In the spring of 2018 solar panels were installed in Kandale by Dr. Karl Klontz and David Whitford, who traveled to Congo with several REVE Kandale Foundation board members. Karl shipped the solar panels ahead of time to the capital Kinshasa. He and David, his neighbor from Bethesda, Md., bought batteries for the panels in Kinshasa and installed them at the newly built multi-purpose education center, and at the hospital maternity ward. This was part of their personal commitment to communities in need of electricity. Karl has done similar installations in six developing countries.
The solar panels provide power for lights to the multipurpose building that houses the library and the sewing program and provides a place for teachers and students to prepare lessons in the evening. Most importantly, they provide light in the evenings to the maternity center. Mama Mahele Charlotte Kakesa, or Mama Charlotte, has been the midwife in the Kandale community for over 10 years. Just in the past year there have been about 60 births with many of them occurring in the night. By her own testimony the single light bulb in the delivery room has significantly improved her ability to safely attend to expectant mothers in labor. As news of the light has spread, women have come from a hundred kilometers away to give birth under Mama Charlotte’s care. Prior to the light, a C-section was unthinkable, but nonetheless unavoidable, and had to be performed with only the light from a candle or burning twigs. Mama Charlotte is now able to attend to all of the births with the complete confidence that she is in charge of the sensitive needs of her patients. Such a simple improvement can make all the difference in the lives of the expecting mothers and their newborn children.
Watch an interview with Kandale midwife, Mama Charlotte here: vimeo.com/387146203
and another clip about the installation of the solar panels were installed and the first birth at the Infirmary under the new light. (2:10-3:05) vimeo.com/307474662
As the Communiqué continues to tell the story of Kandale, it is very important to introduce the members of Kandale and to celebrate their contribution to the work being done for the benefit of the community. This issue is dedicated to the hard work of Mama Charlotte Kakesa. Mama Charlotte came to Kandale from the town of Gungu ten years ago. She trained as a midwife and received her certificate at the missionary school in Kalonda in the former province of Kasai Occidental. She is also known for her beautiful singing voice as the leader of the Women’s Choir. Her reputation as a midwife extends far beyond the Kandale community. As a result of her tireless work at the 27ème CMCo Kandale, the Infirmary is regarded with great respect.
Two other important developments relate to the serious flooding during Christmas week. December is usually the time when peanuts are harvested and dried. Peanuts are regarded as an important cash crop for farmers in Kandale and often farmers will pay for their children’s tuition with peanuts due to their high value. Unfortunately due to the constant rain, it has been next to impossible to dry out the crop, resulting in most of the crop rotting. This means that during the spring planting season, women will have to buy seed peanuts elsewhere to plant the new crop. The constant rain has also had a significant impact on brick production, as the clay is too wet to combine with the cement and sand. However, the cement has not been affected by the rain due to proper storage. Many fishponds adjacent to the Kwilu River, which runs alongside Kandale, were destroyed as well.
On a positive note, Robert Kalaki Minzadi, a member of the Kandale community who is currently living in Kinshasa and specializes in tree planting, has recently visited Kandale. He conducted an evaluation of the tree-planting project that REVE Kandale started in 2010. He is interested in working with the members of the Kandale community and advising them on how to optimize the planting of native species and set up a tree nursery. While his visit was only a preliminary overview, he has many positive ideas, which include growing orange trees, coconut trees, and a variety of mango trees that no longer exist in Kandale. He plans to create small garden plots in the nursery for women to plant onions, tomatoes, and vegetables. Robert is a professional agronomist who has been hired by various organizations, including Hans Seidel Projet Ntsio and presently PIREDD MAI-NDOMBE. The Kandale community is very excited about the future possibilities.
