History of AWIEF
For a one page picture history of the
construction of MYRT School in village Tshamalale, Democratic Republic
of Congo, see
History of MYRT School till 2006.
 Able
& Willing International Education Foundation, Inc., was established with the purpose
of building primary and technical schools in developing countries in areas were
access to education is limited.
Puma Mbuyu Wa Mbuyu and Ruth Snyder started the first school (MYRT School)
with their own funds in 1995 in Zaire. They met with the chief of Tshamalale Village
and with the parents interested in having their children have access to education.
(There were no schools in the area.) The chief agreed to the idea and made land available for the school, and the parents agreed to provide labor for the construction.
A parents' committee was formed to coordinate the labor contributions of each
family.
The first building, housing two classrooms, was begun in 1995. In 1996 the
construction was completed, and the first grade was installed. A teacher and part-time
school director were hired to run the school. Salaries were provided from Ruth
& Puma's personal funds. A composting toilet was built in 1996, as well, as there
were very few crude latrines in the village. In 1997, Puma installed the second
grade and dug a well that was then used by the entire village. (People had previously
drunk water from the river). In April of 1998 Puma and Ruth started the foundation
(Able & Willing International Education Foundation) to help support the completion
of the school, and to make possible building other schools in other needy areas.
 In
1998, the second building, housing two more classrooms, was completed. The 3rd
grade was installed, and 57 fruit trees were planted by the children on the school
property. In 1999 the 4th grade was installed. Puma has returned to the village
each year to oversee and lead the construction of each component of the school.
As we have grown, and as the success of our first school is evident, the interest
level of donors has increased as well. We became incorporated in 2000 and received
501-C-3 non-profit status from the IRS
In the year 2000, two more classrooms were added to MYRT School when Puma
returned to the now Democratic Republic of Congo. Garden beds were installed. The fifth grade was
added.
In August of 2001, Puma returned to the Congo. We didn’t have sufficient funds
to build the final building, but he accomplished needed repairs and teacher training.
The 6th grade was installed, and a total of 213 students were enrolled. The
adult education program was revamped to make 3 levels available to village adults.
In 2002, a large building was added to MYRT
School. It contains seven parts: a foyer, a classroom, an adult
literacy classroom, a computer lab, a library, a bookstore, and an
office. Now all six grades have a classroom, all six have two shifts,
morning and afternoon. This has allowed MYRT School to
accommodate more students. Six laptop computers
were donated by the United States government in 2002; shortly
thereafter Jim Carpenter joined the Board of Directors and joined the
expedition to the Congo this year to help install the laptops and train
the teachers in basic computer skills. Board Vice-President, Dan Ottemoeller
also traveled to the Congo with Puma and Jim and helped with a
community service seminar for the school staff.
Also in the year 2002, this website was designed
by (volunteer) Andrea Macginnis, and put on the web and maintained by
Jim Carpenter.
In 2003, Puma oversaw the construction of a co-op
and multipurpose building at MYRT School. A second set of
composting toilets was added, and maintenance and repairs were done on
existing buildings. Furniture was built to replace used and
insect-damaged desks, chairs and tables. A generator and a welder
were purchased, both for use with our construction projects and for
technical training for the students.
Board member Jim Carpenter also traveled to Congo
in 2003 to give the teachers further computer training, install new
software, work out bugs, and help install the solar recharging system.
In 2004, Ruth Snyder and Tara Buck accompanied
Puma. A new building was built into a large termite mound with a
wind generator tower on top. The building housed a computer room
on top and a battery room below.
In 2005, Jim Carpenter accompanied Puma.
Projects included additional electricity generation (a second wind
generator, repairs and housing for the diesel generator), a fully
equipped workshop, furniture made in the workshop, and a new all
Congolese school board. See
November 2005 Newsletter
for details.
In 2006, Gus Fahey accompanied Puma.
Construction included: a two-story building with three classrooms and
two shops and another building with an eight stall bathroom. A site 20
miles from our first school was established for a new school on 100
acres. See
November 2006 Newsletter
for details.
Annual Projects
In light of the AIDS crisis in central Africa,
MYRT School hosts an HIV/AIDS seminar each summer for parents and students.
This is always very well received.
Another tradition at MYRT School is the hosting of
Challenges for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in the region. That
consists of three days of camping out, many physical and academic
contests, impromptu skits around a bonfire, and lots of just plain fun.
AWIEF and local Congolese donors typically supply the prizes and food
for the cook outs. Puma attributes much of his success to lessons
he has learned in the Boy Scouts in Lubumbashi and is working hard to
rebuild the Scout traditions of leadership and citizenship.
If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time…But if you have come
because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.
Aboriginal woman
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