Sunday, October 7, 2012
8 - Congo Week
We are celebrating Congo Week this week. Some of you have been industriously designing & building water projects, some have been rehearsing your dances, and some have been working with elementary projects. Lots of prep work for a pretty big week. Tell me what you think of Congo Week as a concept. Focus on one aspect: it's stated purpose, the fact that the organization is in the US, whether or not you think it is effective in it's purpose, what you think (or know) local groups think of it, if the youth is really the power behind it, or anything else you choose to talk about. Remember, keep it between 280 - 350 words (some of you get long-winded).
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Designing & building water projects, rehearsing traditional dances, or even working with elementary kids on projects for Congo Week. What does it all mean? What’s the point? What’s the message that is trying to be conveyed through all of these methods?
ReplyDeleteCongo Week is a time when we, students of The American School of Kinshasa, can come together as an international and diverse community to explore the great wonders of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Many of us attend this school but aren’t aware of the value of the country we’re in. We aren’t cognizant of the potential that this country has to offer to us as diverse and multicultural individuals.
Mrs. Diane Mccoy, an admission counselor at Columbia University had explained to the senior class that even if each of us is the typical American who only speaks one language, we are still extremely diverse. Why? Because we’ve been given the opportunity of not only living in Africa, but living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This example is very true. We’ve been surrounded by students from countries all over the world. But most of all, we’ve gotten the opportunity of experiencing Congo Week. Through the projects presented by students, we’ve been given the chance to learn new pieces of information about the DRC that we never knew before. Through the projects with elementary students, we’ve been given the chance to view the Congo through the eyes of younger learners. Through the dances, we’ve been given the opportunity to take part and to learn new dance routines from one another portraying Congolese culture.
Congo Week, overall, is a time when we can all together learn about the country we’re in, the DRC. It’s a time when we can unite as a diverse group of students to show our appreciation to the DRC. It’s a time when we can really search into the depths of all the information given to us to share with students or even the rest of the world what it really means to be given the occasion to live in the Congo.
Do you feel like Congolese outside of the school appreciate it the way you do?
DeleteCongo Week seems to have been around forever. I remember in elementary school when we had stations and we got to go around and see and do different things related to Congo in some way or another. One station was the food station which was Congolese food of course. Next was the flag station, where we got to make the Congo flag out of colored paper. After that was the hair braiding station, which girls as well as boys could enjoy because they were using fake hair, and were even able to braid it into short hair. Then, after that was the wire art station where we got to look at many different sorts of wire art that they had on display, we could also see the artist making new pieces which was pretty cool in my opinion. There were a few other stations but you get the idea.
ReplyDeleteIn elementary we had the chance to be shown what Congo was known for, and we had the chance to get different tastes of parts of the culture that we might not normally be able to, such as the hair braiding (for me). But now that we are all older and more knowledgeable we are given the chance to make our own Congo Week stations. After all the years of doing this, it may seem redundant, but actually it’s not. This year the topic (of our project) is water which is just a little different than what we’ve done in the past. We get the chance each year to learn a little more about the incredible country we live in.
At first Congo Week seems like another NHD (National History Day) or Science Fair: a time when we have to make projects; but when it comes it opens the eyes of the students and lets them relate to the topics, because we are living it!
I hope you have photos of your hair in braids! Excellent point about being the new leader.
DeleteVictim of an invasion by the Rwandans, Congo has long since suffered from the tragic crisis that decimated their country and killed millions of people on October of 1996. Since then, about 6 million people have been killed, half of which are children under 5 years old. Hundreds of thousands of women are constantly being raped and innocent lives are frequently lost, all as a result of the scramble for Congo’s wealth.
ReplyDeleteCongo week is an approach to raise awareness about the devastating situation in Congo and to assemble support on behalf of the people of the Congo. Every year in October, generally between the 14th and the 20th, people all over the world commemorate this tragedy as a way of honoring all the lives that were lost on this day as well as to learn about and plan events so that we may speak to leaders around the world and together, make a real difference in Congo. Every year, people all over the world participate together to organize events in order to stop the looting, encourage justice, defend women and children, protect the environment and support Congo. People have funded and created several projects such as “Breaking the Silence” and “Friends of Congo.” This has been effective in educating the world about why Congo week is essential and very known around the world as well as in encouraging people to be part of a good cause and to demonstrate their support and value for Congolese lives. Without Congo week, we would all be ignorant of this significant and dreadful month; none of us would be aware of the severity that continues to take place in Congo. Congo week allows us to connect with people from all over the world and together we can become part of an honorable quest for justice in the heart of Africa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The global awareness is a strong point of the week. What do you think has to happen next in order to keep people in more comfortable places connected to these trials? Or even the locals who are much better off? I agree, awareness is step one.
