After the February 10 Fire in Mbansa-Mboma (Congo)

  • After the fire
  • After the fire
  • After the fire
  • After the fire
In the high school in Mbansa-Mboma, life resumed a week after the fire.  The students of the fifth and sixth years  bravely returned to school and two weeks later they were joined by the younger students. I must say there was a great deal of willpower exercised.
 
Mbansa - Mboma is 120km from Kinshasa the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The greatest number of our students come from this city, others come from the port city of Matadi (more than 500km away)  and some come from villages close by.
 
On the bus coming back to school, students chanted joyfully even though their beautiful boarding school had been disfigured in the fire. They sang of their gratitude to RSCJ , teachers, workers and villagers who had helped to save their lives. The Religious had made every effort to ensure that nothing was lacking when they welcomed back the students.  Everything had been cleaned and flowers made things a little more cheerful. The RSCJ forgot their fatigue when they welcomed the students with open arms. All the communities were represented.
 
With the return of the students, life is reborn from the ashes. Regardless of the conditions of the buildings, the students and their teachers were determined to complete the school year. This took precedence over the trauma they had experienced. However, a few weeks after the resumption of classes, we started to encounter some health problems due either to the experience of trauma or the poor housing conditions. These sick students were sent back to their respective families for proper care .
 
A great sign of life for us was the support and solidarity we experienced from within the Society and the local population. Through this event we experienced our Cor Unum in action. Thank you to the Society for the material and moral support provided. We will never be able to thank the Lord for the all the wonderful blessings we have received.  
 
We are hoping that the reconstruction of the school buildings might begin in June during the school vacation.
 
With affection,
 
Marie -Jeanne Elonga rscj