Community of Disciples of Christ of the Congo

Education for Girls in the Equator Region project will benefit elementary and secondary schoolgirls.  The specific objectives are capacity building and empowerment of the girl child keeping in mind that lack of education is a contributing factor to sustained poverty, HIV/AIDS, prostitution, and all the other evils.

The United Nations reports that one of the main reasons why children, especially girls, do not go to or stay at school is that the family has to pay for educational supplies such as pens, slates, notebooks, crayons, etc. Many ask if school is free why don’t more children in poor countries attend school?  One reason is that  “the real cash cost of schooling for parents turns out to be quite high.” Hidden costs may include clothes, textbooks, school supplies, school meals, snacks, and fees for science lab and sports equipment. “The pressure of assuming these financial burdens while losing a potential helping hand at home or another household income…often proves to be more than poor families can bear.”  (Dr. A. K. Shiva Kumar, an advisor on children’s issues United Nations Children’s Fund.)

The needs are great and gifts toward support of the education of girls in the Equator Region is directed towards several schools. First an original request came from the Disciples of Christ in the Congo via the Education Coordinator for the Lycee Nsangea Ndotsi Girls Secondary School.  The school was formerly known as Lycee Protestante in Mbandaka 2.   The name Nsangea Ndotsi means "Good News."  It became "good news" when the church was able to open the doors to a school designed for girls who could get a good education in a non-harassing environment.  Traditionally, the Disciples' schools have had a good reputation for excellence. This is a boarding school and the enrollment has decreased drastically because, following the civil wars, parents simply can't afford to send their children to school let alone a boarding school.  Secondly, an appeal was then made for girls at the Congolese Christian Institute in Bolenge to encourage the enrollment of girls, which continued to increase.  Years ago, this was the Disciples' boys' school, but girls have been attending for a long time.  Because of the "village setting" girls find it harder to attend because of the traditional chores that cause them to lag behind. Thirdly, in Lotumbe and some of the other rural stations, emphasis on education for the girl child is very strong -- both at primary school and secondary level.

The Community of the Disciples of Christ in Congo will administer funds through their Education Office and it is the Education Coordinator's responsibility to get the funds to the most needy areas and to provide updates and reports to Global Ministries.

Support is needed in any amount and for as many girls as possible. The number of girls supported will be based on the funds raised and the length of time for assisting a girl depends on the grade determined by the church.  One hundred dollars will help provide education for one girl to attend school for one year and $50 will help one girl attend school for one semester.