A Journalist Friend For You

It is a new week and I slept so long last night that I think today I must work extra long. Can it really work that way??? I spent the day yesterday with a priest friend, Abbe(Father) Guy. We traveled by foot, then by motorcycle (the local taxi here), and finally by a borrowed car. It was a full day with worship at Mount Carmel and then many visits, beginning with some refreshments with the priests at the parish where Abbe Guy was assisting in worship. We ended the day at his brother's home for a wonderful feast. I was glad to be accompanied also by Bahati's sister Marie Jeanne. I was so tired by the time I arrived home I was in bed at 8pm. Then during the night there was a huge thunderstorm with so much lightening, so close that I feared for the lives of those who live in the homes above the Diocese de Goma where I stay. At any rate it was so loud that I had to wake up just to listen, and the rain was furious. It was what we call a gully washer back home in the Dakotas. Beyond the thunderstorm I slept very well.

Above is the photo of a new friend of mine that I want to introduce you, Taylor Toeka Kakala. He works out of the offices here at Caritas Goma and I thought his stories would be of interest and enlightening for all. Included in this post are links to some of his articles. He is originally from Kisangani where he speaks Lingala, French, and some Swahili, though he says it is a bad Swahili…and so he studies Swahili language just like I do. Taylor now lives here in Goma with his wife Meda and his 4-month-old daughter Maria. I include pictures of Taylor and Maria. Thought you would enjoy a little family info too. Following is a short bio he wrote to tell a bit about his work, first in French and then the translation in English by our linguist from St. Anne Parish (Thank You Nadine!!!). Below is the wonderfu face of Taylor's daughter Maria.

Taylor Toeka Kakala est Journaliste indépendant. Correspondant à Goma (capitale provinciale du Nord-Kivu, RDC) du Journal « Le Phare » (Kinshasa), de l’Agence « Syfia Grands Lacs » (Montpellier) et de l’Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) (Londres), il est aussi le Représentant de l’Asbl « Journalistes pour la promotion et la défense des droits de l’homme » (JPDH) au Nord-Kivu.

Taylor Toeka Kakala is an independent journalist. In Goma (capital of the North-Kivu Province in DRC), he acts as a correspondent for newspaper called the « Le Phare », for the « Syfia Great Lakes » (Montpellier) Agency and for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) (London). He is also the representative for the Non Profit Association « Journalists for the promotion and the defence of the human rights)(JPDH) in North Kivu.

Following are some links to his articles so you may read some of the news from our region. This past weekend the news was bad, there were three murders Friday night and another Saturday night. That brings a total of 14 killings in the last two weeks here in Goma. The word on the street is that the killings this week were perpetrated by soldiers looking for money and goods to sell. Not good news, but news all the same and everyone here says this is the way of life now in this eastern part of DRC. The state of unrest and inability to feel safe at night causes people to always be in a heightened state of wariness, not a great way to live. It's the kind of stress that negatively impacts health in a variety of ways. The death Saturday night was the wife of someone known by a colleague here in Caritas. Keep us in your prayers that peace may arrive soon.

The titles and links for two of Taylor's articles that have been translated into English follow, if you read French you can research and find other articles of his available on the web. I am glad to call him my friend.

Rebel General Insists on Amnesty Deal

http://iwpr.net/index.php?apc_state=hen&s=o&o=l=EN&p=acr&s=f&o=343383

Kivu Peace Deal Failing to Deliver

http://iwpr.net/?p=acr&s=f&o=343304&apc_state=henpacr

ALPHA UJUVI

Hello to St. Anne, St. John and all!!! This story is about a wonderful program based here in Goma. As you know, education is not available for everyone here in Africa and, in reality, for 2/3’s of the worlds population education is not a certainty. I want to introduce you to one of the programs here in DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) that carries the name “Collectif Alpha Ujuvi.” They implement and direct the Alphabetization programs throughout the Diocese of Goma, but in fact are a resource for many such programs throughout the North Kivu Province and also some in South Kivu Province. Their program is a multi-pronged approach to intercede with those who have not been able to receive the education they deserve, that all persons deserve. Children, teenagers, and adults come into this program to learn basics of education, health, socialization, and job skills. When possible the children are placed into a regular school system after getting up to speed with their peers, but this is often not the case as many of the children are much older than usual or so poor as to be unable to attend regular school. This program helps on a number of levels, it is able to intercede for youth who can then make there way for full education, it provides skills training so that many can find some kind of skilled work such as sewing, hair care, and cooking. For adults it brings knowledge and skills their children or grandchildren are learning in school, thus a support system for their families and all the benefits that come with knowledge of just the basics in education.

