“We are excited, encouraged, and grateful to have been awarded a US$1,000 grant in support of our efforts to build an elementary classroom on Shiloh Place Orphanage’s land”, Coquitlam resident Chantal Kasongo, founder of Shiloh Place Orphanage (SPO) in the DRC, Africa says. She is announcing that SPO has received confirmation of a grant from The Pollination Project of Berkeley, CA. to assist in the building of the first of two classrooms with hygiene blocks. The grade 1-2 classrooms will be open to children in the low-income neighbourhood of Lubumbashi, DRC where SPO is located. Unlike state schools, the classrooms will not require tuition, uniforms or shoes for girls and boys to attend.
Currently, SPO donors sponsor school costs (Can$250/year) for several older orphans who live with extended family. The very small group of volunteers helping Kasongo develop facilities on the SPO site have raised over US$1,200 here and hope others will be encouraged to donate by this recognition from The Pollination Project’s grant. The first classroom will cost approximately US$4,400 to complete. Local workers and use of local building supplies will give employment and income to people living in the neighbourhood – where work is very difficult to find.
Each brick for the classroom – including labour – costs Can$1.50. Another 1,950 bricks are needed for the first classroom and hygiene area. While every donation is appreciated, those over $25 can be issued a tax-deductible receipt. For more information, contact Shelagh at 604-415-9397 (day or evening) or shelaghag@shaw.ca Thank you for considering supporting the education of very poor children in the DRC!
