1   Education

This month of June has been very busy for all our students, as they are taking their final exams for the school year. Those in 6^th grade have to take the ENAFEP, which will give them a very important diploma stating that they have graduated from Primary School. Although we encourage all our students to enroll in our secondary school, many children in Congo only have a Primary School Education so they work hard to obtain that diploma. Here are a few pictures of our students from different grades on the day they took their exam. You will notice the great effort they place on dressing nice and fixing their hair for that special day.

2   Maintenance

Our school was built in 2010, but the heavy rains in our country finally damaged the roof after 15 years. The humidity consequently also damaged the ceilings and the walls of the classrooms. Thanks to a grant from LiftUp last year, we were able to redo the whole roof, and this year they helped us again so we could also repair the ceilings and repaint the classrooms. The work was done during the Easter holidays, and the students are now able to complete their school year in good conditions. Thank you so much LiftUp!

3   Aristote’s Bakery Project

Aristote’s bakery has been progressing very well, he now has a steady stream of customers, including several “mamas” who buy in bulk to resell across town. He has been able to set aside the funds to repay the loan he had taken but just the other night, as he was on his way to the bakery where he sleeps in order to oversee the baker and also for security, he got attacked by a gang who stole everything he had on him, including his cell phone. Thankfully he wasn’t harmed. Please keep him and his project in your prayers.

There is a lot of insecurity in Kinshasa, with many gangs who steal even from the poor, the sad result of poverty. Sadly all the photos I was going to post were in his stolen phone. So the following pics are from internet to give you an idea.

Congolese women sell bread in the streets of Goma