Every year, I enjoy taking my grade students through a journey of reading about other cultures, us and customs. This year, we are reading a book about "kids around the world". This book is giving an overview of a dozen of countries in every continent. The most important part is about different celebrations: cultural, civic, religious...It describes also the system of education in different countries. As we are reading this book, I challenge my students through cultural awareness, critical thinking and global cultural competency acquisition. After reading the book, YouTube usually helps us to visualize our readings and to connect with the world. 
Then one day, as I was challenging my students to think critically, one of them asked me. Monsieur, what do you believe in? Because, you tend to find good in every aspect of people's traditions?

This question took me back to the 1968 ideas and dreams. I was not born yet during the "revolution tranquille" but it was not long after that I was born anyway. Then, as I was responding to the question, I realized that it sounded like I was presenting the thesis I wrote for my Master in Philosophy. The thesis was about developping structures of cosmopolitanism in today's world. 

I felt refreshed. I know that my intellectual youth has been heavily printed with ideas of enlightenment, philosophers of reason, specially by Kant. I love the 18th century. And personally, I think and feel that up to now we have not finished harvesting the goods of the called "Age of reason". 

We hear today a lot about data driven decision. Making decision on the basis of data is to show a certain effort of being systematic in the use of reason. Reasoning helps to avoid the use of blind faith, intellectual or religious superstition, Reasoning also is a key block road to autocracy and to the rule of arbitrary. Reason sets parameters and provisions to avoid brute force, devious cunning in life. It helps to shake and trim traditions of social institutions which cannot be universalized. Only reason can put in place strong poles against primitive instincts which nap in all of us. Reason brings controls to our feelings and into our personal relationships with others and with nature, and even with God. 
As  said  Jorn K. Bramann said in his Educating Rita and Other Philosophical Movies" 
​The Enlightenment aimed at a future for humanity that is characterized by scientific rationality, self-critical awareness, ever improving technology, democracy, religious tolerance (including the freedom to not believe in any gods at all), universal peace, and the continuing improvement of people’s lives both in terms of physical comfort and intellectual sophistication"

Yes, teaching is refreshing. Thanks to students questions, 

19 years ago, I was first year teacher in College Presidentiel in Gbadolite. College Presidentiel was the school Mobutu, President of the Congo had built in the far North of Congo in the jungle. Young, handsome and full of dreams, I was teaching Philosophy, Religion and Sociology. I was also in charge of the school sustainability project of 104 cattle. On May 16th, around 4 pm, one of my grade 9 students, Anne, came to my office. She looked very disturbed. I asked why she was disturbed. She told me that she was coming to say bye. Why to say bye to me while the school year still has two months? Anne was the niece of the President. And that May 16th, the President was in town. He had advised all his family members to pack and leave the country because he was forced to resign from power. Anne, my student, thought of me and came to say bye and to "warn me" of the situation. The President and founder of the school I was leaving for ever.
I shared the conversation with some of my colleagues and the Jesuit Priests who were managing the school. No one knew what to do.
Around 11 pm, someone knocked on my door. I got scared. Who was it? Who would come in the middle of this jungle at night to disturb my half sleep? I heard a voice calling my name. It sounded like one of my employees from the Farm Project. I ask if it was him. A female voice acquiesced. Prudent, I did not open the door. I asked why they were coming in the middle of the night. They told me that they were coming to take me so that we can run away. I asked why and where. They told me that everyone was leaving the city because rumors had it that the President had relinquished power and the rebels were less than seventy five kilometers away from the town. I panicked. My nocturne visitors wanted me come with them so that we can go hide in the bush to be safe. I gently told them that I was grateful they had leaved their kids to come warn me in the night. That was showing they did care about me. However, I could not come with them. I would wait till morning. I advise them to go back and be safe with their kids.
After they had left, I turned my radio on in search of news. At midnight RFI, French international radio, announced that the president was nowhere to be seen in the Congo. I did not believe this news because no plane had taken off the airport of Gbadolite. Any plane which took off or landed could be heard in this tiny village in the middle of the jungle. That night I could not sleep. It was like I was waiting for my death sentence. Around 5 am, I heard a plane taking off. That was it! Mobutu was leaving the country he will never see again. He will die four months later in Morocco of cancer.
At 5.45 am, I was standing in the kitchen looking out in the direction of the road. I saw seven tall, look tough soldiers, all beards crossing the garden in the direction of our residence. I sensed the danger. I came out so that they can see me. As I was coming out the kitchen, they reached the gate. One of them charged his gun. Placed it on the metallic gate and fired in air. The sound was awful. He charged again, pointed it at me and asked me to open the gate. I asked him what was happening. A third soldier summoned me that it was not time for conversation. They wanted me to open the gate. I opened the door. (To be continued in Congo of Ks to be published soon)

On this occasion, everyone is asking how best he/she can put a smile on the face or a joy in the heart of this special person who gave us all of herself : physically, spiritually, emotionally…
One day, I was watching a YouTube video of Kevin Durant, a basketball player who was delivering his NBA MVP speech. The player turned to his mother and said “Mom, you are the real MVP of my life”. You can watch on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrL-LYJ9afQ
Every Mother’s Day, we ask ourselves how best we can honour our mom. We have tried to give her what she likes. We have tried to surprise her. We have tried several things. Sometimes, we are under pressure of outdoing last year gift.
This time, I want to propose you another approach. Say thank you to your mom for taking you to school on your first day.
This time, give your mother a gift of empowering other moms by providing their children with access to education, golden path to opportunities.
This year show your mom that you honour her not by flowers, not by heart shaped jewellery but by sharing her heart loved inspirations. Give a donation to Congo Kids in the name of your mom.  She will be proud of you. Please donate to https://www.gofundme.com/cashforcongoschool
We will send you a card for your mom.
​Also find below a Congolese song for mother's day from Papa Wemba, a Congolese artist who passed away a week ago. 
 
