Local volunteers for Shiloh Place Orphanage Society (SPO) are excited to see the walls going up on the first of three planned elementary classrooms to be built on SPO property in Lubumbashi in the Congo (DRC) www.shilohplace.ca. “Many families in this very low-income neighbourhood cannot afford the tuition, books, school uniforms and shoes required to attend state schools” said SPO founder Chantal Kasongo of Coquitlam. “Our small group of volunteers has been raising funds for over two years to start this build. We are grateful and pleased to see it come to reality in time for the September start of the school year in the DRC.”
We continue to seek donations of returnable beverage bottles (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) in NE Burnaby and SW Coquitlam to help raise funds for desks (C$40), a blackboard (C$60), and teaching materials (to be purchased in Lubumbashi) for the girls and boys who will benefit from this classroom.
A new Go Fund Me page asks for donations to furnish and equip the classroom, teacher’s salary (approx. US$150/ month), and bricks, cement, metal roofing, etc. to begin building a second classroom. “The smallest gift – even $5 – will help and, added to those of others, make a difference!” Kasongo said.
Donations can be made on Go Fund Me ; by cheque to Chantal Kasongo at #211 – 615 North Rd. Coquitlam V3B 1P1; through PayPal; or by e-transfer to siloplace@gmail.com. If you have a stock of refundable bottles to give, please contact shelaghag@shaw.ca or 604-415-9397 to arrange for us to pick up.
Thank you for caring about the education of children far away, as well as those here in B.C.!
By Shelagh Armour-Godbolt
