Back to School at Ndako Ya Bana

22.09.2017, Kinshasa, DRC – The new school year has started for children enrolled in the school of Ndako ya bana and TMB is delighted to renew our support for the association operating the school for year 2017-2018.

Ndako ya bana means “Children Home” in Lingala. Ndako ya bana is an educational centre for disadvantaged children.

The project applies Montessori materials and pedagogy, which is an active pedagogy, open to the world, and which facilitate childrens’ autonomy development.

The association welcomes children in a clean and healthy environment, with comfortable sanitary facilities, and a courtyard with vegetation that allows for various outdoor activities.

During the school year 2016-2017, the programme supported 16 disadvantaged children aged 3 and 4 from the commune of Kintambo, in Kinshasa. Admitted children were selected by a street educator, with selection focusing on vulnerable children living in the target neighborhood.

Each enrolled child receives a medical examination. Everyone gets a daily balanced menu, with two meals, lunch, and snack. Clothes are distributed to families. In addition, various activities are organised including a Christmas gift distribution project, a carnival party, dance classes, etc.

Four jobs have been created by the project: two caretakers, one nurse, and one educator. The educator received continuous training throughout the year.

Ndako ya bana has teamed up with REEJER platform (Network of Street Children and Youth Educators in the DRC) which will offer training to the educator, with a particular focus on children psychology.

REEJER, together with Caritas and the commune of Kintambo, contributed to the selection process of children for enrolment to the school year 2017-2018.

Eight new children have joined the school for the new school year, bringing the total number of enrolled pupils to 24. An additional new educator has also been recruited to support the school’s expansion.

In the long-term the project is aiming to open a school for children aged up to 12 years, with three classrooms: 3-6 years, 6-9 years, and 9-12 years. A second objective of the project is to launch adult literacy classes for parents of the school’s children.

For more information on Ndako ya bana, including on how you can support the organisation’s activities, please contact:
[email protected]
https://www.ndakoyabana.com/