African School Built By Central Regional Teacher Ready For Students

BERKELEY, NJ — In 2021, Central Regional High School history teacher Dan Torsiello set out to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Now, he's built a school and is changing the lives of the children in the area.

When he first visited, Torsiello's guide, Christian Aganze, took him to the rural farming village of Mushaki. The village is also right on the edge of where rebel groups are in the country. Upon seeing the "ramshackle" structure that was called a school, Torsiello decided he needed to fix that. He began fundraising to build a new school. Read More: Central Regional Teacher Building A School In Africa

Now, as kids in Berkeley Township are heading back to school, so are the kids in Mushaki, Torsiello told Patch.

The bulk school was completed in August, he said, but they're working on obtaining additional tables and chairs for teachers, supplies and student desks.

"We had more than enough desks based on last year's enrollment (150), but the school opened yesterday for the year and enrollment was up to 250, a product of the new building and a byproduct of internal displacement from the war," Torsiello said.

Through his non-profit The Kivu Project and the school's GoFundMe, Torsiello continues to work to make a difference.

"We're still collecting funds to make these things a reality, but we've accomplished so much - much more than I think we ever truly envisioned," Torsiello said.