Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.
Nelson Mandela

Education provides individuals with the knowledge and skills to break out of the poverty cycle. The people of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) face daily challenges that negatively impact student education. This creates several economic and socio-cultural barriers. Rural areas witness low enrollments of students, with a lack of funding, resources and poor infrastructure. These act as the barriers between eager learning minds and education. We are working towards transforming the education system in various provinces of DRC by supporting teachers, offering learning programs, and reshaping the way students learn. Our dedicated team has begun to lead projects that include financial assistance for the payment of school fees, sponsoring monthly salaries for school teachers, and elevating the standards of infrastructure in classrooms. The team has worked closely with schools to equip classrooms with the required teaching materials. The foundation has also constructed schools to offer an encouraging space conducive to learning and growth. We are building the schools of tomorrow to support the eager learners of today.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

We strive to improve the quality and the availability of educational institutions while providing financial support to students and staff.These are the current highlights.

  • Prime payment was done to over 55 teachers  in Lupoto and 46 teachers in Kisengo.
  • The Foundation made payments towards 315 students who are military orphans
  • In recent times, over 2826 students were certified by the IT project titled Plugged- in (Year 2018 – 2021). The free program has been running since 2014.
  • Construction of a well-equipped school including high-quality benches, 1 office space and excellent sanitation facilities in the Lupoto region. This provided an improved learning experience
  • 6 classrooms and 2 offices are constructed in Kimpe with the addition of furniture and sanitation facilities for a comfortable classroom ambiance.
  • Since 2015, the foundation has paid school fees for over 2100 students to ensure the retention of students in school.
  • Vinmart Foundation sponsored 108 school uniforms were distributed for the neglected girls at Amani house (Lubumbashi) and 5400 uniform sets were distributed at EP Annuarite School in Kisengo.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

We are determined to address the needs of education in rural DRC where issues such as early pregnancy, lack of schools in proximity, lower awareness levels, and financial barriers prevent children from attending schools. Teachers play an important role in the quality of education provided, which in turn impacts the quality of life led by the community. The Vinmart Foundation thus sponsored the salaries of 85 teachers in Lupoto and Kimpe (2020) as a part of its many initiatives. School fees were subsidized for over 100 students at Notre Dame du Travail and 200 boys at Institut Technique de Kisanga. We also paid the salaries of over 80 teachers in Lupoto (2018-2019). This financial assistance continues to be offered as a strong move to provide quality education and encourage teachers to continue their work in this critical profession. This further enables children to return to education and bolsters their belief in self while equipping themselves with the right skills to build a quality life.

PLUGGED – IN DIGITAL LITERACY PROJECT

Our Foundation is taking the lead to address the multiple learning barriers in the DRC. The conceptualization of Plugged In (2015) was created to take significant strides in digital literacy with the rising importance of technology. As technology is a valuable tool, this digital literacy project promises a brighter future for the young minds at work. We witnessed the registration of 2671 students from 2018 to 2021 with 2055 being certified for the basic level. The Vinmart Foundation also certified 771 students at the intermediate level wherein 996 students were registered from 2018 to 2021. The program which was launched in 2015, has evolved to offer different levels in computer education with the increasing interest and demand for the digital literacy program. To date, we have certified 2070 students (Basic level) and 771 students at the intermediate level.
Click here to discover the program

BUILDING A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Social crises and natural disasters have affected lives in the DRC. Higher expenses, poor infrastructure, and soaring operational costs form the barriers which are faced by the Congolese. Some of the barriers include schooling carried out in huts or in temporary establishments in certain regions. These are not conducive to focused learning.

Education being an empowering model for improved lives, the Vinmart Foundation is working hand-in-hand with communities to create a secure environment that promotes the learning process. In 2019, we took the lead to construct a school with classrooms, an office and bathrooms. This was further expanded with the construction of 3 more classrooms in 2020. These were equipped with high-quality seating arrangements (Lupoto region). The team has been actively involved in creating modern schools, resolving sanitation issues, and offering a positive learning environment that fosters growth. Construction of schools addresses the major issues that ensure children return to school with a renewed hope and a strong vision for a successful and purposeful future.

Currently, our projects include two schools under construction. This includes a 9-classroom school near Lupoto and a 3-classroom school near Kisanfu. There are more projects on the anvil including 3 classrooms school planned for the year 2022.