As of Wednesday afternoon the second cement cap was poured on the west wall, locking all the walls and columns into place. The structure now awaits the arrival of the wood and tin that will form the roof. As we head toward 2025, there are presently 6,000 bricks sitting and waiting for REVE Kandale to break ground on the next block of three classes.
The long drive from Kikwit to Kinshasa gave me lots of time to reflect on the short four week experience with the REVE Kandale community. After years of examining photos to include in the Communiqué, it dawned on me that I have come to know many of the people who inhabit those images.
This photo was published back in April 2024 and it shows several of the people that have been featured recently. Bea, Olivier, and Frederick are along the back row. Several others in the photo were a daily fixture in the construction. Didier, second from the left, Aluma Aluma third from the left, and Ilunga Ilunga, seated in front with Jeremie to his right. Not a day went by that heart felt greetings weren't exchanged.
Here on New Year's Day several other important members of REVE Kandale are featured, Doka on the left, who works the flour grinder, Tumba next to him, who manages the kitchen and the surrounding forest, and Jeremie again on the right, who has been involved with REVE Kandale from an early age.
This image was included in February's Communique and features Prince on the left with Ilunga Ilunga and Bea working in the garden.
Here are Eudes and Merveille learning Excel, featured in March of 2022.
They look so young!
And finally here is a picture, on the left, of Nono and I after having walked to the other side of the valley in the heat of the sun. He was a great companion on the journey. Nono is in the middle of the photo on the right from June of 2023 behind the trophy. Nono always likes to be where the action is.
In many ways, their smiling faces prepared me for my arrival and made the transition easier. I looked back through the past several years of the Communiqué and found many people who I've come to know. They looked out for me and graciously welcomed me into the community. It was an incredible experience and my heartfelt appreciation goes out to Colette and the REVE Kandale Foundation for allowing me to join this journey.
