Idjwi Island Education Fund
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Mission Statement
The Idjwi Island Education Fund (the Fund), based in Washington, DC, is a not-for-profit organization pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the US Internal Revenue Code. A completely volunteer based organization, its sole purpose is to provide financial help to the village of Buhumba on Idjwi Island to build an elementary school with housing for teachers, and to help provide all necessary books, supplies and furniture for the school. Representatives of the fund will be responsible for overseeing the construction by the villagers, for paying teacher salaries, and for maintaining the school facilities after construction.
About This Cause
Idjwi Island is often called "Africa's Forgotten Island." Located in Lake Kivu between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, this 131 square mile island is in an area that has endured tremendous conflict over the last two decades. There are an estimated 150,000 residents on the island, which has no running water or electric grid. Although many international organizations are active in Eastern Congo, there is virtually no support for the Idjwi community. The Idjwi Island Education Fund was established to improve the educational opportunities for the primary school children in Buhumba Village on the southern tip of the island. When we started this organization, the existing primary school in Buhumba has just four small rooms for 400 children, few supplies, and a roof and walls that leak when it rains, forcing the school to close. In the last few years, we have improved the school by providing a new roof, chalkboards, and other supplies while working to raise the funds to build a new school with durable materials. Our founder, who was born on Idjwi Island, has donated land for the new school. We have visited the school, conducted a needs assessment, obtained building plans and generated a detailed project budget. The construction project will provide much-needed jobs for suppliers and laborers on the island. In addition to the physical structure, we are working to make the project sustainable. We have established a sustainable farming project for the school with instruction from a trained agronomist. We have provided ongoing support for the teachers. Our ongoing programs at the school have already generated employment opportunities for the members of the Idjwi community. The Idjwi Island Education Fund is an all-volunteer organization based in Washington, D.C. Our leaders, who are Congolese and American, have experience in education, urban planning, grass-roots organizing and project management. In addition to our US-based leaders, we have representatives and volunteers on the ground in Goma and on Idjwi Island.