Educate Medical Professionals in DR Congo

Gearing up for our official program kick-off for the 2018-19 school year, we pause to reflect on how we’re making an impact on lives in Rwenena. To demonstrate, we offer you an extraordinary duo: One of our primary-school girls, Veciane Chantal (derived from song); and her 30-year-old mother, Kanane Leocadia Esperance (meaning hope). Together, they make a song of hope.

Veciane is the eldest of 5 children. At the end of the 2017-18 school year, Veciane finished first in her fourth-grade class, scoring more than 10 points higher than the year before. She received special recognition at the end-of-year school ceremony.

What made the difference?  Esperance’s story, while unique to her, is not unusual among mothers in Rwenena. By changing parental mindsets, the path is open for girls’ education to become more respected.

At the conclusion of last spring’s literacy class for mothers, Esperance reported (translated from Swahili and French):

"I only got up to second grade because it was then that my father died. After his death, my mother abandoned us and went to marry again. I was 7 years old. Immediately I was sent to do field work. At the age of 19, I married. Now I have 5 children. Because of my literacy training, I help and encourage my children to study at school. Without delay, each evening I get them to review the material they have studied. Our trainer [Ariane Moza] has taught us to do this. As a result, my daughter Veciane was the first in her class. It is a good thing to be able to express delight to our initiators [the SAFECO team] and our supporters [including GlobalGiving donors]. Now I know how to count from 1 to 500. Thank you to everyone!"