30 years of school sponsorship: Neunkirchen supports children in the Congo

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Von: WOM

Neunkirchen has successfully performed a school partnership with the École Primaire in Buhesi, in the Eastern Congo for three decades. This valuable support began in the 1990s and has since developed into an important project for education and future prospects.

In Neunkirchen it is said that education is the key to improving living conditions. Former headmaster such as Karl Friedrich Kreutz can still remember the beginnings. "The children entrusted to us should see that there are children elsewhere who cannot grow up on the sunny side of life," he explains. This attitude motivated teachers and parents to actively contribute to the partnership.

historical roots of the partnership

The historical roots can be found in the 90s when Ruth Scholl, one of the founders of the one-world working group, Dr. Kakule Molo met. This Congolese theologian was committed to ensuring that children in Buhesi have access to high -quality education. The Hellergemeinde supported the call, which led to the establishment of the school sponsorship.

In 1994, thanks to the income from school festivals, a remarkable sum of 9250 DM was collected, which was used for the construction of the first classrooms. "So everything started," describes Dorothee Schumann, a former primary school teacher, the beginning of the project, which is now being continued with the Copernikus School in Neunkirchen.

The situation in Buhesi is characterized by frequent unrest, with armed groups fighting for control. Despite these challenges, the partnership was able to grow steadily over the years. During the first school years, around 150 students visited the École Primaire, now over 1000. The financial support from Neunkirchen flows to school continuously and enables the construction of important facilities such as internet cafes and a tailoring.

positive developments through the project work

The school in Buhesi has expanded by many building blocks, including a toilet facility and a trauma outpatient clinic. The initiative clearly shows how minimal financial input can lead to remarkable progress, and the partners in Neunkirchen are always informed about the progress on site. Steffi Schreiber, a leading teacher of the Neunkirchen primary school, is thrilled: "It is amazing how much the people on site achieve with so little support."

An essential element of the collaboration is the payment of the teachers, since state institutions are often unreliable. "The funds arrive there one to one," assures the teacher. In view of the political instability in the region, this is of crucial importance for educational offers.

The 30-year project is more than just a school program; It offers a future for many young people in Buhesi. The effects are clearly noticeable because many students had the opportunity to attend secondary schools and even successfully complete universities. Dr. Kakule Molo emphasizes that support is a deep sign of solidarity with the population of Buhesi, which suffers from political instability.

In the future, Buhesi could possibly become the third partner community of Neunkirchen, which would strengthen an even deeper connection between the two regions. In view of the ongoing challenges and the need for international solidarity, maintaining this school remains an important concern for schools in Neunkirchen.

For more information about this exciting partnership and its inspiring successes, readers can report on www.siegener-zeitung.de Visit.