Dear Friends,
The current issue of the Prince of Peace newsletter features a report from the current Dean of Students, Fr. Justin, and several insightful pieces from high school students responding to the question: “How can peace be restored to our country?”
As the school continues to grow, Fr. Justin lays out for us the ongoing needs they face, especially with regard to high school classrooms and laboratories.
You, my friends, have not only witnessed the remarkable growth of this establishment over the past nine years but can take pride in this success thanks, in large part, to your generous support. As Fr. Justin makes clear, Prince of Peace has become “a second family” to students and families alike. It serves as a sign of hope in the midst of troubling times in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In recent months there have been some encouraging signs that peace efforts, undertaken by the United States government, may soon bear some fruit. We can only pray that they do.
As Christmas and the new year draw near, we know that we can count on your continued support.
My best wishes to you and your families for a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Fr. John Franck, AA
Gifts can be sent to: Assumptionist Center, 330 Market Street, Brighton, MA 02135.
Please indicate that gifts are to be directed to the Prince of Peace/Beni fund. Thank you.
Prince of Peace: Progress Report
Fr. Justin Kambale Mbavugha, AA, Dean of Students
The school, which features both morning and afternoon sessions, consists of four cycles: nursery school, adult remedial courses, elementary school, and secondary school. With a total enrollment of 1,420 students, including a majority of 850 girls, the school is growing rapidly and has seen its enrollment increase annually. This growth reflects the confidence that the people of Beni have in our institution. It is seen by students, teachers, and parents alike as a true second family, partially meeting the needs of the community and promoting brotherhood: we have indeed become brothers and sisters under the patronage of Emmanuel d’Alzon, the founder of the Assumptionists.
Recently the school had to temporarily suspend classes due to serious security instability, perpetrated in particular by rebels in the town of Beni and its surroundings. This period has had a profound effect on the school community. One tragic event in particular left a lasting impression: the father of one of our students was cowardly shot dead in his home by armed individuals, in front of his wife and children. Faced with this context of armed conflict, the school is making considerable efforts to help students, teachers, and parents regain their peace of mind. This assistance includes daily proclamation of the Word of God, conferences, and the use of texts on peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Since the start of the school year in September, the school has enjoyed a number of successes that have contributed to its reputation in North Kivu Province, despite the ongoing insecurity. On the educational front, Prince of Peace came in second in the provincial inter-school dictation competition, a source of pride for the entire teaching staff. In addition, our students’ success in the national certification exams was remarkable.
However, the school faces major challenges. The main one relates to difficulties in collecting tuition fees due to security instability, which leads to parents’ insolvency. As a result, the school struggles to meet the requirements for improving its infrastructure and related equipment. This problem is compounded by a shortage of classrooms, leading to temporary and makeshift arrangements, and the absence of two specialized laboratories (biochemistry and computer science), which considerably limits our educational options. In order to effectively train students in the Business and Management program, the acquisition of computers is urgent.
In conclusion, we have experienced both successes and challenges. Nevertheless, it does not lead us to give in to discouragement, approaching the situation with faith and confidence in its Protector. Our structural projects are at the heart of our development strategy: the construction of five additional classrooms, two laboratories (biochemistry and computer science), a large multipurpose room for conferences and cultural activities, and a sanitary block with at least 12 cubicles, given the exponential growth in school enrollment.
STUDENT REFLECTIONS: HOW TO BRING ABOUT PEACE IN THE DRC? (excerpts)
JOSEPHINE MIRINGA VIVUYA, 11th grade, sciences
In order to establish lasting peace in our country a strategic and ethical overhaul of national military training is imperative. Frequent recourse to foreign countries for military assistance against our enemies carries a major risk: these same nations, drawn by the extent of our natural resources, are likely to become, in the long term, sources of instability or interference. Above all, despite their assistance, they ultimately serve the interests of their countries of origin.
That is why efforts must focus on our own Armed Forces. It is crucial to: strengthen cohesion and integrity; soldiers must be trained on the basis of mutual trust and unwavering unity between units. Next, raise operational competence: training must be modernized to ensure the autonomy and effectiveness of troops in the field. Finally, discipline and transparency must be established, because a well-trained and united military is the first line of defense against corruption and external dependence.
Furthermore, the effectiveness of the armed forces depends intrinsically on their relationship with the population. Good cooperation between citizens, the military, and the government is therefore the cornerstone of national security. Citizens must be made aware of and encouraged to cooperate actively and without fear with the military. This trust is two-way: law enforcement agencies must act with professionalism and respect in order to earn the cooperation of the people. With this in mind, if a citizen has information or concerns about suspicious activities (whether external elements or internal threats), it is their patriotic duty to report them without delay to the relevant military authorities. This citizen alert mechanism acts as a shield against infiltration and destabilization…..
