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Thursday, June 27, 2019

School- Part 2





School- Part 2
The commitment to education by the Church (and not only in Central Africa) is enormous.
Just here in Bozoum we have 21 elementary schools in our villages (with over 3,400 children) and in the city we have the Ste Marthe nursery school (150 children), the Bakanja elementary school (950 pupils), the Literacy Center (for a hundred children and teenagers, that allows them to re-enter either elementary or high school), the St Augustin Middle School and High School (300 students) and, finally, the Arc en ciel (Rainbow) Center for orphans (another 200 children from ages 4 to 14).
Every day more than 5,000 children go through our schools in the villages to receive education and training.
Monday was the day for the children of the Arc en Ciel: games, sports, lunch, gifts, dances and skits, were done to celebrate the school year that ended.
On Tuesday morning the rain stopped around 7:30am, just in time for the closing ceremony of the Bakanja elementary school. Thanks to a group of friends from Cuneo (or better, from Borgo San Dalmazzo), even this year I was able to purchase 600 citrus plants, which we donated to the first 20 students in each class. It was a small act of recognition of the work they have done, but also an encouragement to both the children and their parents to plant fruit trees. Both the children and their families are very proud of them!
And their smiles warm the world!














Friday, June 21, 2019

School and pink scholarships...





School and pink scholarships...
Last Saturday we started preparing for the end of the the school year and the closing of our schools.
In the morning we started with the boys and girls of St.Augustin (both the middle and high school). After the performance of some of the students in both dance and song (in Africa this is something that cannot be missed!),  I handed out report cards to the 300 students: some had disappointment, some had a sigh of relief, and some were quite happy...
This year we have awarded scholarships to the top student of each class, and the "pink" scholarships, for the girls who placed themselves among the first 6 students in each class.
It was a way to encourage the female genius': often the girls, in addition to going to school, must also look after their little siblings, and many other household tasks, so sometimes school is not always as important.  This scholarship provides the girls in our communities incentive to not only go to school but also to do well.
The nice thing about this initiative (born in Cuneo, supported by CDVM, Salinzucca, Roagna Vivai and Baramò) is that it is starting to bear its first fruits: this year the girls who received between 2nd and 6th highest marks increased, and 2 girls were actually the highest marks in their class in the sixth grade.  This is an encouraging sign that the girls are taking their school work seriously and in turn will help them with their futures.
Saturday afternoon there was the closing ceremony for the children of the Kindergarten classes: about 150 children participated in skits, songs and a bit of healthy chaos.
On Sunday we celebrated Mass in the chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony, with the children of the catechism and many people from the community.
In the afternoon I accompanied Fr. Jérôme Paluku, a Congolese Carmelite and Secretary of the Missions for our order, up to the rice fields. It is time for sowing, but also for harvesting: many have taken advantage of the now finished dry season and the irrigation of the site to produce onions and peanuts.









La Cappella di S. Antonio
La chaelle de st. Antoine



Friday, June 14, 2019

Entering the rainy season...

Entering the rainy season...
In Bozoum, from October to April is the dry season. Sometimes (and in recent years it has happened quite often) there are still some rains in November, this year we even had some rain in February.
However, it is normally 4 to 6 months with no rain, which makes for a very dry, dry season. When the rain does come it comes as a blessing, this is not by chance, in Sango (the main language of Central Africa), rain is called "NGU-NZAPA" (the water of God)!
The vegetation in a few days will turn green, the temperature will cool down and people can start work in the fields.  They prepare and sow peanuts, corn, millet, rice and everything that can take root.
The exams of the BC (Brevet des Collèges, which translates to the National Diploma) that mark the end of the final senior two-year program are over. Here in Bozoum there were 183 students writing, of which 44 were from our high school, St.Augustine. Out of the 183 students, 154 were promoted.  Among the students promoted were 41 of our students. In addition, out of all 183, the top 5 were from our school. What was most amazing, the icing on the cake so to say, were 2 girls that were among the top 5, and all our girls were promoted.
Last Sunday, the feast of Pentecost, we also began the conclusions of the catechism year, with the catechumens of the 3rd year who received the oil of the catechumens, a symbol of strength in the fight against sin and support on the path to Baptism.
May the Holy Spirit sustain them!
 AAA



Fine dell'anno di catechismo
Fin de l'année de catéchèse


I promossi all'esame del BC
les admis au BC

I primi 5 su 181 candidati... tutti del nostro Liceo St Augustin
Les premier 5 sur 181 candidats, tous de notre Lycée St Augustin



Friday, June 7, 2019

Slowly Slowly...




