SERGE'S SCHOOL

In my last letter I told you about the free school that Serge's wife
had started for kids in their neighborhood who can't afford to go
to a private school.  The public schools are no longer running and
she couldn't stand to see the kids running loose all day long without
any education.  They rented this existing private school building.
The private school runs in the morning and then Serges's school runs
in the afternoon.  They have been going for 3 weeks and they
already have 300 students and have run out of space.



The little girl in the middle melted me.  Every time I looked at her
she gave me a huge smile - something most Congolese don't do.
They are usually very serious in pictures.




The school has 6 classrooms and the ages run from about 5
to about 12 and they are divided according to age. 




All the classrooms were crowded with the students packed
shoulder to shoulder.



Notice this little, narrow room that the oldest group of students use.
Their shoulders touch the walls.