Lasting peace rests on three pillars: a reformed and honest army, a committed and confident population, and patriotism in the service of the common good, guaranteeing the autonomy and independence of the DRC.
JOUISSANCE KAMATHE MULENZE, 12th grade, sciences
With regard to this issue, many proposals have been put forward. First of all, a thorough analysis of the causes and their consequences of the current crisis, as well as an analysis of possible solutions seems essential.
From colonial times to the present day, we still suffer from a spirit of paternalism (the tendency to ask everything from one’s father). This can make young people very lazy; what’s more, there has been no change in this mentality. A change in mentality would be a major step towards the development of a self-respecting state. This is what differentiates third world states from other states. Indeed, change must begin with awareness and individual and collective commitment to the fight against this crisis.
Education of the young is critical if peace is to be restored and there is much progress to be made in this area. Teachers are not treated with the honor they deserve. As the father of South Africa, Nelson Mandela said, “To destroy a nation is to destroy its education.” Because an adequate education is not provided for all, many young people turn thievery or rebel groups…
ELOGE VINDUVINGI BUYINGO, 11th grade, business administration
The causes of insecurity in our country are multiple and deeply rooted….unemployment, especially among the young (which creates a large recruitment base for armed groups and criminality); poverty and economic marginalization are direct drivers of instability; a poorly informed population (which can make citizens vulnerable to manipulation and hate speech, and weakens their support for state institutions); corruption, divisions, mistrust, and unproductive competition at the highest levels of government…..
The fight against unemployment requires massive investment in agriculture, infrastructure, and the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The state must therefore develop credible Disarmament, Demobilization, Community Recovery, and Stabilization (DDRCS) programs to socially and economically reintegrate ex-combatants, as well as tax incentives for companies that hire young graduates and displaced persons.
Independent Justice, Employment, and Regional Cooperation—it is certain that the conditions necessary for the advent of a lasting and just peace will be met in the Democratic Republic of Congo…..
SAMUEL KISTA KIVUGHA, 12th grade, sciences
For peace to be achieved and maintained in the DRC, it must go through three fundamental stages: first, the stage focused on raising awareness among the population (including the grassroots and the most remote communities). In this first stage, citizens must be educated and trained to understand the mechanisms of conflict resolution.
The second essential step will concern ethical and civic education integrated at the grassroots level. This step must focus on young people and them about the true values of leadership and responsibility so that they can properly and with integrity assume their future roles as model leaders and decision-makers….
The final structural path to achieving lasting peace in the DRC is to awaken and strengthen the ethical awareness and responsibility of our authorities and institutions. They must fully assume their roles as servants and just leaders and strictly apply democratic and republican values…
In conclusion, all the country’s inhabitants, particularly all the authorities in the DRC, are earnestly called upon to promote and invest in the equitable economic and social development of the country. This is a necessary condition that contributes powerfully to the establishment of peace by structurally reducing endemic poverty and glaring inequalities, which are too often deep-rooted and persistent sources of conflict and war in the DRC.
DESTIN KAMBALE MUHESI, 12th grade, sciences
Establishing lasting peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) requires a clear-headed analysis of the roots of instability and the implementation of far-reaching structural reforms. It is crucial to examine the systemic nature of the causes before proposing concrete solutions. This raises a number of questions: What is the root cause of this insecurity? What are the possible sustainable solutions? Any peace initiative must include all levels of society.
The causes of instability in the DRC are multiple, intertwined, and mutually reinforcing. They can be summarized as follows:
– The crisis of political and institutional governance: thirst for power and political fragmentation; the proliferation of political parties, often based on personal interests rather than national ideologies; competition for power perceived as a zero-sum game, preventing the emergence of a strong national consensus.
– Weak rule of law: impunity, endemic corruption, and clientelist political promotion which undermine citizens’ trust in institutions and exacerbate social and regional frustrations.
– the acute lack of economic prospects for young people who have dropped out of school or are unemployed pushing them toward armed rebellion or crime.
– poor land management and ethnic conflicts.
– fragility of the security sector manifested in a national army that lacks training, adequate equipment, and regular pay leading demotivation and fueling betrayal or abuses within the troops themselves.
To overcome these challenges, the DRC must resolutely commit to the following actions: institutional and governance reform; fighting relentlessly against corruption and impunity; strengthening judicial system; assuring the transparent management of public finances; regulating the creation of political parties to encourage national and ideological platforms, rather than structures based on personality cults or ethnicity; putting in place mechanisms to address the trauma of past conflicts, and avoiding future ones; guaranteeing respect for human rights; treated all citizens equally under the law according to the various provisions of the constitution; fostering a mentality that everyone is responsible for peace and the development of our country.
