Waku Kungo School Update II, Angola
The initial plan was a four classroom building costing approximately $50,000. In the time since initial plans were made, the Angolan government requirements changed and the building must now have six classrooms. Total cost for the construction is now estimated at $70,000. Additional funds will be helpful for school supplies, furnishings, and teacher training.
The Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola (IECA) is a longstanding partner of Global Ministries, founded in 1880 in the Chilume Mission, Bailundo, and Huambo Province. The Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola (IECA) is committed to be an agent of change. Improvements have been made in the lives of many people through projects of rehabilitation, training, literacy, health, peace, and reconciliation. Such improvements have helped the lives of many and have been beneficial in building relationships between various groups of the church’s people.
Schooling in Waku Kungo in Cuanza Sul Province is currently available in school buildings that are considered to be of “provisional construction” quality, meaning that they are either in some state of preparation, in need of repair, or are classes that occur “under the trees.” In Waku Kungo, while 36,000 students are enrolled in the public schools, another 6,000 children of school age are outside of the school system. What limits school enrollment is the number of available classrooms. When the church builds a school building, the government joins the church by providing teachers. Therefore, by raising funds to construct a school building in the town of Waku Kungo, the church will be able to educate additional students, including day-time education of children and evening education of adults.
A new primary school in Waku Kungo is clear evidence of IECA’s commitment to building new schools and renovating destroyed or sub-standard school buildings. The initial plan was a four classroom building costing approximately $50,000. In the time since initial plans were made, the Angolan government requirements changed and the building must now have six classrooms. Total cost for the construction is now estimated at $70,000. Additional funds will be helpful for school supplies, furnishings, and teacher training.
Thus far, approximately $60,000 has been raised. The progress continues in Waku Kungo, with good news all around. They are making excellent progress on the building. The roof is the next big step. Because rocks are a local material and cheaper than cement, they fill in everything they can with rocks before using cement. The bricks for the walls look pretty rough, but when finished, both floors and walls look great.
Funding for this project has been provided primarily through the fundraising of Reverend Mike Solberg’s SwimMikeSwim campaign and the support of the Illinois Conference. In September 2009, Mike Solberg swam the English Channel and while preparing for and accomplishing this physical challenge, he issued and called attention to the challenge of raising funds for the school in Waku Kungo, Angola. Global Ministries has worked with the Illinois Conference and Swimmer Mike Solberg to publicize this project and as a link with the Evangelical Congregational Church in Angola.
In anticipation of receiving the remaining funding and completing construction, a dedication service for the new school has been planned for October. A group from the Illinois Conference will be there to celebrate the dedication with our Angolan partners.
To see the original project description, click here: http://globalministries.org/africa/projects/waku-kungo-primary-school.html