Delete“Congo Week”? What is that? Until last year even i was completely unaware of what this whole Congo Week was about. After celebrating the Congo Week last year i realized that it holds great importance and value in Tasok. Congo Week is a very unique event. I remember celebrating International day in my old school but never heard of such. Congo Week brings everyone together regardless of what culture you belong to. It seems to teach you about Congo’s values, traditions, and all those little things that we are ignorant of. Congo week creates awareness not just through presentations but through African dances, structural models, building water projects and in many interesting ways. I believe like every other year, Congo week has a theme this year which is water. Water is an essential part of life and knowing how water systems work in Congo is absolutely necessary. Just knowing that the Congo River is the third largest river in the world isn’t enough. The most important thing is knowing about how it functions and if it provides enough for the whole DRC. Congo has a lot more than we can imagine. People have always thought of Congo as a jungle and people living in tree houses and traveling on elephants. It seems ridiculous to know about the obscure thought people have on Congo.
ReplyDeleteCongo Week provides you with all these information and helps you enhance your knowledge on Congo. Tasok has a very diverse culture and there cannot be another event than the Congo Week which would bring each and every one of us together to learn about the country we live in.
The different themes are interesting. On the website I explored, there was no water theme. They are still on last years. Wonder if the site is defunct.
DeleteLast year, I was barely involved in Congo Week projects because I was not interested in Congo Week at all. However, this year the Congo Week thing is giving us a great amount of pressure with all the projects and rehearsals. Since I am more involved in Congo week this year, I clearly see the purpose of this celebration.
ReplyDeleteHaving a Congo Week in the American School is very unique thing, I think. Preparing for Congo water projects, practicing band rehearsals, and drawing art portraits, at first, I thought these activities were meaningless. I said, “we are busy enough for our college preparation and homeworks we have. Why should we have such event that would give us more work to do? This will not help us.” However, we should remember that we are living in Congo and that we should appreciate the land we are living in. By having Congo week, we can learn more about Congo and how has Congo affected us. The art class had to draw our self-portrait, including how has Congo affected us and our thoughts. If we had not have Congo Week and chance to draw self-portrait relating to Congo, I think, we would have not thought deeply about how Congo affected us ever. Also, in African Studies class, we had to make presentations about Congo water. If there were no Congo Week, I would not even care about Congo water. By having Congo week, we are sharing our ideas and thought about Congo, learning new facts about Congo and appreciating the land we live in.
I wonder if any other American Schools overseas have big school events like Congo week. Although, Congo week gives us so much stress about these preparation, since it provides us great opportunity to learn about Congo, I think it is worth it.
I like the way you explore both sides of the value of this type of celebration. It is harder in high school than elementary to make it flow into our daily life.
DeleteReading the question of Congo week, it brought me back to the common misconceptions of Africa. Africa being the poorest country, black people are not smart, Africa has no technology, humans ride elephants, and more. These misconceptions are all from ignorant people who know nothing about Africa.
ReplyDeleteI feel the Congo week projects and dances and other things are to build awareness and to educate the people inside and outside of Africa. With my current project of building the Inga Dam I’ve learned a lot about the topic. It’s the largest hydropower scheme in the world. The amount of electricity this can give is enormous. And with all the electricity that could be used, Africa’s economic development will also rise.
The Congo is known for their mines, fruits, and many other different commodities. In fact having this Congo week is very beneficial not only because it educates people with the things around them, but it helps clear some minds that think Congo is a hole and consider it a bad place to live in. With this event taking place, students of all ages are gaining knowledge. Some may consider it a fun day because the students don’t have class.
Although us students do miss class, we take part in working hard and teaching peers. Additionally I think it’s the schools duty to encourage these kinds of projects and in turn it’s the students’ duty to learn about the country they are currently living in.
The cool part of this project was that there were no limitations except for the topic. We could present anything water related to build awareness. And it is a project that is done outside of a classroom. Consider it a fun way of learning.
