 UCKIN, or the Université Chrétienne de Kinshasa, is a post-secondary educational institution in Kinshasa, DRC, originally built in 1967 as a Bible Institute to train pastors. Since then, it has developed into a university of about 300 students with the addition of an economic and medical faculty in 1997. UCKIN also manages a large grade school with 1500 students.
UCKIN, or the Université Chrétienne de Kinshasa, is a post-secondary educational institution in Kinshasa, DRC, originally built in 1967 as a Bible Institute to train pastors. Since then, it has developed into a university of about 300 students with the addition of an economic and medical faculty in 1997. UCKIN also manages a large grade school with 1500 students.
As a result of unclear vision from church leadership and the evaporation of western subsidy, the buildings deteriorated and the learning resources disintegrated. Lack of upkeep resulted in overflowing septic tanks, open sewers, collapsing foundations and walls, leaking roofs, insect eaten books and aging furniture.
In spite of the difficulties, the founding churches felt the university worth saving. To this end, in 2002 the board was transformed and a new committed administrative team was installed, who regardless of the lack of funds, regained the confidence of the supporting church es, professors and students. Churches again began to give subsidies and professors came back to complete the school year at 20% of their salaries.
UCKIN is located on a 10.2 hectare campus with multiple buildings including 7 classroom buildings, 30 duplexes for married students, 7 professor duplexes, a dormitory for 80 students, a large chapel, a clinic and a grade school complex with 21 classrooms.
Other resources include a library/resource center with a large number of dated theology reference materials but little medical or business resources, a laboratory room still lacking equipment and large number of deteriorating chairs and tables. In terms of personnel, the university ha a number of full-time theology professors but the medical and economics professors are part-timers who come in to teach from the state university about 40km away.
Recently, the UCKIN has benefited from a number of supporters including computers for both a computer teaching center and an internet center, teaching support for the English as a second language program and a large commitment of >$120,000 from Bakerview MB Church to renovate all the school buildings.
UCKIN Objective
The UCKIN objective is to graduate skilled professionals educated in Congo who are able to effectively provide productive leadership in their communities. Moreover, the goal is to generate expertise adequately equipped to initiate appropriate and useful ideas and manage projects, materials and people.
UCKIN Projects
To meet these objectives, UCKIN is soliciting support for a number of projects including the following:
· Classroom furniture and teaching aids -
$2,500/classroom,
$25,000 auditorium
· Rehabilitate library/resource center -
$120,000
· Rehabilitate student housing -
$50,000 boy’s dorm,
$25,000/professor duplex,
$10,000/student duplex
· Rehabilitate and equip the laboratory -
$45,000
· Mentor administration including strategic planning and curriculum review
meeting scheduled for October 2006
· Send teachers to teach at English-as-a-second-language school
· Further development of the computer center -
$5000
· Integration of the “peace and reconciliation” program into the curriculum -
$2000
· Rehabilitate and expand the medical clinic -
$20,000
| Project C0268 |
MIHELDA Fund |
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