Teaching in the Heart of Kindu: A Journey Beyond the Classroom

Each year, I pack my bags and return to Kindu, deep in the heart of DR Congo, for four weeks of teaching second-year medical students at the Faculty of Medicine at UNIKI. It’s part of a powerful partnership between UHasselt and UNIKI through a VLIRUOS TEAM project - and over time, it has become one of the most meaningful chapters of my academic life.

But let’s be honest: it’s not easy.

This year, I walked into the auditorium and faced over 600 students—crammed into every corner, standing in the back, sitting on the floor. The temperature? Around 34°C. No air conditioning. No fans. Just a sea of expectant faces, eager to learn.

I gave it everything I had. By the end of the first lecture, I was soaked with sweat, physically drained, mentally overwhelmed, and quietly wondering how we’d keep this up for four more weeks.

That evening, I sat alone in my room, exhausted. Then I looked outside. And there it was: the Congo River, wide and majestic, carrying its fragile, crowded boats downstream. A breathtaking view that whispered: “Remember why you’re here.” In the middle of the noise and pressure, that river felt like a quiet reminder, steady, resilient, always moving forward despite the weight it carries. Just like the students I teach. Just like this journey.

Because this is more than teaching. It’s about empowering a new generation of healthcare workers who will care for communities where access to health remains a daily struggle. It’s about planting seeds of knowledge, hope, and long-term impact in a region that needs all three.

Of course, the challenges are real. Infrastructure is limited. Organization takes patience, sometimes a lot of it. And with so many students, creating meaningful, interactive education is a daily puzzle.

But we adapt. We innovate. We care deeply.

This year, I’ve been lucky to work with a brilliant team of local assistants: young, passionate, and full of heart. Together, we’ve found creative ways to engage, connect, and make learning happen against all odds. And every time a student stays after class to ask a question or explore a concept more deeply, it reminds me: this is impact.

People often ask me, “Why do you keep doing this?” Why? Because in that packed, sweltering classroom, I see the future of medicine in Congo. Because small steps, taken together, build real change. Because even on the hardest days, this work fills me with purpose.

So here’s to the challenge. To the sweat, the smiles, the setbacks, and the breakthroughs. To the quiet beauty of collaboration, and the belief that education still has the power to change the world.

One student. One lecture. One step at a time.