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War Orphans Education Project Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

Report 2007-2008

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History of Eastern DRC The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the richest countries in the world in natural resources including diamonds and Colton used in all mobile phone technology, and yet is one of the 10 poorest countries in the world and one of the most troubled land in the world right now. Its people especially in the eastern region bordering Burundi and Rwanda have been reduced to misery due to social and political upheavals. There has been continued fighting in eastern DRC where about 4 million people including women and children have been killed since 1998 and about 5 million people have been affected in a cycle of instability and war since 1990 up to this present hour. Some of the factors that have contributed to the deterioration of peaceful cohabitation in this region have been: • Political turmoil, corruption and bad governance • Political incitement to ethnic hatred and violence perpetuated by local

politicians in order to get support from voters during elections • The creation of armed groups i.e. Mai-Mai guerrillas in the area • The Wars of 1996 + 98 when an estimated 4 million innocent men,

women and children were killed, properties destroyed and looted, major displacement of people and the creation of many refugees

• The presence of foreign armies. This all resulted in many war orphans.

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These children in and around the Uvira and Minembwe territory are now known by their people as The CHILDREN AT RISK. Why? The dangers of being a child in these regions who may or may not have any relatives left is extreme. The children risk the following:

1. Entering armed groups where they can be sure of being provided daily food. Children can be signed up as young as 8 – 12 years old.

2. Becoming street children

3. Children being forced into prostitution due to acute poverty

4. Girls are often sold off to men to become one of their many wives – a lot of these men using their wives for hard labour.

5. The risk of HIV/AIDS being contracted and spreading as a result of rape

or promiscuity.

This is what the future looks like for the Children of DRC!

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Introduction to Eben Ezer Ministries Orphans International headed up by Annabel Stoner have been working with Eben Ezer Ministries since 2002 Annabel Stoner having known Rev Samson Muvunyi President of Eben Ezer since studying theology together at John Stotts LICC Institute London in 1998. Eben Ezer Ministries has 9 staff with its offices based in Uvira, DRC and Bujumbura, Burundi. Since 2006 Children in Crisis (UK Registered charity number 1020488) have also been working with Eben Ezer and have supported our education project for the year 2006/7. Eben Ezer’s areas of work include the following:

1 Reconciliation of the Churches within eastern DRC, Burundi and Rwanda that includes the organising of conferences.

2. Humanitarian Assistance including emergency aid. 3 Education of 606 War Orphans and the Widows

Training Project that includes literacy, tailoring and soap making activities.

4. Bible school in Uvira – recent help has involved the

replacing the looted library of books

5. Working with Children in Crisis in setting up a teacher training programme in the Plateau region for 300 teachers. (http://www.childrenincrisis.org/pages/democratic_republic_of_congo.html).

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War Orphans Education Project Evolvement It was through a vision and passion to help orphans of the world and Rev Samson Muvunyi’s immense compassion for his people that this project was brought into being. Samson started having meetings with Church leaders, local chiefs and headmasters of primary schools where the most needy orphans would be put forward for this education programme. We have been supporting this project for 4 academic school years, commencing Sept 2003 to end of school year summer 2007. Children in Crisis took on the responsibility of educating the 606 children year 2006/7. Nearly all the children being educated have one parent – the loss of the other usually being as a result of the war. The choice of what child to send to school has not been easy where families were involved with having to select 1 child leaving others out. Different Church denominations and various localities were taken into consideration in order to help prevent jealousy amongst the communities. The children’s ages vary from 5 – 19years old. We have nearly doubled the children we are educating in 2005-2006 from 357 to 606. The need however still remains extremely high with an estimated 2600 children Of primary school age still awaiting education.

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Selected Areas and Number of Children School Year 2007-2008

No. Locality GIRL BOY TOTAL

1 Muzinda 17 18 35 2 Ilundu 6 8 14 3 Kiziba (Minembwe) 4 13 17 4 Rugabano 19 23 42 5 Makutano 3 4 7 6 Nazareth 18 18 36 7 Milimba 1 4 5

8 Kabara 8 7 15

9 Bijombo 22 20 42

10 Mugethe 17 15 32

11 Kiziba (Bijombo) 15 19 34

12 Katanga 22 19 41

13 Katobo 11 29 40

14 Kitoga 24 19 43 15 Rutigita 6 4 10

16 Kalongi 2 4 6

17 Bijojwe 7 11 18

18 Tubangwa 28 36 64 19 Wimbogo 5 0 5 20 Nkango 0 3 3 21 Turambo 3 2 5 22 Chanzovu 3 5 8 23 Kanono 3 7 10 24 Mugororore 16 19 35 25 Kakenge 3 9 12 26 Marungu 8 5 13 27 Rurambo 7 7 14

Total 278 328 606

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School Materials,School Fees and Medical Assistance Eben-Ezer has paid for school materials, school fees and as of 2006/7 medical assistance + school bags for each child on this programme. There are 2 staff involved with the running of this project at present, Rev Samson Muvunyi and his Project assistant; their salaries paid for out of the monies raised in the UK. Yearly School reports A yearly school evaluation report is produced by Eben Ezer giving the names of each child, their ages and sex what school they attend and where, their class and yearly % on performance. Assisting the Reconciliation Process The action of brings people denominations process.

supporting these children at school together from different tribes and in turn helping the reconciliation

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Future Plans As of this school year we are looking for partners to assist us with the furthering of this education project year 2007/8 onwards by :

• Educating the 606 vulnerable children inc. school fees, materials, school bags and medical assistance • Pay salaries of 2 employees of Eben Ezer in charge of this project

We would also wish to assist the children with provision of clothing in the future and increase the current numbers of those being educated. We estimate that for budget proposal purposes that a 2 - 2.5 % increase should be allocated each year on the figures below with up to 5% increase on school materials per year depending on the cost of import inflation. (We currently have a 10% budget in addition to the totals below to add on for our fund raisers salary as our only costs involved.) Financial Proposal 2007 – 2008

Nos Designation Children Unitary Sub-Total Total Number Exp. (US$) (US$) (US$) 606 1 School fees 10.00 10x606 6060 2 School materials 10.00 10x606 6060 3 Medical care 5.00 5x606 3030 4 School Bags 3.50 3.5x 606 2121 5 Salary Rev Muvunyi 250.00 250x12 3000 (2 persons) Mr Muhoza 150.00 150x12 1,800 6 Transport fees 350 7 Administration 600 8 Bank charges 248 Grand Total 23,269