BERKELEY – Summer school took on a different meaning for Dan Torsiello. The Central Regional High School history teacher went off the beaten path during trip to Africa. Now he might just end up creating something historic for the children there.
“As a teacher and coach, educating children is a passion of mine,” he said. “Despite having taught in some very economically disadvantaged school districts in my career, nothing prepared me for what I saw in the Democratic Republic of the Congo this past summer.”
His intent was to journey into the jungle and see endangered mountain gorillas. His guide, Christian, did just that but also took him on a different route.
They visited orphanages in the village of Goma. They are overflowing due to military conflicts in the region. Christian suggested a donation for the orphanage. Torsiello agreed, and also put out feelers to raise $1,400. This was enough to buy nearly 3,000 pounds of food that was split among three orphanages. The children have meager needs, subsisting almost entirely on a rice gruel called congee.
They also ventured to the rural village of Mushaki. Torsiello said this is a farming and herding village high in the hills, but also within territory that is home to some of the 120 rebel groups in the country.
“Part of my time in Mushaki was spent visiting a local school – school being used in the most basic sense. Missing walls, a lack of school supplies, and far less seating than students are just some of the challenges facing the school. The scene goes from disappointing to heartbreaking when you factor in the dirty clothes and bare feet of the children attending this school. Then and there I decided to try and make a positive impact,” he said.
“After discussions with Christian and engineers back in Africa, we have drawn up plans to build a cinderblock school with six classrooms, two offices, and four toilets,” he said.
Such a building would be cost prohibitive in the states. But since supplies and labor are cheaper there, the school would cost a little more than $8,300 to build. Torsiello is hoping to raise $10,000 to cover any unforeseen costs. Any money not spent on the actual building will go toward school supplies.
How To Help
Torsiello is collecting money for the school. You can visit gofundme.com/f/help-build-a-school-in-rural-africa to find out more.
You can also make a donation via Venmo @dantorsiello with “DR Congo Donation” in the message.
