Schlumberger Celebrates First SEED School in Congo
Voices
Schlumberger Celebrates First SEED School in Congo
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Pride shines on the faces of the students, teachers, SEED volunteers, Schlumberger managers and local government officials who celebrated the opening of the first SEED school in Congo. |
April 2008 [Pointe-Noire, Congo]
I am pleased to share with the Schlumberger community that the Republic of Congo inaugurated its first SEED school, the College Jean Felix Tchicaya, in Pointe-Noire on the morning of April 21. The school qualified to receive a connectivity grant from the SEED School Network Program, which provides computers and two years of Internet connectivity for the students and teachers at the school.
This grant will put these children in touch with other students throughout the world and with the wonderful opportunity of expanding their horizons.
The event itself was like a mini carnival, and it earned nationwide attention. Two television stations covered the event, and broadcasted the story for two weeks.
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Congo’s Minister of Education, Madame Rosalie Kama, graciously accepts a gift commemorating the event from Schlumberger EAF President Mark Corrigan. |
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A group of students celebrates the inauguration with a song. |
The Minister of Education, Madame Rosalie Kama, chaired the occasion, which was also attended by the Minister of Planning and Urban Development, the Governor of the Region and the Mayor of Pointe-Noire. From Schlumberger, Satish Pai, Vice President Operations OFS, Mark Corrigan, President EAF, and Monday Okoro, WSA Geomarket Manager, also participated. Additional guests came from all over the country and included oil company managing directors, all Schlumberger managers and SEED volunteers in Congo, and many school principals, teachers, and local officials.
I delivered the welcome address and the Minister of Education delivered the inauguration address.
The idea was born in October 2007, and we short listed two schools for the SEED project. However, the government did not approve because they wanted to review the criteria used for school selection. The project was delayed for about 3 months until I met the Minister of Education who graciously gave her approval within 24 hours of our meeting.
From then, it took us six weeks to renovate the classroom and install the computers with connectivity. We organized a group of SEED volunteers who immediately started teaching the pupils how to use the computer and navigate through the SEED website. SEED volunteers now regularly visit the school daily to assist the students.
We are very proud of this accomplishment and what it means for the future of these students and for the Republic of Congo.
