After decades of conflict and political instability, 7.3 million children are out of school in the DRC. Three out of four girls will start school, but only half will complete primary school, a rate much lower than that for boys. The situation is worse in rural areas. More than 50% of women in the DRC have suffered physical or sexual violence and far too many continue to face oppression and deeply embedded discrimination. This translates into exaggerated symptoms of extreme poverty for women and economically dis-empowers half of Congo’s potential labor force.

Here, mass media is a powerful convening tool, equipping local communities and stakeholders with high quality media tools that address prevailing gender and social issues in and outside of the classroom.

Advocacy and Influencer engagement

We also look to build capacity and mobilize community influencers, such as teachers and journalists, to spread the message that educating girls isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do.