DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo)

The Girls' Education Challenge GEC had one project in DRC which provided direct support to 73,438 vulnerable girls and their families through 467 schools and 16 alternative education institutions in community-based education centres.

Project

Réussite et Épanouissement via l'Apprentissage et L'Insertion au Système Éducatif (REALISE) - ‘Success and Fulfilment Through Learning' -  Project completed implementation in October 2021

The REALISE project (which translates as ‘success and fulfilment through learning’) project supported 73,438 girls and was implemented by Save the Children.  

In project communities, gender equalities were entrenched and girls faced significant challenges. Gender-based violence was prevalent and there were high rates of child marriage, teenage pregnancy and low rates of secondary school completion. The challenges faced by girls were exacerbated by the continued conflict in Eastern DRC. REALISE found that the key barriers to girls’ education included poverty, gender-based violence, poor quality teaching and learning, harmful gender norms, and lack of understanding and access to support for adolescent sexual reproductive health (SRH).  These barriers were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The project supported girls to access education, learn and transition through school, especially from primary into lower secondary school by working across 467 schools (262 primary and 205 secondary) and 16 Accelerated Education Programme (AEP) centres. Girls who had missed significant amounts of schooling were supported to return to school through the AEP programme. Quality education was supported in schools through the establishment of learning clubs, and through teacher professional development. Girls’ wellbeing was also improved through addressing violence in and around schools (especially gender-based violence), tackling limiting and harmful gender norms, and the increasing information on and support around adolescent sexual reproductive health.