Glad you enjoyed the freedom of creation in your project. It speaks well for your future in business.
DeleteI've been in TASOK for three years now, and have been hearing about Congo Week repetitively for all these years. Honestly this is the first year where I’m actually doing something for Congo Week. Saying this makes me seem lazy but Congo Week to me, as Sam mentioned, is just like any other history fair or science fair. Congo week may seem like a burden to many, it did to me too, but it actually helps people get acquainted with Congo itself. The concept of Congo Week according to me is a very neat one, in which awareness about what’s happening in Congo and what Congo really is, all are brought together. It not only helps create awareness but also gives opportunities to various local groups to perform and give a point of view about Congo by Congolese themselves.
ReplyDeleteOn the 8th of October a little dance group performed in our CAC where they showed their drumming skills and not for one moment did they cease to amaze me. To me these are some of the things that bring out the uniqueness of Congo. Since we’re living in Congo it is our responsibility to give its motherland the due respect of at least being aware of its culture, environment and problems. TASOK has created a very efficient way of making people aware. For our African Studies class our group is doing a project on Water Distribution in Congo for Congo Week. I have to say I have learnt quite a lot, this realization came to me when I actually sat down with my dad to, not argue, but have a healthy discussion with him. Initially getting this project done was a burden, but now that I’m done all I’m left with is admiration. It’s amazing how things like this can teach you so much, without you even being aware.
See, learning can be fun.
DeleteI've been in TASOK for three years now, and have been hearing about Congo Week repetitively for all these years. Honestly this is the first year where I’m actually doing something for Congo Week. Saying this makes me seem lazy but Congo Week to me, as Sam mentioned, is just like any other history fair or science fair. Congo week may seem like a burden to many, it did to me too, but it actually helps people get acquainted with Congo itself. The concept of Congo Week according to me is a very neat one, in which awareness about what’s happening in Congo and what Congo really is, all are brought together. It not only helps create awareness but also gives opportunities to various local groups to perform and give a point of view about Congo by Congolese themselves.
ReplyDeleteOn the 8th of October a little dance group performed in our CAC where they showed their drumming skills and not for one moment did they cease to amaze me. To me these are some of the things that bring out the uniqueness of Congo. Since we’re living in Congo it is our responsibility to give its motherland the due respect of at least being aware of its culture, environment and problems. TASOK has created a very efficient way of making people aware. For our African Studies class our group is doing a project on Water Distribution in Congo for Congo Week. I have to say I have learnt quite a lot, this realization came to me when I actually sat down with my dad to, not argue, but have a healthy discussion with him. Initially getting this project done was a burden, but now that I’m done all I’m left with is admiration. It’s amazing how things like this can teach you so much, without you even being aware.
Congo Week. Last year without even knowing the importance of this special week that the school get to organize for the students in order for them to get to realize the importance of Congo in our life. This year for the first time I got a chance to participate in the Congo Week by making an individual poster with the art class, and working in group for the water projects in African Studies.
ReplyDeleteThis Congo Week project had made me realize a lot about Congo, because while being part of Art class our teacher Ms. Kessel had requested us to do an individual poster about how Congo has made an influence in your life, and to also display how it had affected you as individual. But that not the only thing I did for this project because I also had to work with my African Studies class where we had to do a water project in which we had to talk about how water is disrtibuted in Congo, because even myslef as a congolese did not know anything about the water distribution in Congo.
Even though the funny part about this project is that we got our class shortened due to the time. And for me and my African studies class group that wanted to have a presentation in a form of a video that we are planning to do by the Congo river, and we are really considering it as a fun way of learning because not only we get to have fun but we also increasung our knowledge because we will be teaching ourselves.
So were you surprised by any thing you discovered in the art project?
