Dibaya 1: Teachers and pupils at EP Lubala learn about child equality and girls' right to education

On Tuesday, February 6, 2024, the local alert committee in the Dibaya 1 subdivision of the Kasai Central 1 educational province conducted an awareness-raising session for students at Lubala Elementary School in the Kasangidi sector on equality and children’s rights. The goal was to educate schoolchildren about their rights, but especially about the rights of girls to attend school without discrimination, as required by the country’s laws. “As part of our project, we raised awareness among teachers and students about children’s rights, with a focus on girls’ education, because we have observed that in our communities, girls’ schooling is greatly neglected, which explains the low literacy rate,” explained Ms. Kapinga. Through this initiative, the organizers also aimed to increase the number of girls at various educational levels and empower them in the coming days. “Through these awareness-raising sessions, we want to increase girls’ participation in school and raise parents’ awareness to enroll their daughters in school en masse. Because the Congolese government has guaranteed free public primary education. Teachers, who are key actors in education, must pay special attention to girls during class hours,” added the activist. This activity was carried out as part of the “Women’s Voices and Leadership” project, which works to promote the rights of girls and women to participate in decision-making bodies. A total of 270 girls and boys took part. Ivan Honoré Mudiangombé