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A Young Mother's Dream to Learn

#222MillionDreams✨📚: With support from ECW, UNHCR and host partners, refugee children and young mothers return to learning in northern DRC.

By Education Cannot Wait

August 18^th, 2022

Story from the field. Special contribution by Vittoria Moretti and Asolo Ghislaine Nentobo, UNHCR DRC.

Moving swiftly with her two-year-old daughter Yasoua strapped on her back, Meda, 21, pulls her uniform from the drying line and quickly gets dressed. She does not want to miss her afternoon classes. While in school, Meda’s baby will be cared for by her mother, Mireille. Although this is Meda’s new chance at a better life, attending school as a young mother was not always an option due to stigma and societal norms in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

This hope was restored when the “Zero enfants a la maison” (No Children at Home) campaign was introduced by UNHCR partner the Association pour le Développement Social et la Sauvegarde de l’Environnement (ADSSE).

Made possible with funding from Education Cannot Wait, the United Nations global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises, the campaign raised awareness in local and refugee communities on the importance of sending children to school, especially young mothers and girls with caregiver duties.

“I used to see women working with international organizations coming here to talk to us and I hoped that my daughter would become one of them one day and help the community, if she completes her studies.” ~Mireille

Mireille watches as Meda prepares to attend class. Photo Credits: UNHCR/Vittoria Moretti 2022

The campaign, implemented by UNHCR, in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners, was part of a project funded by ECW providing refugee and host community children and youth in the DRC with access to safe and equitable, quality education.

It reached over 13,000 people through mass campaigns, door-to-door canvassing and radio broadcasting messages between November 2021 and January 2022.

“Many girls felt isolated and ashamed to go back to school after giving birth. So we explained to them that, even if they have children, they should still aim for a better future by completing their education. Today, girls like Meda have become examples for other young mothers in northern DRC.” ~Adélard Abesolo, Education Officer at ADSSE

Meda focuses on class lessons. Photo Credits: UNHCR/Vittoria Moretti 2022

Journey to Receiving an Education

In 2017, violence and fighting between armed rival groups in the Central African Republic (CAR) forced Meda and her mother to seek safety in the DRC.

The decade-long civil war caused over 200,000 people to flee into the DRC, leading to a new influx of 70,000 refugees registered by UNHCR and the government. Amongst the refugees, women and girls often lack basic facilities and consistent ways to make a living, increasing the vulnerability for girls like Meda, whose education was cut short due to conflict in addition to early pregnancy.

“Initially, after we came here, I continued to go to school. But soon after I got pregnant. The father of my child ran away and I had to deal with the pregnancy alone, so I had to abandon my studies. I was ashamed and afraid that nobody would want to marry me and take care of my child anymore.” ~Meda

Meda collects her uniform for school, with her daughter strapped to her back. Photo Credits: UNHCR/Vittoria Moretti 2022

Going back to school wasn't easy for Meda. She was surrounded by the prejudices of fellow students, neighbors and community members who accused her of being a bad mother. Nevertheless, the desire to obtain her diploma and get a job to take care of her daughter motivated her to persevere. Today, Meda has found renewed self-confidence and she is determined to complete her studies.

“I am passionate about studying the sciences. I would like to become a teacher someday, so that I can share knowledge with children and other girls like me.” ~Meda

Increased community awareness, new school materials and integrated supports for teachers and students alike are supporting thousands of refugee and Congolese girls and boys to return to school in northern DRC.

The needs are still great. There are nearly 6 million out-of-school children and adolescents in DRC, according to recent estimates. To support refugee children and young mothers like Meda to return to school, ECW calls for additional funding from global strategic partners. It is imperative that we take immediate and collective action to help deliver on our #222 Million Dreams ✨📚 promise.

Meda participates in a class lesson. Photo Credits: UNHCR/Vittoria Moretti 2022

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