by Germán Robles Osuna

11 May 2010

Iriba, Chad: Children in Iriba, Chad, are back to school thanks to the determination and volunteer spirit of a UNV volunteer.

The inauguration of the Iriba High School took place on Friday, 7 May 2010, in Iriba, Chad. Aissatou ‘Isha’ Jobe, a UNV volunteer Political and Civil Affairs Officer, successfully led the efforts towards the rehabilitation of the high school, the only one in the department of Kobé.

Iriba High School was built in 1996 with a donation from the Département des Hauts de Seine in France, but since then has never been renovated. The conditions of the classrooms were deplorable. “As I entered through the almost dismantled corridor, I noticed that most of the students stood on the opposite side from where I was standing," says Isha. "The entire left wing was completely damaged: the roofing was half gone, broken louvers were replaced with broken stones to prevent bandits from breaking into the school."

The main objective of the UNV-led project was to create a safer and cleaner learning environment for the students and their teachers. The secondary objectives were to promote a spirit of volunteerism and a sense of responsibility within the student body.

Isha, together with the UNV team, mobilized resources to transform the classrooms. The execution of the project was made possible with the full involvement of: ADESK, a local NGO; the Civil-Military Coordination (CIMIC) Cell of the UN Mongolian Battalion (MONBATT); and most importantly, the hard work and commitment of the students, teachers and the Principal of Iriba High School.

The project was co-funded by the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), UNAIDS and telephone company Zain, with the additional support of UNICEF.

The inauguration ceremony took place in front of students, teachers, parents, MINURCAT, UN agencies, Zain, local authorities, and the humanitarian community. After the unveiling of the new school signboard and the cutting of the ribbon, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General together with the Secretary of Wadi Fira and the Prefect of Kobe distributed honorary distinctions and prizes to the best students.

The tour of classrooms was the apex of the ceremony. The guests visited one of the remodeled classrooms to weigh the impact of the UNV-led efforts. Pictures showing the previous conditions of the classrooms were placed to show the transformation. From a 'half gone' wooden roof, to a strong metallic roof that protects the school against termites and the wind; from broken windows filled with stones and rusted doors, to better windows and doors reinforcing security and maximizing natural sunlight; and from 14-year old paint to a fresh new coat, which completely changes the image of the school.  

From now on, the students and teachers can focus more on the learning process and the empowerment of young and eager minds. The 'MONBATT Classroom' was a special gift from the CIMIC Cell of MONBATT with a beautiful landscape of Mongolia painted on one wall.  

Daniel Mbaigolmem is currently a student at the Iriba High School. He is also an example of what volunteerism is about. Daniel saw the transformation efforts, and he also felt motivated to make a difference by transforming some wood retrieved from the old roofing structure into five fully-functional bookshelves for the school’s library.

Daniel said that it took him almost 10 days to finish the work, together with the Principal of the High School. Daniel wants to become a teacher, and he is already thinking of ways to start bringing books to the library. The future teacher thanks the High School Principal for his support to conduct his initiative.