Georges Malaika Foundation and A4A

Posted by admin in Beneficiaries Updates on February 17, 2012 | no responses

All for Africa helps the Georges Malaika Foundation change the future of young girls in the DRC

Over the years since it’s inception, the Georges Malaika Foundation (GMF) has expanded its reach in the village of Kalebuka, Democratic Republic of the Congo, broadening its network of supporters along the way.

Our first project, sponsoring a group of orphaned and abandoned girls, has continued to date as we continue to assist a group of 13 girls to attend school. This success has grown to realize the dream of bringing all-inclusive education to 104 young girls between the ages of 5 and 7 in their very own Georges Malaika School.

All the Tools for a Bright Future

In September 2011, phase 1 construction was completed, unveiling the GMF Girls School, a beautiful eco-friendly and sustainable building designed by Studio MDA, operational with all the facilities necessary for a productive, healthy and vibrant learning environment. Upon completion of phase 2 and 3 over a course of several years, the school will educate 338 young women from pre-K to 12th grade. The talented Congolese school staff consists of 4 teachers and one substitute/admin assistant, one director, a maintenance support staff, two security guards, a legal advisor and a cook in our very own canteen which offers 2 healthy meals a day with the support of Bushcamp/ Ferme No1, the World Food Program, and Nestle. The staff receives ongoing routine training to ensure the students have the highest quality education and care. Students also receive vaccinations, immunizations and eye exams. It has been such a joy to watch the girls grown healthier every day!

We think you will enjoy some clips of the girls showing off their counting and English skills!

http://youtu.be/P5Ovl6jeSTI
http://youtu.be/HmERgst_JxY

A School within a Community

The school has changed not only the lives of its students but also their families and their community. Most recently, GMF helped Project C.U.R.E Foundation to address dire shortcomings in health care provisions in Katanga province, through the distribution of approximately $2.5 million dollars worth of medical commodities to the region’s hospitals, resulting in a 37% decrease in mortality rates. Overcoming the debilitating obstacles associated with lack of clean water, a well, sponsored by the Voss Foundation was finished last summer and is currently serving our school. A second well, funded by Voss Foundation and “Virgin Give a Drop“ was recently built and now serves the community as a whole. Parents also get an opportunity to build their futures through classes in basic literacy and vocational training taught after school by our substitute teacher. They can also contribute to the school by volunteering in supportive roles such as helping clean the classrooms. During the construction process, we collaborated with local contractors Norbert Tshicola, Encot and Muka, and taught members of the village how to make the bricks for the school.

A Powerful Network of Support

Such tremendous success was made possible through the generous support of organizations like All for Africa and our many international donors. Others include VodaCom, DHL, Nestle, World Food Program, Bush Camp/Ferme No 1, Lauren Pierce, Solutions For Africa, TOMS Shoes, Pictet, Black Opal, VDay, Alba Foundation, MMR, Somika, ASG Telecommunication, Segal Family Foundation, Black Opal, and countless individual contributors worldwide. All GMF operations, with the exception of the paid staff in the school, are managed by an international team of dedicated volunteers, offering a wide range of individual expertise and skills.

The Next Phase: FIFA and Beyond

GMF is among the newest members in 2012 to be selected as a Football for Hope(FFH) center as part of the “20 centers for 2010 Official Campaign of the FIFA South Africa World Cup Campaign.” We will serve the surrounding population through a variety of services and activities that will provide engaging opportunities for growth, learning and participation. Our center will offer a comfortable, positive and motivating atmosphere where community members can come together to access resources and information that will improve their quality of life and set them on a path towards greater social development. Additionally, one hectare of the expanded school grounds will house an agricultural project to help sustain the canteen.
We are looking forward to this project and other expansion efforts at the school, which includes adding three more classrooms to accommodate for 52 new girls and one a room for the school canteen. Everyone at GMF, and all it’s wonderful students thank All for Africa for so generously joining our donor support network, making it possible to change the future of so many young promising Congolese girls.