It is wonderful to hear that in fact our own Rugari Parish is one of the first to take on the Alphabetization program for their community. Right now the Alphabetization program we were helping to fund in Nkokwe is not functioning due to the war…but I am wondering if perhaps we can see it begin to function again where they are in Gisiza? I will pursue this thought further with Abbe Louis. For now though I remain in Goma due to a heightened sense of insecurity in the air.

My heart longs to go to Rugari to be with them there, but those responsible for me here do not want to risk it and so I must follow their guide as they want us to succeed here. They are so happy to have us here with them and my heart is so happy to be doing the work here. I have digressed, back to the story of Collectif Alpha Ujuvi.

The Furahini Center here in Goma is just one success story of the programs that Alpha Ujuvi facilitates. The Furahini Center is able to do so much for so many and the teachers, children, and adult students are so committed. Those who study here learn a sense of purpose and ability at the Furahini Center; they have hope for a future. The word “Furahini” means, “to be in joy/happiness.” And so I close this bit of a story to show you the story in pictures and in the words of Sister Deodata who is the Director of Alpha Ujuvi, along with three of the children who attend the Furahini Center…all of them live and work “IN JOY”!!!!


(THIS FIRST LETTER IS FROM SISTER DEODATA BUNZIGIYE WHO HAS ALSO WRITTEN A VERY GOOD BOOK ON CREATING AND DIRECTING ALPHABETIZATION PROGRAMS.)


Collectif Alpha Ujuvi
Presentation on the
“Collectif Alpha Ujuvi”
Opening of the Furahini Center
During a training on alphabetization in April 2001, the centers in charge of the alphabetization decided on the creation of a task force to ensure the follow up of the alphabetization centers. This is how the “Collectif Alpha Ujuvi” was created.

Since then the alphabetization programs have improved dramatically. After Goma and its suburbs, centers inside the Diocese of Goma started operating.

The Rugari Parish was among the first parishes to show interest in this program.

Soon after starting the alphabetization program for the adults, we noticed the young ones and the children showing interests, this gave us the idea of creating other programs for the younger ones and the children. Currently the FURAHINI Center is operating with 160 children from very poor families, orphans, children living on the street, children living with foster families. Some children experienced very traumatizing situations, volcano, war, were the victims of sexual crimes, and some are HIV positive or suffer from AIDS.

Our goal is to have children attend the program and at the same time encourage them to go back to a family life. The FURAHINI Center is not only a school but also provides assistance to the children by giving them a new motivation and a new meaning to their lives.

It is thanks to the NGO Action Aid International that the school was built for the children and the Sisters Ursuline provide food for the children. But the children need a lot, food, clothes, medical care, … please read the attached letters in which three children tell their stories.

We are happy that the children attend the program; we are constantly encouraged by their energy and their motivation.

Sister Deodata BUNZIGIYE
Religious Ursuline
Collectif Alpha Ujuvi (243) 997760256
Diocese of Goma (243) 0808594606

A Map of Goma

Good morning everyone!!! I am glad to report that last night I slept so long and so good. It was a rough week for sleep because of my stomach ailment, but I am so happy to report that today I am really feeling back up to par…HURRAH!!! Today I am at the office for just a short time because soon we will be going to a funeral Mass. The uncle of one of our co-workers died last week and today is the funeral. This will be my first funeral in Congo and it will be at the church of the Holy Spirit where I have been going to worship. I am sure it will be in French and so once again I will be sitting in the dark so to speak, but the good news is that my Swahili listening comprehension is picking up this week, YEA, HURRAH!!! That has been the hardest part, I am learning so much vocabulary, but if you do not understand it as you are hearing it…well, you can see where that gets me.

Today I just wanted to send you a map and website for you to link to. Use Google Earth to really see where in the world I am. You will love it. For now I am also copying a photo map that I made from google earth. This way you can see exactly where I travel to and from work and some of the sites I visit on a regular basis. Hope this is fun for you…it sure is for me!!! Well I can see that this photo is not half as good as the real thing, so I ask you to go to Google Earth (FREE) on the internet and check out Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo. This map shows a few of the places important in my life, Diocese de Goma and the Caritas Offices. Also if you can see the white line, it shows the road i take to and from work every day. And often I walk because of lack of a car available to transport, but I welcome the walking and it is just a short 15 minute walk.

