El Dorado Nursing School

History:
The El Dorado Nursing School began as the dream of Dr. Ivan Mulongo, director of Mulongo Hospital. Responding to the region’s great need for medical care (especially during the waves of violence) and the lack of trained caregivers, he and an assembled team established the region's only nursing school there at the hospital. In order to maintain its accreditation, however, the school needed to comply with a new law that every school have its own campus. There was much that the local community could contribute to this effort, but how could they rapidly raise enough money to build a multi-classroom school that was up to code?    

Providentially, Dr. Ivan was elected as a delegate to The United Methodist Church’s (UMC) 2008 General Conference in Texas. There he met Denver and Robin Thornton, members of El Dorado First UMC (Arkansas). The Thorntons were inspired by Dr. Ivan’s report and partnered with the newly launched Friendly Planet Missiology (FPM) to help make the envisioned campus a reality. They were especially taken by Dr. Ivan’s desire to train more female nurses and midwives for the region’s villages, and thus the women’s scholarship fund was born. (While men tend obtain their degrees and relocate to the cities, female graduates of the nursing school usually choose to return home to serve as the only medically trained professionals in their communities.)

The Rev. Joseph Mulongo, United Methodist District Superintendent of Mulongo and Friendly Planet Missiology Country Director, organized the students and local community in making bricks and volunteering labor to build the nursing school. Through sweat equity, they contributed approximately 80% of the construction costs. In July 2013, we formally celebrated the completion of first wing (three large classrooms). The second building completed was the maternity/midwife training center.

Today, there is also now a digital library, equipped with a RACHEL server and laptops thanks to a pilot project launched by Rev. Mulongo. Dr. Ivan, now a congressman, works to leverage both regional and national assets within Congo to support the school and create a network of health centers staffed by its graduates.

The next priority is to build dormitories for the female students. As most are coming from great distances to study, it is difficult for them to find safe and affordable housing within a reasonable distance from the school, especially as the number of female students continues to grow.
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Projected Dorm Construction Expenses:
In 2024, construction engineer David Wakungelani was brought in to calculate the overall projected expenses for the building of a dormitory that could house 48 female students. Based on current material and transport costs, he concluded that it would take $145,026 to fully finish (including electrical) the project. By subtracting in-kind contributions of the students and local church (sand, stones, bricks, etc.), Rev. Joseph Mulongo believes the two buildings could be completed for under $69,000. We hope to complete the first dormitory in 2024.

Women’s Dormitories:

• $3,000: Sponsor the construction and full furnishing of one dorm room for two students 
• $100: Contribute eight bags of cement (yes, it is that expensive to get cement to Mulongo)
• $30: Contribute one roofing sheet

Women’s Scholarships:

• $500 and $200 annual scholarships

Our 2024 goal is to raise $35,000 for the first wing (housing 24 students) and to be able to continue to offer scholarships to all the school’s female students.

2024: Architect’s design for the women’s dormitories to be built

Phase #1 Construction Celebration, July 2013:

Nursing School Construction Videobook

More about the creation of El Dorado can be found on our blog and Facebook photo albums.