Education in Emergencies: A Lifeline for Eastern Congo’s Displaced Children
- Rodrigue Makelele
- Feb 28
- 4 min read
The Crisis of Education in Eastern DRC
Education is the bedrock of development and stability, yet in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), it remains an unattainable dream for millions of children. According to UNICEF (2023), over 3.5 million primary school-aged children are out of school, a number exacerbated by conflict, displacement, and a chronic lack of infrastructure. While 68% of children complete primary education (World Bank, 2022), the quality of instruction remains dismal due to overcrowded classrooms, inadequate training for teachers, and the near-total absence of educational resources.
The situation is especially dire in Eastern DRC, where protracted violence has displaced 6.9 million people (UNHCR, 2024), making access to formal education virtually impossible. Many schools have been destroyed or repurposed as shelters for displaced families, while others operate under constant threat of attacks by armed groups. The resurgence of the M23 rebel group has only deepened the crisis, displacing hundreds of thousands and dismantling displacement camps where temporary learning spaces once provided children with a semblance of normalcy (Human Rights Watch, 2024).
At Vijana Africa, we recognize that education is not just a right—it is a lifeline for stability, resilience, and opportunity. Without urgent intervention, an entire generation risks being trapped in a cycle of violence, poverty, and lost potential. Our mission is to ensure continuity of learning, even in the midst of crisis, through innovative, adaptable, and conflict-responsive education models.
Vijana Africa’s Response: The Mobile School Initiative
In response to the education emergency in Eastern DRC, Vijana Africa launched the Mobile School Initiative in 2023, deploying portable, community-led education programs to displacement camps. Our initiative was first implemented in the Bujari displacement camp near Goma, where children who had lost all access to formal schooling were provided with structured learning, psychosocial support, and vocational training.
How Our Mobile Schools Work
Flexible, Community-Based Learning: Our mobile schools operate directly within displacement camps, removing barriers such as long travel distances and safety concerns that often prevent children from accessing formal schools.
Offline Learning Solutions: Recognizing the lack of internet and electricity, we equip classrooms with solar-powered tablets preloaded with educational content, ensuring that students continue learning regardless of connectivity issues.
Teacher Training & Local Ownership: We train displaced educators and community volunteers to deliver structured, competency-based instruction, creating sustainable, community-led learning systems.
Peacebuilding & Trauma Healing: Education in emergencies must address more than academics. Our curriculum incorporates conflict resolution, psychosocial support, and peace education, helping children process trauma and develop skills for peaceful coexistence.
Vocational & Entrepreneurial Training: Given the instability in Eastern DRC, many young learners need marketable skills beyond formal education. Our mobile schools offer training in entrepreneurship, digital literacy, and technical skills, empowering youth with economic resilience.
Impact: Transforming Lives in Crisis Zones
In just one year, our initiative has made a profound impact:
✅ 500+ displaced children enrolled in structured learning programs.
✅ 60+ local teachers and volunteers trained, strengthening community-led education.
✅ Trauma healing sessions integrated into the curriculum, providing critical emotional and psychological support.
For many of these children, Vijana Africa’s mobile school was their first-ever opportunity to receive structured education. It offered them a sense of stability amid displacement, proving that learning can—and must—continue even in the face of war.
The Setback: M23 Insurgency and the Dismantling of Displacement Camps
Tragically, our progress was abruptly halted by the resurgence of the M23 rebel group. In late 2024, the Bujari displacement camp was dismantled, forcing thousands of families—including our students—to flee once again. The impact was devastating:
🔴 Displaced children lost their learning spaces, with no immediate alternatives.
🔴 Educators were uprooted, halting local-led instruction.
🔴 Resources, including digital devices and teaching materials, were lost or abandoned in the chaos.
This heartbreaking reality underscores a crucial truth: education in conflict zones cannot rely on static, infrastructure-dependent models. It must be mobile, adaptable, and designed for resilience.
The Future: Scaling Up Education in Emergencies
Despite these challenges, Vijana Africa remains unwavering in our commitment to ensuring access to education for displaced children. The crisis has only reinforced the urgency of expanding and evolving our approach.
Our Next Steps
📌 Deploying Portable Learning Kits: We are developing take-home learning kits—including printed materials, solar-powered tablets, and offline coursework—so that education can move with displaced children, ensuring continuity even in unstable conditions.
📌 Expanding Mobile School Networks: We are identifying new safe zones where displaced families are resettling and establishing new mobile classrooms to reach learners wherever they are.
📌 Strengthening Partnerships for Greater Impact: We are collaborating with international NGOs, local organizations, and educational institutions to mobilize funding, resources, and expertise for long-term, scalable solutions.
📌 Advocating for Policy Action: We are urging national and international stakeholders to recognize education as a priority in humanitarian response, ensuring that displaced children in Eastern DRC are not forgotten.
Education in emergencies must be resilient, community-driven, and forward-thinking. Our goal is not just to respond to crises but to build a model of education that endures, adapts, and empowers—even in the face of war.
Join Us in Restoring Education for Displaced Children
Now more than ever, we need global support to scale up our Mobile School Initiative and restore education for displaced children in Eastern DRC.
💡 How You Can Help:
✔ Donate to support mobile classrooms, teacher training, and learning materials.
✔ Partner with us to scale our impact through funding, research, or technical support.
✔ Raise Awareness—share this urgent issue and be an advocate for education in crisis zones.
At Vijana Africa, we believe that even in the darkest times, education prevails. Because no child’s future should be determined by conflict.
Sources & Citations
UNICEF (2023). Education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
World Bank (2022). Education Statistics for DRC.
UNHCR (2025). Displacement Crisis in Eastern DRC.
Human Rights Watch (2024). M23 Rebel Attacks and Their Impact on Education in DRC.
United Nations OCHA (2024). Humanitarian Response in Eastern DRC.
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