Now this was an exciting day for Mahesh Eduard Ntamabyaliro(ABOVE) and I, a wonderful reunion as we are family. He is the Superintendent of the Nkokwe school. Now they are living as refugees in the village of Gisiza and it was a time of rejoicing to see each other and exchange greetings.

Well I must close now because Roger Ndagije (ABOVE) and I will be leaving now for Rugari, I will return once again...YAHOO!!! Roger is the head of Medical Development with the Caritas Goma office and he is my supervisor. I will send a picture of him as well. Then I must go, we have miles to drive before we rest. ....OH SO SAD....I just learned that we will not travel after all. There is no car available for us to drive in. BAH HUMBUG!!! The good news is that gives me more time to write and post blogs...YAHOO!!! The silver lining in every cloud.

Just one other piece of news. I began this writing on Saturday the 15th and am finishing now on Monday the 17th. I am happy to report that the funeral was in Swahili and so I got some great practice for my Swahili and indeed I am learning, slowly, slowly. It was the funeral of a family member here at Caritas, what I didn't know is that he was a politician and very respected in the nation. Oh my goodness what a funeral!!! Three hours in length and packed full. I ended up taking most of the rest of the day with this funeral and burial. It was presided over by Bishop Ngabu and over 10 other priests!!! Abbe Oswald says that if the current leadership in the North Kivu Province were the kind of man this was, we would be prospering and life would be good. He was well celebrated in the Mass and burial.

Love to you all back home,
And always, God’s blessings upon you,
Jackie

The News

OK, let me try this again. I received this statement as a forward from Bahati and I thought everyone who is working so hard on our Nothing But Nets Project for this year would also like to catch up on the news about America's programming against Malaria. I will try to post again soon, I have been unable to have internet for almost two weeks...oh the travail. I have so much to tell you all. If I could just get two good hours in everyday I would catch you all up to date, but that is always an uncertainty I am finding out. So it goes in Goma for electricity and internet reliability.

Just to let you know, I was a bit ill this week and my co-workers here were worried that I might have Malaria. I am glad to say that today I feel a good bit better and so I don't think it is Malaria, but I can say that I was starting to wonder. I do know the horrible offense of this disease, for I have seen children and adults die of it first hand and it is heartbreaking to say the least. I am so proud to be part of your efforts to help change peoples lives by ending Malaria, this has been my top priority since 2003 when I spent 3 months in Africa and got that first hand knowledge of Malaria. Thank you for your continued efforts and as we say here in Goma, "Courage!"

Condoleezza Rice's comments follow.