Slowly Slowly...

4 ministers and 3 deputies: this is who arrived here in Bozoum this week!

The issue of the gold mines and the over extraction by the Chinese companies in Bozoum continues.

After my brief arrest on April 27th, and after meeting with the Prime Minister (May 8th), nothing seemed to have changed.

The Prime Minister had promised a Commission of inquiry into the environmental disaster, water pollution and the promise of building dispensaries and schools, but we have not seen anything yet.

On Sunday, finally, four Ministers arrived in Bozoum: we had the Minister of the Mines, Minister of the Environment, Minister of Water and Forests, and the Minister of Public Security.

They arrived around 10:00am, and at 1:00pm they met  with the assembly. I was not present because I was not invited (most likely on purpose ...), but the assembly of Bozoum was not intimidated by them. By now many have understood the severity of the problem, the ecological disaster and the impoverishment of the area (and also that of future generations) and they are not satisfied with the usual run around talk. They demanded respect for themselves and their communities. The Delegation did not expect much opposition from the assembly, and were taken by surprise, so because of this they had to admit that there were mistakes made, and that they are going to do something to rectify the problems created.

A couple of days later three deputies arrived, on an official mission: the Parliament decided to create a Commission of inquiry, and so I am here, for a few days, to verify the damage and report to Parliament. It is a Commission that has many powers, and therefore some hope is rekindled.

It is amazing to see the maturity and responsibility of the people of Bozoum. Long journey's always begin with a first step.

In the upcoming days we near the end of the school year, and so exams begin.

In the meantime we go on with the various activities, both in the parish and outside.

Work on the construction of the Bozoum Radio continues.



Esami
Examens

Radio Bozoum


La Chiesa di Kpari in costruzione
L'église de Kpari en construction

Saturday, June 1, 2019

Visits


Un giocattolo artigianale!
un jouet artisanal!


Visits
Today, May 31st, we celebrated the feast of the Visitation of Mary. It is the feast that closes the month of May, traditionally dedicated to the Madonna, and remembers Mary who, immediately after the Annunciation of the Angel, left to help her cousin Elizabeth, an old woman, who also was pregnant. When they met again, John exulted for Elizabeth's womb, and Mary exulted with the singing of the Magnificat. 
This week I too moved around.  I went to visit the confreres, both near and far. Sunday afternoon I went to Baoro, where I arrived in the evening, and the next morning I left for Bangui, where I arrived around 10:30. The roads start (or in some cases continue) to get worse with the first rains arriving. 
Tuesday morning I left by plane for Cameroon. I went to visit our communities that are in Yaounde, the capital, but there are no flights between Bangui and Yaounde. I took a flight to Douala, the economic capital, and from there a bus to Yaounde. 
The Carmelites are there with 2 houses (a parish and a house of Formation). Together with the Cameroonian confreres, 2 Nigerians, 1 Congolese and 2 Italians of our Province (P.Domenico and p.Marco) they collaborate. In the convent of Nkolbisson there are young people in formation, including 2 of our Central African students. 
Wednesday was full of meetings and more meetings. Early Thursday morning I left again. At 3.30am I was in front of the bus station, but the 4am bus was canceled, and I had to wait for the 5am bus. It took more than 5 hours to travel 250km. The road was beautiful, the bus was in excellent condition, but I had to deal with the immense traffic in the city. 
I landed in Bagui in the early afternoon, where the confreres were waiting for me, with whom I spent the rest of the day and part of the following morning in a meeting with to discuss the many projects and activities in progress.










Convento dei Carmelitani a Youande
le couvent des Carmes à Yaounde