Jesus saves, Moses invests

‘Jesus saves, Moses invests...’ I heard this play on words many years ago in India. It came back to me via the mysterious meanders and synapses of my subconscious and affective memory. I don’t want to offend anybody here. Soeur Josephine will always be a living example of what a true Christian can achieve in her/his life. Whether one ideologically approves or disapproves of is irrelevant here. The fact is that Christianity is doing well in Rwanda.
‘Jesus saves’...
A famous Christian slogan. I will give it a Rwandan context meaning here. Yes, Jesus saves from total despair and helplessness those who are born with nothing and will acquire materially nothing throughout their lives. I was not born with a house, a computer, a car, a bank account etc. But throughout my life, I have acquired them. For many people who live around here, all they can aspire to is a cow, a couple of gaots and chicken and have enough seeds to plant their crops to have something to eat. So, going to church on Sundays and hearing about Jesus’ life and his teachings serves a number of purposes. First it brings together people whom live quite far from each other. They sit close to each other, they sing together, they pray together. They feel a sense of belonging, a common bond. So Jesus saves from isolation.
Secondly, Jesus saves from despair. I do not understand any Kinyarwanda (except the word ‘Imana’ – meaning ‘God’), but I am sure that the priest tells them about how to ensure an eternal life in heaven, a life of abundance and bliss. Owning a computer, a car, a house or having a solid bank account does NOT guarantee a ticket to heaven. So, church goers feel that they are not completely missing out, that they are still in with a chance.
Thirdly, Jesus saves from total lack of self-esteem and pride. Most people attending church make a concerted effort to look good, clean, and smart. Going to church is a rare opportunity to wear your best shoes, shirt or dress and feel good to be seen in these clothes.
Finally, Jesus saves from total ethics chaos. When people are so destitute and don’t always know where the next meal will come from, it could be tempting for some to steal, express anger and frustration via anti-social behaviour. But in church, you are told about a different set of moral values and it is clear that most of the churchgoers I see appear to have internalised these values
Moses invests
Here is another metaphor... to make it works for us even more, let’s replace ‘Moses’ by ‘Abana’ the tiny NGO ia currently working for. Abana has invested some money, some human resources (I believe I am the third volunteer to come and work at Rugerero. There is a Abana committee, somewhere in the Northern beaches of Sydney). Some planning for the development of Rugerero primary school has happened over the last few years.
By contrast to the ‘Jesus saves’ approach, we are now more concerned with the ‘here and now’ of a critical situation. The pupils from Rugerero primary needed some help. They have received some already. Let’s focus for now on three type of investment:
Financial investment. This is by far the easiest way to invest. Fundraising was organised in Australia, money was sent to Rugerero to rebuilt a school that was damaged by an earthquake. A fairly straightforward transaction, but not without any possible pitfalls. Millions of dollars have been invested (i.e. ‘given’) to Africa over the last few decades; not much improvement has resulted. Some analysts say that it has made the situation worse and has been the source of corruption or complacency-dependency (not unlike some form of addiction). However it is fait to acknowledge that the money transferred from Australia to Rugerero has arrived safely and has made it possible to rebuild the classrooms. They are not perfect, they can still improve, but they exist and can accommodate the 1650 children who go to that school. This is just the foundation. More complex and risky forms of investment are now required.
Investing in human resources management. The most crucial asset of a good school is its teachers and its management (headmaster/headmistress). Abana now has to invest in this area. Currently, the management of Rugerero primary is very weak, quasi non-existent. A headmistress that lives more than two hours away, who rarely comes to the school, an assistant who has no real idea about his new role (he used to be the headmaster, but was replaced because of his lack of qualification) and who seems to have given up. Something needs to be done to help them fulfil their duties adequately. It appears that currently they do not receive a lot of help from the Ministry of education. Hey are, like many others, I am sure, operating under the radar.
We need to invest in some form of training, or communication to help them fulfil their duties. Further financial and material investment could become wasted if this is not achieved.
Material investment.
We need to make each classroom look like a place of learning. Currently, a classroom consists of a blackboard and desks to accommodate 50 pupils. This is only the first step. We now have to insist on make each classroom become a place for learning. I have taken two local carpenters to the school and ask them to take measurements to built one lockable cupboard per classroom in which to store children’s textbooks and teachers material. Windows have no window panes. It can be windy, cold and raining on top of the hill in these classrooms. It is now feasible to conceive bringing electricity to the school. The solar energy technology has arrived to Rwanda. It is available and is waiting to be invested into. Having electricity will allow teacher to have at least one computer, one printer and to access Internet websites totally devoted to teaching primary schools in sub-Saharan Africa, for instance... Teachers don’t have a room where they can prepare their classes, leave their teaching material. Soon we need to look into having a small library for the children. It would be good also to insist that all children wear some type of basic uniform at school, to make them all look alike and make no clear-cut distinction between the 40% who can afford buying the uniform and the 60% who just can’t. This ‘stage two’ material investment is where we are at now. It will be successful only ifr the managerial investment has been successful.
‘Jesus saves, Moses invests’ Will Abana investment save Rugerero primary? Yes, it will.