Always yours,
Jackie

Remarks at Stand for Africa Event Honoring Malaria No More Secretary Condoleezza Rice Washington, DC March 12, 2008
SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very, very much. And I want to thank my friend, the incomparable Rima Al-Sabah for that kind introduction. You and Ambassador Al-Sabah are just really wonderful and gracious hosts in this terrific room. You make us all feel like family, so thank you for that. And you contribute so much to the strong relationship that our two nations enjoy. I want to thank you, too, for your leadership and our shared efforts to ensure that a life of health and opportunity is open to all people.
Members of the diplomatic corps, members of Congress, fellow cabinet members, ladies and gentlemen, I'm really honored to join you here this evening for such a worthy cause, to support the global effort to defeat malaria and to support the good work that is being done to that end by Malaria No More. I want to thank John Bridgeland and his organization for their work and to say that John with whom I worked at the White House for a while is a really wonderful person. He's a person of skill, of integrity, but most importantly of compassion. And so John, thank you for your work. (Applause.)
During President Bush's term, the U.S. Government is doing more than ever to lead the global fight against malaria. And in that fight we've had no better trooper than our First Lady. Thank you so much, First Lady. (Applause.) I've seen your passion and I've seen your conviction, and you've brought this to this cause and you've worked tirelessly to mobilize the resources and the goodwill of the American people. And I've been proud to work with you, Mrs. Bush. I'm – more importantly, I'm proud to call you my friend.
Now, in that work, the First Lady has, of course, been an ideal partner for those of us in the diplomatic corps who are working to spread the compassion of America. But, because behind every great woman, there's a great man -- (laughter) -- and I'm very proud that President Bush was able to join us earlier. And let me just say that I'm also honored to serve an American leader who is really mobilizing the – not just the power of America, but the compassion of America for such noble purposes.
It was the President's vision that led to a $1.2 billion Malaria Initiative, which is being led by Admiral Tim Ziemer, who is joining us here tonight. So often, the most monumental and wonderful actions begin with simple questions and that is the story behind this Malaria Initiative. The President asked, at a time of such growing prosperity and such global good fortune, why are millions and millions of our fellow human beings dying from a disease that can be prevented with something as simple as a well-covered place to sleep. The President has spoken about this program. And the many people whose lives it is touching, some of whom, as the First Lady mentioned, we had an opportunity to meet on our visit to Africa last month.
What I would like to do is to offer a few thoughts to you as to why we are engaged in this fight against malaria. We in the United States realize the stakes that we have and the success of the peoples and the nations of our world. We've seen the devastation that diseases, like malaria, can sow across entire continents. We've seen how this killer can rob children of their parents, parents of their children, and countries of their future. We've seen the interests that American people have in building an international community where no nation, no matter how large or how small, how wealthy or how poor, is hollowed out and destabilized by disease. And so we understand that eradicating malaria is in the interest of all responsible nations in the 21st century.
But we lead the fight against this disease for a more compelling reason and that's because it's the right thing to do and because as America we can. In the face of such cruel and needless suffering, we are blessed with power and plenty and we have a moral responsibility to act. We will not be able to help save every life, but we will save some lives, and that will mean everything for that one extra child who will grow up with a mother or a father, or the parents who will see their sons or daughters live to start families of their own.
We seek to defeat this disease because we believe in a revolutionary idea that is neither American nor Western, but universal, that the life of the child suffering from malaria in Africa is equal in worth and dignity to the life of all human beings, regardless of race or religion, class or culture, whether they are a citizen of the United States, the President of the United States, or a child in Africa.
This effort unites the civilized nations of the world. It unites the public sphere and the private sector, and that is why I'm so glad to join you here tonight in your support for Malaria No More. And for all of you who are working to prevail against this disease, to make it possible that perhaps no child would ever die of this disease, I want to thank you for your compassion. I want to thank you for your commitment and I want to say to all of you that if we work together for however long it takes, it is a dream that is realizable, a world in which malaria is truly no more.
Thank you very much. (Applause.)
2008/185
Released on March 13, 2008

I HAVE BEEN TO RUGARI!!!

I have been to Rugari and it is beautiful. The air is fresh, the mountains are gorgeous, and life is a bit simpler. And boy oh boy will my Swahili improve when I am there for longer periods of time. There is so much to do there that I am back here in Goma feeling a bit guilty.

Here is a picture of some of the children who gathered around to see the mgeni (visitor) in their midst. Of course they were more than willing to say "hello" to everyone back home. They raise their hands to wave and send greetings to all of you back at St. Anne and St. John and beyond. Of course their smiles and the joy in their faces say so much more.

Here is a picture of me with my dear friend Edward Ntamabyaliro. He is the director of the school at the village of Nkokwe. Unfortunately they have become refugees because of the war and are now living and working in a nearby village of Gisiza. To live as a refugee is a difficult life as you see by the photo of the refugee camp at Kibumba below. The huts are just big enough to lie down in. And then of course you need to find food, water, and toilets somehow. This is where the aid agencies have made important contributions. We pray for peace so that all can return to their villages, farms, and schools. Then people can seek to make their way and to make progress for themselves and their country.

Here is a picture of the new Health Center that is waiting for equipment and supplies to be opened.

How about this for a full church...so full of bright colors and beautiful voices and such a warm welcome they gave me. It was fantastic.

They will be so happy to receive anyone who wants to come and visit. So how many of you are coming to visit this summer. Please begin your shots now, it will take three months to get your Hepatitis B started before you travel. But don't worry it's a piece of cake.

...speaking of cake. I baked some Banana Bread last week one evening and it was the hit for everyone...they loved it!!! It was a bit of an experiment as I had to use the recipe from my poor brain, but it did turn out OK. Can't wait to do some other things as this another evening. Sure does help to have some fun things to do in the evenings. For now I continue to walk daily and that is good for my mind and my body. I could get fat here if I am not careful.

Always yours,

Jackie