DEVELOPING TIMES: Update in Congo

Welcome

Mission Statement
Rural Empowerment Initiatives (REI) mission is to collaborate in the reduction of poverty through investment in rural areas and training of local people.

Vision Statement
REI's vision is to treat every created being with dignity, respect and love. We strive to work with those most in need by empowering people to recognize their God given talents, enabling them to make the world a better place and providing them hope for the future.

Our Principles
REI believes that all people are created equal.
REI will develop small to medium businesses (SMEs) as one approach to reach those most in need by creating jobs that build the economy in rural areas.
REI's partner businesses will be led, managed and majority owned by local people.
REI will always seek a triple bottom line of economic, spiritual and social transformation.
REI seeks to build sustainable community-oriented business models.
REI's focus of support is to the economically disadvantaged.
REI will seek attractive market and growth opportunities.
REI will incubate pilot projects with capable management.
REI believes in collaboration. We seek partners whose strengths complement our own in an effort to build well-rounded projects of lasting economic value for the communities in which we work.
REI is inspired by the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, and is therefore rooted in the Christian faith.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Update in Congo

The first phase for the Congo Initiative (CI) is to provide a bilingual learning center. Here's a report and some photo's to give it a better perspective.

SCHOOL BUILDING ROOF

The carpenters are going on with the roofing work. Within two to three weeks
they might be done with it. Maybe, it might be slightly delayed by the work
of iron sheets. But all in all, the teams plan to finish before the end of
September. This afternoon we are getting the iron sheets for the roof from
Butembo. We are grateful for the way the Lord has led in the purchase of
this material which was one of the priorities for early September. P
FILLING THE FOUNDATION

In fact, every Tuesday and Saturday the Mabakanga youth come to work on the
site filling the foundation with dirt. They are about to finish the dirt
that was removed from the big septic pit that was dug a couple of weeks
back.
DIGGING THE DIRT ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING

A team of young people have started digging the soil on the North side of
the building. This work was to be done by the ENRA machine which is not
available. Contacts were also made at 'Office de Route' to get their machine
which is at Kamango. However, in the meantime it has been decided that some
young people will start digging the soil to buy time.
KAMBALE MBAYOS
Kambale MBAYOS, is the Chief Carpenter. Mbayos says he did Carpentery at High
School for Four Years. Few months back he worked for SinoHydro, a Chinese
company that is fixing roads in the Beni/Oicha area.
Mbayos believes that UCBC will be the best university of the area, not only
because it will have very nice classrooms and buildings but also because it
will train people who will be model Christians. "I cannot send my children
to study to America. It's too far and beyond my capacity", says Mbayos, but
I think my children will study at this school and they will envy nothing
from those who will study in America or elsewhere. And to tell the truth,
they will be proud that their father contributed to the building of this
school".
Mbayos is a hard worker and a good team leader. "Next Saturday", he says,
"come and you will find that we have finished the front part on the North
side".