DeleteTasok celebrates Congo week every year, and they are different ways to honor this week. This special week gives a chance to all Tasokians, teachers, and parents to learn about the country we live in. The purpose of this week is not only to teach people facts on the Congo River, but it helps to look beyond and explore more about the values of the DRC. The reason why it is considered a special day, it is because we learn and connect with each other regardless of our age, racial and ethnicity differences. Congo is home to different people because of it diversity and multicultural world and the way it shapes our lives. They are many fascinating aspects about this country that many people ignore, but come to learn thanks to Congo week. In fact, many people around the world are aware of the negative topics of African countries, but few are educated about their unique qualities. As result, Congo week allow us to nourish our knowledge and learn new things. Being a Congolese for instance does not mean, I cannot learn about my country from a non-Congolese person. Another person can have a greater knowledge about Congo’s ecosystem than I do because I can have some or no knowledge about the topic. During Congo, we all work together, share, listen to one another, and we expand our love to learn about Congo. What exactly makes this week so important is the way in which we come together as the people of the same world. Through music, dance, arts, theatre, and projects we are able, to work for one idea and use our creativity to reflect all our thoughts about the DRC. Participating in Congo week this year, with a project on Congo’s water, made me realize how people in different parts of DRC suffer and die due to the quality of water they drink daily. Furthermore, in the future I am determined to work and help my country find solutions to this deplorable situation. I love Congo week, because it brings a team spirit in our community.
ReplyDeleteGood point about the spirit of community. It is a healthy way to bring people together with a very positive message, even if the information is not always positive.
DeleteCongo Week is a very informational concept based in the US-the media and lobby capital of the world. Most people seem to seem to generalize the problems of African countries as part of the whole continent, which tends to camouflage the problems faced by individual nations. Most Americans would not know or care about what happens in the Congo because they’re too busy with their daily lives and because Congo does not generate the same interest in the public mind as Afghanistan, Iraq or more recently, Syria. Congo Week brings about the problems that are faced with this strategic nation as well as portrays its vast natural beauty and abundance of resources.
ReplyDeleteCongo Week allows the US public to appreciate a country that has been described as one of the poorest on earth and paradoxically, as one of the richest, to the point of being called a “geological freak!” The goal behind this concept is that exposure of Congo will not only lead to greater awareness of its vast problems but may also help in bringing investments into the country that will generate greater income for the Congo and thus allow it to come out of its vicious cycle of poverty and violence. For example, most Americans are probably not aware that Congo supplies the Coltan that is used in their mobile phones or that more Congolese have died due to war and malnutrition from 1998 to 2003, than Jews that were murdered in the Holocaust. Yet these millions of dead Congolese have become mere statistical figures because their country has no voice or exposure in the American psychic nor powerful lobbying groups promoting Congolese interests in the US.
Congo Week can primarily be a marketing tool to portray Congo and raise awareness for the people who are not up to date with the struggles the country faces. It should not only be used to portray the misery of the Congolese and its natural beauty, but also as a tool to influence the Congolese Government to make the necessary changes needed to attract investors. Thus, Congo Week can be a political tool as well. The ultimate goal of Congo Week is to promote the country and lead to the betterment of the locals.
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DeleteYou're right, that's the goal. Is it effective? If so, why? do you think the Local government pays any attention?
ReplyDeleteIt is the second year that I’m participating to Congo week and I never really knew how meaningful it was until now. Like Yeun Ji, I didn’t care about Congo week as well. To me it was nothing more than a celebration of which we had to do projects; really similar to science fair or National History Day. But this year I think I finally understood what the point of celebrating Congo week in Tasok was.
DeleteAnyone has to be aware of the situations going on in his country or in the country he lives in. Most of the time we live in a country but we do not even make the effort of informing ourselves about it. Thanks to Congo week and all the projects that have been made such as water projects, it is for example a good way to learn about the water Problems in DRC. Knowing the different ways of transportation on water (Ferries, Boats of goods…etc) in DRC or even that several provinces of the country have water penuries, is significant. All of this is a good way to make us think and feel sorry for the people who do not have water to wash themselves or even drinking water. I was even more shocked when I saw Cybelle’s project; her group represented in a bucket, all the substances contained in tap water here in DRC. I could not imagine that the water drank from the tap, by most of the people in Kinshasa contained all these substances.
Although Congo week beside the long weekend we get and the classes that are shortened at school is fun to celebrate, we also learn a lot on the Congo DRC. It is a nice way to push us getting a little aware of different situations in the country we live in, such as water penuries in several provinces and the different transportations on water of the country. I like Congo week because it is one of the celebrations that educates us.
The consensus seems to be that forcing you all to celebrate and create displays actually opened your eyes to some of the problems. How about solutions? I saw lots of native DRC artisans on campus this week. Anyone make a new connection with the local world?