Sincerely,
Jean-Pierre 

One day, a colleague asked: “Jean-Pierre, why would you decide to go back to the Congo and start an education project? Doesn’t your family need you?”
This question went deep in my soul. I felt hurt. I almost lost my composure, giving space to emotions. Then, I realized that this question was coming from someone who knew me, who had worked with me, with whom we have shared laughter and jokes. His intent was not necessarily to discourage me. It was an invitation for me to verbalize more about what I was thinking silently. It was an invitation to rationalize. As Emmanuel Kant would have said “it was about explaining things in the limits of reason and of reasonable”.
After a decade in Canada, the first thing I have to say is that I love Canada. It is my home. It might not be my native land. But, it is now my only land. Canada is the only land I have on this earth. The day I took the citizenship oath to the Queen, I lost for ever my Congo rights. I might have been born in Congo but Canada is my life. It is my future. Congo does not accept dual citizenship.

I have not been in Congo for more than a decade. My Congolese friends have made new friends and their friendship has grown stronger and deeper. Most of the colleagues of my first year teaching in former President’s High school have passed away because of changes in their lives. Most of them have died of illnesses they would have never thought of dying when we started working together in early 1996.
My parents? I have lost them long time ago to the Congo war. Relatives? I was not that close to them when my parents were alive. So who do I have in Congo which will make me go back?

Nobody of blood will make me go back to Congo. No incentives. I have lived in other African countries which I would like to revisit. Senegal for instance. I would love to go back and seat at the Atlantic sea eating again those sea foods which sent me to Dakar hospital when with friends we were dreaming of creating a synergy of African resources to solve hunger challenges in Africa.
I would love to go back and visit Tanzania because I felt in love with the humanity of its people. I would love to go back and visit Kilimanjaro and see if the feelings I have for Niagara Falls are similar to the one I had for Kilimanjaro. I would love to go back and seat at Indian Ocean and look in the direction of Australia.

I would love to go back to Rwanda where I lived for two years before the genocide destroyed all my friends. I would love to visit Kigali, Cyangugu, Kamembe, and Butare and see if similar beautiful ladies I used to see when I was a teenager are still walking the streets of Butare.

I would love to visit Burundi, its small capital Bujumbura and climb its Kiriri hills to savour the eagle view of its capital. I would love to visit the University of Bujumbura where a stranger gave me a disc which, twenty five years later, music still lingers in my ears. I have tried everywhere on YouTube to find it, unfortunately with only “tago mago” in my ears, it is not enough to locate it.I would love to go to its Tanganyika lake and look at heavy Hippos swimming.

I can keep going different places I visited or lived in. Unfortunately, Congo would not come on the list of countries I want to visit for fun and for memories. The reason is that my memories of Congo are of betrayal. My native land has not given me the reasons to live on its soil.
However, this year 2016 I want to go back. I want to go back for different reasons. Not to see my friends.
I am not going back to see my relatives.
I am not going back to reconnect with my tender memories.
I want to go back to help.
I want to go back and give the gift of education to kids I don’t know. In the same way, some centuries ago some Europeans decided to go to Congo or Africa to offer the best they believed in.

The best I believe in is the right for every child to know how to read and to write. I believe in the power of thinking critically. I believe in the pleasure of connecting to the Internet, the wonder of twenty first century.
That’s the reason why I want to go back this year to Congo. I am convinced that only education can set people free. I am convinced that only education makes us become humans because it embraces universality. It creates community beyond blood, beyond races, beyond cultures, beyond religions. It brings what we have in common, truly in common: the strength of reason and the sense of purpose, both key ingredients to dignity. 

THANK YOU LETTER                                                   April 28th, 2016
 
​
 Dear Friend,
 As you know, Thursday April 7th, was the very first Cash for Congo School fundraiser event at Stone Cottage.  
 I cannot thank enough Chris of Stone Cottage for providing us with the space and also for providing free finger food to our guests. Much appreciated Chris.
 Canadian Education Fighting Poverty in Congo Inc. is a Not-For Profit Organization which can achieve its mission only with your support and generosity. Since April 7th, you have shown both your support and generosity towards this Organisation.
 
At the fundraising event, I shared with you my journey since I fled Congo. I have also shared with you how, in the past, you have been instrumental in the story of my life. I gently ask you to continue supporting me, as you can, in this new endeavor which constitutes for me a way of showing the Canadian value of caring.
 
Since April 7th, we have raised over two thousand dollars. You have shown clearly your support and your generosity. Stone Cottage Cash for Congo School was the first event we organized. Based on your comments and your generosity, we can say that it was a huge success. We thank you for being part of this successful story. Please, let us keep it successful.
As you are aware of our dream, we still need more. In the coming days, we will share with you our thoughts on the next steps for this Congo Project.
 
With Love,
 
Jean-Pierre
 Founder and President of Canadian Education Fighting Poverty in Congo, Inc.