EvaMaj Edin, teacher at Kågeskolan.
During the spring term 2020, Kåge School's students raised money for a school building to be built in the city of Bukavu in Congo (Kinshasa). Now, three years later, the school is well on its way to completion. As a thank you for all the help, there is a proposal that the new school should be called Kåge School.
– We'll see how it turns out, nothing has been decided yet. But it's great fun that we can make a difference, says EvaMaj Edin, teacher at Kåge School.
The money was raised during the so-called "Kåge gives aid" day, which has been organized since 1996. Over the years, Kåge School has donated money and toys to, among other places, Russia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Afghanistan and Sudan - and most recently Congo (Kinshasa). EvaMaj Edin has been involved from the beginning.
– In the slums of the city of Bukavu, there are many displaced people. They have fled because of conflicts linked to the exploitation of minerals in Congo. The houses there in the slums are often wooden sheds with dirt floors, EvaMaj says.
– They were very proud of their old school when we visited last time, but it was built on a slope so when it rains there were landslides. That wasn't so good.
Therefore, in 2020, Kåge School raised around 70,000 kronor for the construction of a new school - and now a building with brick walls and concrete floors has been built. However, glass for the windows, as well as furnishings are still needed
Picture from the old school, which was a wooden shed with a dirt floor.
To get to school you have to walk through many narrow alleys.
Some time ago, the superintendent Mugabane Ruganguka visited Kåge to explain how the construction was going.
– It has been important for us to have contact with the people on site, and to receive updates on how things are going. It has been a way for us to make sure that the money goes to the right things, says EvaMaj Edin.
This weekend it was time again for the "Kåge gives aid" day, and this time the aim was to collect enough money to finish building the school in Bukavu.
Molly Pettersson, Alice Tegelstedt and Walter Westerlund in class 9C at Kågeskolan are some of the students who worked hard preparing for the big day. When Norran spoke to them on Friday, they were nervous, but also a little excited.
Molly Pettersson sorts the second-hand clothes that were for sale during the "Kåge provides assistance" day.
On Friday, preparations were underway for the big day.
– We are proud that what we do helps to make something good, says Alice Tegelstedt.
–The dream would be to go and visit after the school is finished. But regardless of how it turns out, it feels good to help, says Walter Westerlund.