MONTHLY FOCUS

 

Herridge Technical School is still striving to fulfil its aims to bring destitute young people relief from poverty, hunger and ill health through education so that they can get jobs that will help them improve the living standards within their communities.  This has many difficulties at the moment as Burundi, one of the five most impoverished countries in the world, struggles with continuing rising prices, a lack of fuel, a string of poor harvests and a significant number of people dying from starvation. Added to this, many refugees are flocking into Burundi to avoid the fighting between Congo and Rwanda and Burundi hasn’t the resources to deal with all this.

However, over the last year HTS has been able to see a bright future, because the school has received gifts to allow construction of a bigger school soon.  Building work has been completed very quickly over the last several months, with finishing details being made now.  It is hoped that more young people can be accommodated as live in students from later this year.  Support has already been granted from local authorities, and government permission to accommodate boarding students should come soon. The two dormitories have a total of 40 bedrooms with 4 students per bedroom sharing 2 sets of bunk beds.  The existing water and electrical installations have been upgraded to allow for an enormous increase in future usage and finishing touches such as curtains are being installed.  The expansion plans also include taking in primary pupils which will mean more staff.

            

During the past few years teaching and other staff have remained fairly stable.  Pay rises were given last September but inflation and shortages have left staff struggling to make ends meet.  One of the teaching staff has left for a job paying more.  He has been replaced by another teacher, but there are doubts about his staying, as his family lives away from Karuzi and transportation is difficult with the shortages.  If the primary plan goes forward, 4 teachers will be needed, 2 supervisors,2 more maintenance staff and possibly 2 more night-guards will be necessary. A very large undertaking.
 
As you can imagine it has been a very busy year for Georgette and Geoffrey Butera and the trustees.  We have been praying for them and we are so pleased that ACTS now has 2 new trustees, one of whom is Claire Campbell Smith from St Mary’s.  Thank you, Claire.

 
It is also a busy time for the students, particularly those in their final year.  They will be sitting national exams and the expectation is that there will be some good results.  High marks could secure them a job or a place at university, if a sponsor can be found.
 
HTS is undergoing big changes, and we do ask for your prayers.

Please pray for peace and Security in Burundi and for more food to be available to everyone.  Please also pray for more funds to complete the school expansion project.