UK Launches £28 Million Drive to Educate 60,000 Children in DRC’s Kasai
Massive Boost for Girls’ Education in One of DRC’s Poorest Regions
Andrew Mitchell, the UK Minister for Development and Africa, has kicked off a new programme aimed at giving 60,000 children, mostly girls, a shot at education in Kasai province, one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s toughest areas.
- The UK’s fresh initiative promises to smash barriers stopping girls from hitting the books.
- Up to 60% of the beneficiaries will be girls in a region where school attendance and literacy are worryingly low.
- £28 million will pump into the Accès et Égalité pour l’Éducation des Filles (AXE-Filles) Programme to upgrade schools and tackle issues like sexual and gender-based violence.
Backing Gender Equality with the New Women and Girls Strategy
This move comes hot on the heels of the UK’s new global Women and Girls Strategy, launched by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly last week in Sierra Leone. The strategy zeros in on educating girls, empowering women, safeguarding health and rights, and stamping out gender-based violence worldwide.
AXE-Filles will join forces with schools, government bodies, and communities in Kasai to deliver critical lessons on sexual health and rights. Plus, it will offer scholarships to keep girls in secondary school and fight off the threats that push them out.
Minister Mitchell’s Mission: Education, Peace & Prosperity
“The launch of our new education programme is vital for ensuring that Congolese children who need it the most get the access to education they deserve. By transforming the way they learn, we can boost the quality of teaching, improve school attendance and outcomes, and empower girls.”
“We work closely with DRC on common challenges, including the fight against climate change. From strengthening democratic processes, to UK-supported hospitals saving lives in North Kivu, we are collaborating to improve the lives of Congolese people, supporting sustainable development, empowering women and girls and working towards regional peace.”
On the Ground: Talks & Humanitarian Efforts
During his three-day trip, Minister Mitchell will meet top Congolese leaders including President Felix Tshisekedi and Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula to deepen UK-DRC ties.
He will also visit conflict-hit North Kivu to hear first-hand how UK aid is saving lives and easing suffering. The UK is pushing for peace in the east and plans to boost economic links, inviting the DRC to the upcoming UK-African Investment Summit in London this April to ramp up trade and investment.
