the world. Therefore, the parity ration is favorable for those who have dollars compared to other foreign currencies. All our partner schools charge an annual tuition of $200 per year or less. For example, a teacher at CTG receives a monthly salary of $40. The comparative advantage that American dollars carry over some foreign currencies allows CF to seek gift donations from friends to provide for children and schools in Africa. Visit our website to read more about the foundation history at www.cilongofoundation.org
Further effort to help students CF will launch another campaign and partner with schools in the US to raise money to collect school supplies for our partner schools in Africa. We believe that the stories from schools such as CTG will help students in the US to appreciate the free public education they receive. It is important to mention that children from our partner schools walk each day to attend school. Many of them walk to school bare foot because their families cannot afford to buy shoes. In the next section you will read about Jimmy Nyembwe recent visit to Collège Toute Grâce.
During her recent visit to the US, Céline Tshibangu visited St. Paul City School, a PreK-8 charter school in Frogtown, St. Paul. She admired the size of the classroom and was amazed to see the beautifully decorated classrooms unlike CTG. Please help us support CTG and allow them to create picturesque classrooms.
Who are the care agents that proliferates the mission of Cilongu Foundation?
A recent study of US nonprofit foundations reported that individual donors were the number one supporters of the foundation.This statement resonates at CF.Individuals from communities in Minnesota give monthly to CF because they are aware of the needs of children in Africa.CF is able to support educational initiatives in Africa and the US because generous people give each month.We are honored to work with people from Minnesota who have a kindred spirit and believe in the leadership of the foundation and its work.
CF will continue to make a difference in the lives of many children in Africa and the US. Here, CF has contributed to the Blaine High School scholarship funds and provided winter boots to incoming students. CF supported the Character Education program at St. Paul City School to help students maintain a positive behavior on the bus. “Thank you” to all our supporters for joining hands to make a difference by supporting the education of children. Former South African President Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Mandela has shown us how his education changed the world in South Africa and many parts of the globe. You never know where the next Nelson Mandela will come from. Maybe from one of the partner schools that CF supports in Africa or in the United States?
Project updates
More exciting news from our partner schools in Africa is available because of the advancement of technology but also because Jimmy Nyembwe recently visited CTG in the DRC and PANA Christian Open School in Zambia. You can appreciate seeing the evidence of your dollars making a difference for children in Africa.
Congo-Kinshasa (Central Africa)
In June 2013 Jimmy visited CTG and delivered 120 pairs of shoes to students. Shoes are a luxury for some people around the world because they cannot afford them. For many in the US, shoes can be found in a trash can at a university, a thrift store or even in someone’s garbage. As it is often said, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure! Shoes delivered by Jimmy to students at CTG were indeed a treasure for them. These shoes were purchased and others donated during the 2012-13 Cilongu Foundation shoe drive. We collected 900 pairs of shoes that have been distributed and some remain to be shipped.
Natural barrier! Sink holes are not only common to some states in the US. In the surrounding village near CTG, a sink hole divided the village in two parts and prevents many students from getting to the other side of the village to attend school. Students have to walk an additional hour before they arrive at school. Please consider donating funds to allow the school to purchase a bus that will transport students to school.
In Zambia
PANA Christian School is another partner school in Lusaka Zambia. PANA Christian School has been operating in a church for the past three years.The school has purchased a lot and plans to begin raising the walls of the new school. During Jimmy’s visit in June, he visited the future home of PANA Christian School.In the picture below you will see the foundation that was dug. In Early November, CF sent $600 to purchase the tile for the roof of PANA Christian School. We are pleased to support another school that will continue to provide a quality education for students in Lusaka, Zambia.
In 2012 and early 2013, CF sent 2 of 20 computers that we received from a donor in Blaine to PANA Christian School. Both computers arrived safely and are being used at the school site.
Thank you for the continuous support that the friends of CF have provided. We could not do this work without your generous donations.
From Blaine to West Africa and East Africa
Liberia
On his travel to Liberia, Edwin Weedor, our contact person for Trumpet of God School has been able to carry 25 Rotary Kits. A kit includes 1 bag, 2 notebooks, 1 ruler, 12 colored pencils, and 1 pair of scissors, 2 pencils, 1 sharpener and 2 erasers. Edwin carried also 106 pairs of shoes, clothes, books and 4 computers plus accessories.
Ann Sandell International School received 1 computer thanks to the service of the United Methodist Church in Anoka.
Sierra Leone CF donated 60 assorted pairs of shoes and 3 computers for students at the Sierra International School. Dr. Leone Elliot, Proprietor and President took care of the shipment to Freetown.
Kenya Via the USPS, CF has been able to ship a computer to A.I.C Ebenezer Academy in Kabarnet, Kenya