DeleteCongo Week is a great event, as it not only brings the school together, it also helps us learn about the country we live in. This year like the years before, Congo week successfully brought the school together to learn and appreciate the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country so many call home.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most memorable ways the school allows us to learn about our environment, is by the projects classes do. For example the theme this year was "water" and my group focused on "pollution and waste" in the Congo river. To prepare for our presentation we did a lot of research ,and were thus able to present our topic in front of many people,in a way that not only helped student and the adults learn about the problems that indirectly affect them, but also helped them learn about solutions and how important the river is to the lives of the Congolese and the world.
The projects also showed that getting young people actively involved in their learning is beneficial, as our projects helped educate not only the Congolese students at TASOK but also the Congolese adults present, and I believe that they learned a great deal, and will hopefully will spread the word on how amazing yet how undervalued their country is.
Congo week is a way of making students know more about the country they live in .Every year, there is a theme on which students have to present. I have been at Tasok for 3 years now and this is my second time to be involved in that. This year the theme was water in Congo and I did a project on water treatment and clean water. By doing the water project, I learned new things that I ignored about water in Congo. I have lived in DRC for my whole life and I never thought that tap water could contain all those bacteria. If it was not for Congo week, I would not do all those researches.
ReplyDeleteDiversity is a good thing and living here and participating in all those activities makes us diverse. We learn more about the Congolese culture and tradition. We have been showed the dances which are part of the Congolese culture and I was able to learn it last year. The presentations give us new pieces of information about the Congo. All those presentations and performances showed us some great values and potentials the Congo have.
Congo week is a time when we get together and share information about what we have learned. It is a fun way of learning new things about Congo. Beside the stress for the presentations, we all have fun at the end. I think it worth and plus no one hates it.
Your dance performance was a joy to watch. You really do have a solid stage presence. Please keep it up.
DeleteCongo week has been a tradition to TASOK for as long as I have been in the school. We might be living in Congo but the lives we live are very different to the lives of the Congolese people. As we are children of the 21st century, we are exposed and influenced by the media that show us how to live, dress, look like, behave, talk, pretty much everything. Living in Congo and living the way that we do around the lifestyle Congolese people live, we live more in a society of our own. I think that the concept of the Congo week is to take a step back to connect and embrace the country we live in. By embrace the country we live in I mean, learn more about the culture, food, lifestyle, history and more that will maybe make our stay in the country better. Knowing all of this information can make us be able to get out of our little world and connect better with Congolese people and their way of life.
ReplyDeleteSince this is a yearly event, each year has something new to learn about Congo and its people, I think because of the different points of view people have about Congo. At most times Congolese dance instructors, dancers, musicians, and many more entertainers are invited to present and teach students their art, which has been enjoyed by the students over the years looking at the turn out and reaction to them. I think that the entertainers and teachers enjoy coming to us because I see them as proud to be Congolese and can do what some other countries maybe cannot. I enjoy taking the dance classes and do it every year that I can, not only to support but also to learn something new.
Watching your dance helped show the power that performing arts can carry in sharing cultural mores. Glad it was fun, too.
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ReplyDeleteIt is only my second year at TASOK but I know that Congo Week as always been something really important in our school. Congo week is a way for us to discover the country where we are living a little more each year. I think it is a really important action to focus on the culture, resources and new information on a growing country like Congo. Congo week at TASOK is not only a way for students, parents and teachers to know about the country, we also open our doors to local people to teach us. Every year groups of people come from outside of school to work with students to present something to the whole school. Students love Congo week because it is not like a talent show or a concert, everyone is putting something together to present by the end of the week. From kinder garden to 12th grade, we all put our hands together for one reason: Learning about DR Congo. Seniors presented awesome water projects this year; Congo River is the most important resources of the country. Everything was about water in Congo but in different ways. How to make clean water? The resources the country gains from the water? Or from where the river takes his source. I do not know what the local groups think of it, I do not think that they know TASOK is having a Congo week each year. But I am sure that they would be pleased to know that an US school is learning about the history of his country. Even though Congo Week is something teachers tell us to do, students enjoy to work and present their projects to the public. Congo week exists for years at TASOK now and it would be something really good to endure this tradition the longer possible with improvements, maybe inviting more local people would be great.
ReplyDeleteYour idea of more local people is shared by many and something I believe the faculty is working on - it's all about making the contacts. I'm impressed with how much praise everyone in your class shared about the water projects you all did. It seems everyone enjoyed them, everyone learned and most important, everyone worked together to share information and to create viable projects.
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