Leadership and Literacy for Congolese Teen Girls

The Girl Ambassadors for Peace (GA4P) travel up to 6 hours to reach Rwenena from the provincial capital of South Kivu, Bukavu. The village of Rwenena remains engaged with the GA’s lessons and principles they have learned.

Now, these and other villagers have another way to reap the benefits: by radio. Not everyone in Rwenena owns a radio – nor is reception consistent – but even for listeners beyond the village, the content of the Girl Ambassadors’ live radio program makes its way back to the community. Their entertaining but educational content on Radio Star FM impacts listeners throughout South Kivu province. The girls teach women’s rights and empowerment and report on injustices against women. They also cite United Nations Security Council Resolutions that confirm the vital roles of women in conflict management and peacekeeping. The program always inspires listeners to phone the station with feedback and questions.

The representative of Rwenena women observed, following a Girl Ambassadors presentation at the village, “Men used to say that girls don’t deserve education, that girls must work on a farm waiting for their marriage age. That is not true. We must end this misunderstanding by allowing girls as well as boys to access education. You never know who will help you in the future. We thank Girl Ambassadors for Peace for having chosen our community.”

In response to Rwenena women’s urgent appeal for additional visits, we are currently making plans to accommodate them. But we need your donations to succeed. Contributing to this program helps ensure the continued success of the GA team as well as the knowledge, awareness raising, and capacity building they provide to Rwenena. Thank you in advance for your support.

Links:

• UN Security Council Resolutions on Women, Peace, & Security

The mothers of eastern Congo – and those in the vulnerable and extremely remote village of Rwenena – lead challenging lives, which can include struggles against violence, ill health, lack of food, and more. They have had little if any education, which is customarily cut short by being forced to marry young or by becoming pregnant through sexual violence. These women are typically very strong and resilient in spirit. Unfortunately, most are resigned to their lack of literacy and numeracy once they become mothers. Instead, they aim to provide an education for their children.

But the Girl Ambassadors for Peace program works to change this notion. These young women are committed to and passionate about providing literacy and numeracy training to 45 mothers in Rwenena, ranging from ages 15 to 50. The ambassadors present material in engaging, encouraging, and impactful ways. The training allows the mothers to start small businesses to generate family income. This is a thrilling, life-changing prospect for the new student mothers.

As the leader of Girl Ambassadors for Peace, Benedicte Bulangalire observes, "In my community, women don’t know and enjoy their rights and I’m very concerned about that situation. Among the many difficulties women face are a lack of maternal health services, no access to basic education, and being at great risk of gender-based violence. Our objective as Girl Ambassadors for Peace is to teach women about their rights and especially the right to education."

Please support our Girl Ambassadors so they can continue to provide these critical services to the mothers of Rwenena.

Every donation makes a difference.

Links:

• Girl Ambassadors for Peace in action
• Girl Ambassadors for Peace in Rwenena