Students at Salugaba Secondary School near Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, gather in a classroom without enough desks or proper flooring. Photo: JRS West Africa
A program to facilitate access to secondary education and improve facilities in schools affected by the conflict in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), are among the new projects recently approved by the Board of Directors of Canadian Jesuits International (CJI).
The Board, which met on January 25, approved 12 projects submitted by CJI Jesuit partners, in Africa, Asia and Latin America, with a total budget of $663,926, and an average grant size of $51,071.
The school project, to be managed by Jesuit Refugee Service DRC and West Africa, will include building two new classrooms and equipping them with supplies, and the construction of latrines that meet international and national standards.
About 100 young women and young men will benefit directly from the project, and 300 more will benefit indirectly. “Behind each student who has access to a classroom, there is a whole household that benefits from the opportunity given to one of them to go to school,” said Victor Setibo, JRS-DRC country director, and Fr. Patrick Etamesor, SJ, JRS West Africa and Great Lakes Region director in their project presentation.
Other projects that were approved are:
- Sowing Seeds for Social Transformation in South Sudan (Eastern Africa Province of the Society of Jesus)
- Repair and renovation of Dew Villa Hostel, St. Alphonsus School, Kurseong, India (Jesuits of the Darjeeling Province)
- Construction of new toilets at St Alphonsus Primary School, Kurseong, India (Jesuits of the Darjeeling Province)
- humanitarian assistance for Ukrainians displaced by the war (Jesuit Refugee Service, Europe)
- Strengthening the local integration process among migrants, refugees and host communities in Colombia; promoting hospitality and reconciliation (Jesuit Refugee Service, Colombia)
- Addressing the needs of migrants and refugees in the Central America-North America corridor, and support for strengthening the Jesuit Migration Network (Red Jesuita con Migrantes en Centroamérica y Norteamérica (RJM CANA)
- Ensuring social protection and building climate-resistant communities across 15 states in India (Lok Manch)
- Accompanying community actions in the struggle for justice and social equality (ERIC-Radio Progreso, Honduras)
- Safeguarding territories from mining (Centro Montalvo, Dominican Republic)
- Strengthening sustainable economic alternatives in 11 Latin American countries (Comparte)
