« May 2009 | Main | July 2009 »
Only half of all the school aged children in the Congo attend primary school.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo observed its 49th Independence Day on June 30th, 2009. The United States celebrates its 233rd Independence Day on July 4th, 2009. That's the difference between 49 years and 233 years of independence.
| | | |
| | |
One out of three children, less than five years old, have moderate and severe stunting. The quantity and quality of food is a problem.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo observes its 49th Independence Day on June 30th, 2009. The United States celebrates its 233rd Independence Day on July 4th, 2009. That's the difference between 49 years and 233 years of independence.
| | | |
| | |
The Democratic Republic of the Congo observes its 49th Independence Day on June 30th, 2009. The United States celebrates its 233rd Independence Day on July 4th, 2009. What's the difference between 49 years and 233 years of independence?
One out of five babies born in the Congo will not live to celebrate their fifth birthday. They will die from preventable and treatable diseases.
Stay tuned for other differences.
| | | |
| | |
Throughout the every village, you can see girls carrying water. They are walking from a water source to their home. Sometime, the walk may be short of a 100-300 yards or it could be a long haul of 2-3 miles.
Everyone needs water to drink, cook, or washing. Since no one has running water or indoor plumbing, carrying water is the norm in rural Congo.
What do you do when they are bring water to your house? You show your respect, appreciation, and thanks. Also, you step aside.
| | | |
| | |
Why didn't Paul and Silas walk out of jail? The answer to this question served as the topic for the sermon at church. The story is recorded in Acts 16:16-34.
Paul was annoyed by fortune-telling slave-girl. Paul commanded the demon to leave out of her. As a result, Paul and Silas were arrested. They were stripped and flogged. Then they were thrown in jail. As they prayed and sang, an earthquake broke open their leg chains and the jail doors. But they did not make their get away. They stayed in jail.
The story could be a lesson for the us in the developed world. During the times of financial uncertainity, it is like any economic jail for many of us.
Are we only thinking of only our situation? Are we thinking about those that are less fortunate then us? Are we thinking about those that are truly in the poverty jail?
Girls in the Congo spend many hours a day going to get water for their families. In Bulape, they have to walk about 2-3 miles to the water source. Then they have to walk back and up the hill to their homes. They will be carrying up to 40 pounds of water on their heads.
The story is the same to get firewood. And these stories are repeated everyday. They are in the poverty jail, there is no escape. They need our help to escape the poverty jail.
| | | |
| | |
We are the world, We are the children
We are the ones who make a brghter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie; Produced by Quincy Jones
United Support of Artists (U.S.A.) for Africa, 1985
| | | |
| | |
Today, two giants in the US entertainment industry died. Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson will be missed. I will forever remember them.
As I was going to the Kinshasa Airport, we passed the soccer stadium. I remembered the Ali-Frazier fight, the Ramble in the Jungle. Ali beat Frazier in that stadium. Congolese still remember that great sporting event.
from my HTC PocketPC!
| | | |
| | |
You can find safe, clean drinking water in Bulape. But it is very far away from the village.
It takes takes about an half hour or more to make the trip down to this improved water source. And of course, it takes a longer time to make the trip back up to the village.
Mostly young girls carry the water to their homes for use. Some girls skip school to carry water back and forth to their homes.
Improved water sources are needed closer to the village. Drilling a water well is the only solution to have a closer improved water sources.
| | | |
| | |
The Differences:
1. You have an absence of Government Customs employees. You have to clear customs at every airport.
2. You see only 1-2 active planes at anytime on the tarmac. Most airports receive on-the-average five flights a week.
3. You see more Congolese workers at the airport than the number of flying customers.
4. You can hear the PA system clearly and loudly here.
5. All passengers climb roll-away stairs even for a large trans-continental European Airbus.
6. You can take pictures.
Your Bonus!
The same: People talking on cell phones. People with too many carry-on bags.
from my HTC PocketPC!
| | | |
| | |
Alfred State College's School of Mechanical Engineering Technology won the 2008 Basic Utility Vehicle (BUV) competition. The school donated the vehicle to Congo Helping Hands.
Their BUV is now in Kinshasa awaiting shipment to the Kananga for mobile library project. It has been a long journey from New York, Indiana, Maryland, and now Congo.
Alfred State College is located in Alfred, New York.
from my HTC PocketPC!
| | | |
| | |
