DAY OF CELEBRATION: EMBASSY INAUGURATES SCHOOL

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000568

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR PRM/AFR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREF PREL PGOV CG UN CF
SUBJECT: DAY OF CELEBRATION: EMBASSY INAUGURATES SCHOOL
REHABILITATED BY AMBASSADOR'S FUND FOR REFUGEES

REF: A. 07 KINSHASA 573

B. 07 STATE 27884


1. Summary: PolOff inaugurated a school May 27 in Buburu, Equateur
which was rehabilitated by the FY2007 Ambassador's Fund for
Refugees. Local officials and the entire town of Buburu welcomed,
with much fanfare, the arrival of the Embassy-UNHCR delegation.
They visited UNHCR's Refugee Transit Center, where 100 new returnees
had arrived that day. The delegation also reviewed the
rehabilitation work at the school and found that the implementing
partner made great improvements to it. The project will have a
significant impact on children's education by providing a safe and
secure environment for learning. End summary.


2. Buburu's territorial administrator, local administrator, other
local dignitaries, and a huge crowd (estimated at 2,500 people)
composed of Buburu's residents welcomed the arrival of PolOff and a
UNHCR delegation with much fanfare May 27 for a ceremony
inaugurating a school rehabilitated with funding from the FY2007
Ambassador's Fund for Refugees. Singing choirs, school children,
and a host of local officials greeted the delegation upon their
arrival by boat from Impfondo, Republic of the Congo (ROC) following
a special flight from Kinshasa. A military review, receiving line,
and a parade down Buburu's principal street followed the initial
welcome.


3. Following a feast of lamb stuffed with couscous, the delegation
proceeded to UNHCR's Buburu Refugee Transit Center. One hundred
returning refugees had arrived earlier that day from the ROC. A
UNHCR representative noted that 10,000 refugees remain there
awaiting repatriation.


4. PolOff, representing the Ambassador, officially inaugurated the
school. The local population enthusiastically received his speech,
in French intermingled with Lingala, exhorting students to take
advantage of educational opportunities. Village and territorial
officials presented him with traditional chiefly gifts, while PolOff
and implementing partner AIDES (Actions et Interventions pour le
Developpement et L'Encadrement Social) presented the school
principal and territorial administrator with new bicycles.


5. Following the ceremony, the delegation reviewed the
rehabilitation work, which was performed by AIDES with oversight by
UNHCR's Buburu's sub-office. Huge improvements to the site were
evident when compared with prior photos. AIDES had restored the
six-classroom school building by repairing the roof and walls,
providing benches, securing windows and doors, digging a water well,
and installing boys' and girls' bathrooms.


6. Comment: This project will have a significant impact on
children's education by providing a safe and secure place for
learning. Buburu is a very isolated village on the west bank of the
Ubangi River that has mushroomed into a town of 7,000 due to
returning refugees. The school inauguration was the biggest social
and political event of the year. With the exception of UNHCR's
sub-office, the rehabilitated school is the most substantial
physical structure in the town, as most buildings are unsupported
mud brick structures with thatched roofs. End comment.

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