Life in Kinshasa and at TASOK

Kinshasa is a sprawling third world African city. At this point the greater Kinshasa area stretches almost 100 kilometers around the point at Ngaliema on the Congo River where Europeans first disembarked after over 300 kilometers on foot because of rapids and waterfalls that still make the mighty river impossible to navigate until you reach Kinshasa. The infrastructure of the city, in particular roads, water, and electricity is ageing and often non functional. While the nation is taking full advantage of peace for the first time since the early 1990s, it will take time to repair and rebuild. Life in Kinshasa involves coping with heavy traffic, bad roads and frequent electrical and water outages. TASOK takes great care to cope with these factors.

The school has modern powerful generator back-up for the entire school 24/7. All TASOK overseas hired faculty live on campus and have generator back up at home during power outages from 5:00 pm until 8:00 am the next morning. There is an emergency water system in every building. The campus itself is perhaps the most beautiful place in Kinshasa, 42 acres of gardens and small “forest” areas with a large and highly visible bird population. Teachers’ day to day life is peaceful and comfortable. TASOK is definitely a school where community is important. Teacher housing is apartments in duplexes or fourplexes, completely at TASOK’s expenses including utilities. Housing is apart from the school, but teachers live in close proximity, so TASOK is a place where people are most content when they enjoy a relaxed, informal, open social life. It’s a bad spot for a hermit.

Kinshasa offers surprisingly wide choice in food shopping and a variety of styles of stores and pricing. Orientation includes extensive experience in where and how to shop most happily for various preferences. Traffic means that driving is a hassle, but TASOK provides small cars for teacher use on a fee basis and you can get around town. Kinshasa is definitely not a “walking” sort of city for expatriates. It is quite a safe place but crowded, dusty, congested, and noisy.
Kinshasa has a world class music scene with plenty of opportunity to hear some of the best music in Africa. There is an interesting art scene as well and variety of local crafts. Restaurants are numerous and delicious, from tasty Congolese dishes to European cuisine comparable to far more developed countries. The campus residents often gather together both to go out and host events and dinners on campus.

As the DRC struggles to emerge from years of difficulty, there are outstanding opportunities in Kinshasa for worthwhile community service. Teachers initiate projects, join ongoing projects and work with students on service projects. Right now a small group of teachers is working to fund a roof for a small local school. TASOK hosts visits from orphans from a local orphanage for a day of learning in art, English, and sports, and has frequent content with nongovernmental organizations working in the city. In 2010/2011 a TASOK teacher will volunteer for a year in eastern Congo providing professional development for Congolese teachers. A team of current TASOK teachers will provide support and will work to ensure that this initiative has a chance to become an ongoing TASOK project.