Report from BHW DRC Partnership Facilitator Following Visit

Key people: George and Jacqueline Atido 

Because of the security situation around Bunia, it was considered wise that George come to visit us in Kampala, Uganda, rather than the BHW team fly into Bunia. George did that and we spent three days together.

Context

The schools in the Congo face many challenges. Currently the government has taken over many schools and have told parents that they should no longer pay primary school fees as this is the government's job. But the problem is that the government is not actually paying the teachers, so the schools struggle and they are worse off than they were before. The government is doing this to try and impress international watchdogs. 

The teachers are discouraged as they do not get paid. From some rural areas they have to go to town to a bank to see if they have been paid, spend transport and accommodation money to find there is nothing in the bank account. Of course, students who were going to those schools are trying to go to different schools and this is causing a lot of disturbance. 

Another issue facing secondary students has been created by the unrest in the villages surrounding Bunia. There are many displaced people (George says around 40% of people in rural areas around Bunia are displaced). When students join a secondary school, they are assigned a student unique number that is theirs and that is location specific. So, when it comes to exam time, they must sit their exams at the place they were originally registered at.  The exam papers are sent under lock and key to the school and only a government official can open and distribute them at exam time. This is causing major disruptions as it is very dangerous for the students to return to their villages and the cost of doing so is prohibitive. 

Thousands of students have not been able to sit their exams, and they become frustrated and prime targets for recruitment by rebel militia groups, ending up as child soldiers. According to George, helping children to remain in school not only provides an education but keeps them from violence and developing a revenge mentality.

Secondary schools in the Congo are set up to have a big vocational element. After general subjects in the first two years, students can choose a skill to be trained in over the next few years of school. Skills such as nursing, teaching, sewing, electrician, agriculture, veterinary, building, mechanical, business administration and hospitality are taught. This enables the secondary school leavers to have a better chance of employment.

Recent Events

There are four pools in the school programme, with an advocate in each pool who looks after the students. Each group has around 20 students with about 15 in primary school and five in secondary school.

Ngezi Pool: Deborah is the leader of this pool. She is George’s sister and has recently been appointed headmistress of a school. The previous headmaster of Ngezi School, whom the BHW team has met, died during Covid. The new man is very co-operative. This school operates on the property of a church but is not governed by the church. This school is one of those taken over by the government and there are many issues in the school because of that. 

Cité Pool: Joshua is the leader of this pool and covers a very large area. Because of Covid and then the ongoing displacement it has been very difficult to keep track of all the students in this pool.

Rwampara Pool: Pastor Samole leads this. He really struggles with who to include in the programme of support and who to say no to. There are so many children who deserve inclusion, but the resources are limited. He is the pastor of a brethren church and headmaster of a school. He has a huge network of people, especially among the displaced. The photo shows the Rehema students who sat for state exams this year (2023-2024) from the Rwampara pool.

Shalom Pool: This is supporting the children of some of the theological students at Shalom University as they cannot afford to look after their own children while they are studying. There are probably 400 children in this situation who could be helped.  

Partner Update

George and Jacqueline have faced a traumatic family issue with the death of David, their 15-year-old son, in 2022. It appears he was poisoned when taking a soft drink. There are a couple of theories about why. George, as chancellor of Shalom University fought against army and government officials who tried to confiscate land from the university a few years previously. They fought in the courts for four years and managed to keep the land to the surprise of everyone. The second theory is that young men from the militias visited the school to recruit members and their son refused or threatened to report them and so was poisoned. 

There is little or no chance of knowing if either of these is true. Their son became very sick with terrible stomach pains. Despite going to the hospital and having tests, there was nothing able to be diagnosed and he was sent home and told to drink a lot of water. He improved over the next two days but one evening the pains came back and he died during the night. 

His brother, Daniel who is now 15 is having major mental health issues related to the death of David. When George came to meet us in Kampala, he brought Daniel with him to try to get some help for him. He was able to do that. 

George is in the last few years of his 10-year contract as Chancellor of Shalom university. It ends in 2027. He is currently not sure what will happen after that. Jacqueline is more inclined to stay in the Congo as it is what she knows. George is thinking carefully about the options. He could easily leave the DR Congo and take up faculty positions in Francophone universities, but it is not easy with so many children and others dependent on them. He would love to be doing more with his little NGO Rehema as he loves doing this work and empowering people. 

One of their daughters lives in Kampala studying at university. If any critical situation occurs in the DR Congo, they have the option to send the other children to her. Another daughter is studying at Shalom University. 

Jacqueline wants to write more about what she is learning as she goes into the prison. She is also studying counselling to be of more use to the women she meets there. 

Personal Stories

From the Rehema Ministries August 2024 Newsletter 

Richard - One afternoon I received a call, and the question was something I believed to be impossible. Richard, a church leader I knew several years ago, borrowed the phone of someone who had my number and called me. He said it is now six months since he has been able to see. And his request was: “I want to see. Please help me to see,” he said. Instead of giving him a direct negative response I found it better to request that a doctor respond to him, not being sure that he could see again.

Richard is a devoted church elder.  He married Maureen some years back and God blessed them with six wonderful children. When he was a young boy, he learned to play trumpet and acquired carpentry skills through Diguna, a German mission organization serving in northeastern Congo. However, due to the outbreak of war in 2002, Richard was forced to leave Bogoro, a village 25 km from Bunia to settle at Vilo, a neighbouring village, 17 km away. Life was far from easy, and he once again had to relocate to another village 5 km nearer to Bunia.

Despite the hardships, Richard tirelessly supported his family through his carpentry work and training other church members in playing trumpet. Until recently, his family relied solely on his income. In addition to his role as a provider, Richard actively participated in his community as the president and founder of the "Jesus is Lord" choir and chairing his church’s general assembly. 

