ROMO

Romo Fabrics have supported education projects, refurbishing schools and providing teacher and parent training, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (the DRC) since 2005. In 2007, Managing Director, Jonathan Mould saw first hand the project that his company had supported.

His tour took him and his daughter Felicity, who runs Romo’s Chelsea Harbour showroom, to Mbandaka and Kinshasa to look at the schools that had been refurbished as well as those that were to be worked on after the trip. They saw badly dilapidated schools with holes in the roof and mud floors that had been transformed into bright, weatherproof, well-ventilated buildings.  They also saw the resource centre in Mbandaka providing teaching materials and computer access for teachers and pupils – a Congolese rarity even in the capital Kinshasa.

Teachers who had had no continuing professional education since qualifying in the 1960s, explained how training had improved and re-invigorated their teaching methods and parents told how training had empowered them to manage and monitor local schools, lobby the government for school improvements and play a larger role in influencing authorities on education policies.

“The work that the Oxfam staff do is incredible, very professional and I have nothing but admiration for them. I have been impressed with every aspect in such a difficult situation, especially the organisation and the intelligent way in which Oxfam works. You see things on the TV but coming here has really highlighted and brought home the reality. It has made me even more determined to help.

We are in a very privileged position in being able to help and wanted a project where we could see tangible results to tell our staff about. What has been achieved in the DRC is amazing. Meeting with the Oxfam staff, teachers, parents, and pupils has convinced me this has been the best investment I have ever made.”

Jonathan Mould, Managing Director, Romo Fabrics.