At three forgotten schools in the volatile region of South Kivu, eastern DR Congo, with no other source of support, we educate 130 stigmatized girls and boys - including those born of rape, orphans, and albinos. The program enables a start in breaking the cycle of poverty these families have been subjected to for so long and in becoming accepted members of their communities. Tuition funds and a supplemental learning program to help lower-achieving students succeed are our first priorities.
In Eastern DRC, it is estimated that about half of all primary school-aged children are out of school--60% for rural girls. Children born of rape need extra support because many of them are rejected or even abandoned by family and community alike. A mother's legitimate children may attend school while her children born of rape stay home or even are sent away. Many husbands of mothers refuse to pay school fees for these children. Single, abandoned mothers, cannot afford any school fee payments.
Now in our 3rd year of providing tuition fees for 130 kids in 3 overlooked rural schools, communities have grown to accept these vulnerable children. AMCAV is a Congolese grassroots organization providing counseling and social reintegration of raped women and other victims. Seeing the school program's progress firsthand, local authorities and members of the community have pledged to educate parents to send all their children to school, without distinction. The children are motivated to succeed.
The education of these 130 boys and girls - for as long as funding continues - allows them a start in breaking the cycle of poverty. Even the small kids realize that the path to a better life comes through education. As important as the rudimentary education that can be achieved by these impoverished schools is, getting communities to treat one another without discrimination regardless of circumstance is paramount in their need to recognize basic human rights.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