In 2015 things became very difficult for Richard. His life took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with diabetes. In 2020, the disease took a severe toll on his health, and he ended up losing his sight. The impact was profound, as he struggled to provide for his family and faced new challenges. Richard's inability to work and care for his family added to their burdens. His illness prevented him from fulfilling his responsibilities, and his children's education suffered as a result. He required constant assistance with daily activities, such as eating and moving around, leaving his wife with the task of caring for him. Life became increasingly difficult for the entire family.

Fortunately, a ray of hope emerged when Richard connected with Rehema Ministry as he requested help for his child’s education. He then made a second request which was complex: he wanted to see as he was suffering from depression. The ministry guided them to the Shalom University Hospital in Bunia, and he was connected to the support towards the displaced. There he received vital medical care, including treatment for dehydration, hyperglycemia, and severe malnutrition. With medical counselling and psychotherapy, he gradually accepted his situation and rediscovered a sense of hope.

After three weeks, the doctor tested his eyes and found that the retina was not affected, and the complication resulted from a cataract which could be treated through surgery. The doctor asserted that there was a chance for him to see again. He was subsequently transferred to the Evangelical Medical Centre in Bunia, a more advanced hospital serving for training university students in medical care. Before the surgery, it was crucial to stabilize Richard’s blood sugar levels and hydration to ensure the success of the operation. After a few days, Richard underwent cataract surgery on one eye then the second.

One afternoon, I almost collapsed with shock as I was informed that Richard’s sight had been restored. He was able to see! Richard has regained his independence, and he can move freely and enjoy meals without assistance. Richard went back to reading again his Bible. When I met Richard, he shouted with an immeasurable joy, like the blind man in John 9:25: “I was blind but now I see!”

Richard’s recovery of sight has positively impacted his whole family. His wife went back to reorganize her small business in the market and there was no longer the need to have a child staying permanently beside him for assistance. The joy of the family is great as Richard's vision is restored, his health improved, and his self-confidence renewed. Although he remains diabetic and will require ongoing support and care to manage his condition, his remarkable recovery serves as a testimony to the power of faith, prayer, love, and support.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who have provided support to Rehema Ministry as this allowed us to stand by Richard and his family throughout their difficult journey. Your prayers, financial assistance, and unwavering love have played a pivotal role in their lives and growing their faith in Christ.

Safi graduated in 2023 with a secondary certificate in agriculture. She is now supporting her parents who are displaced from the war zone. 

Ideas for the Future

i) There is a skills training centre in Bunia called The Rebuilders Ministry who are running many different courses to empower local people. They run three-to-six-month courses, and George would like to have funding to send 20 people per year for training and to operate like a fifth pool.

The students would mainly come from the existing pools, some could come from the theology course, so they have a skill when they return to their homes, and some from the churches they know. I have a document that outlines the courses and the cost. They seem a little expensive to me, but they are pretty much guaranteed employment upon completion. The courses are:
- Agriculture – 5 months training and 1 month of monitoring (US$500)
- Sewing and cutting – 6 months training and 1 month of monitoring (US$350)
- Automobile and motorcycle mechanics and driving – 6 months training and 7 months accelerated (US$500)
- Beauty – 4 months including start up kit (US$500)
- Cooking – 4 months (US$150)

ii) Discretionary fund: George and Jacqueline are constantly being asked for help from people who come for help. They help the ones they are able to from their own funds but there are so many they cannot assist. Recently they heard of a military chaplain whose three children have been recruited into militia groups, some of these groups are fighting each other. They managed to find these kids and get them into school and out of the clutches of the militia, but the father has not been paid for months, is struggling to survive and is full of shame because of what happened. Another man who was a leader of a church was assisted to get a cataract operation, not the one in the story. 

They are under a lot of pressure, and it would take a lot of pressure off them if they could have a discretionary fund to assist cases like this.   

Current Issues and Challenges

1) Giving families micro finance loans or grants has been something that George has been considering and has even used some of his personal funds to try and help some families. It has proved quite difficult, especially due to the conflict and rebel groups disturbing the people and their place of business. It is better when the people have either an idea themselves to run a business, or they are already running a business that can be helped with a bump up in capital. 

For those starting out in business, George observes that loan programmes are very difficult. Initial businesses struggle to find clients, so to compete they must drop prices to even below cost to get the business. For the first year or so they expect to make a loss and would have no way to repay a loan. If their business is good quality and they get a good reputation, then the business can grow after that. This might be something to consider in the future if there could be adequate training and mentoring. 

2) The ongoing rebel activity is a major concern. George doesn’t sleep at night worrying about everything he is responsible for. 

3) The children face many issues on a daily basis from hunger, fear and poor-quality education. The government is not helping in any of these areas of concern. 

Prayer and Praise Points

1) That George, Jacqueline and the family will be protected from harm
2) That despite the many issues the children face, that most of them would get an education that equips them for life
3) That the children would become Christians and live for Christ and become people of influence in their communities
4) For the leaders who oversee the 4 pools 

Comments

This is such a hard place to do ministry, and everything is stacked against the children and families. They are being terrorized by a very small minority of people whose vision is to destroy and cause mayhem. They are brutal, unrestrainable dogs and the government does not have the will or ability to deal with them. Many of the community leaders are part of the problem and it suits them for the region to remain in chaos. 

George and Jacqueline are wonderful partners, and we should do all we can to support their vision. This is a part of the world we need to be involved in heavily. 

The beneficiaries are very thankful and constantly express their appreciation to George and his team. 

According to George the education project is very valuable and important, and we should keep it going and if possible increase it. For example, there are about 400 children in the university many of whom struggle to get to school. It would also be a real help to have a discretionary fund to help when random needs in the community arise.