Latest news with #Bunia
Zawya
5 days ago
- General
- Zawya
Democratic Republic of the Congo - Bana Education: Distance learning for displaced children, with support from Radio Okapi
When asked what she prefers at school, Francine, 12 years old, looks up with a shy smile. What she loves above all is discovering new things — especially in science. Later, she dreams of becoming a nurse. Francine lives at the Kigonze displaced persons site, on the outskirts of Bunia, in Ituri. Like thousands of other children, she fled violence with her family, leaving behind her school, her friends, and her landmarks. Today, she lives with her aunt and follows a catch-up school program at Saint-Luc primary school, built on the site so that learning wouldn't become a lost memory of exile. It's there that she discovered Bana Education, a radio program broadcast by Radio Okapi, designed to bring school to those who no longer have easy access to it. When Learning Comes Through the Airwaves In one of the classrooms, the teacher adjusts the volume of a speaker connected to a mobile phone. About thirty students listen attentively. The clear voice of a radio educator resonates in the room. The day's lesson is about gallinaceous birds. " We use live radio or the rebroadcasts they send us. Thanks to the teacher speaking in easy-to-understand terms, the children follow the lessons. We see that they understand better. They are more motivated," explains the teacher. In this school, as in others located in areas with limited access to scholastic instruction, Bana Education has become a pillar of education. A precious solution where textbooks are rare and teachers are understaffed. Implemented by Radio Okapi, this program accompanies children experiencing school dropout or living in areas affected by conflicts. It offers educational support in mathematics, science, French, and general culture, in a simple, interactive, and adapted manner. At Saint-Luc school, which hosts 978 students, including 555 girls, children are divided into three levels according to their educational background. The radio program is integrated into classes to expand access to education. Concrete and Encouraging Results Loti Benoît, director of the institution, testifies: " Many children here are in precarious situations. Some have lost several years of schooling after fleeing violence. We sometimes welcome them without report cards, without clear history. Bana Education is precious support. Children want to learn. When they hear the radio, their eyes light up." He emphasizes the program's impact, particularly for children in examination classes: " Several ENAFEP questions focused on concepts heard in the broadcasts, especially in general culture. This helps strengthen their level." Listening, Learning... and Still Dreaming Eliya, 14 years old, is in sixth grade. He fled the territory of Djugu with his family. He confirms the program's usefulness: " I love the science classes. On the ENAFEP, there was a question about oviparous animals. I knew how to answer because I had heard it in Bana Education!" His dream: to become a doctor to "heal people in the community." At the TARAJA school catch-up center, also in Bunia, Évodi, a third-level student, recounts: " This program saves me. What I don't understand well in class, I listen to again at home during holidays. Once, I had homework on adverbial phrases, I understood nothing. Then I listened to Bana Education, I did my exercise well and got a good grade." Education, Even at a Distance Bana Education is much more than a school broadcast. It's a ray of hope broadcast daily over the airwaves. An appointment that thousands of children await, sometimes gathered around an old radio in their reception center or at home. In a province marked by years of conflict, it gives meaning back to learning, structures days, brings continuity... and above all, dignity. In Ituri, in a region still marked by conflicts, education remains a daily challenge. Today, thanks to this initiative carried by Radio Okapi with MONUSCO support, aid takes another form — that of a voice, knowledge, a lesson. Because a child who learns is a child who hopes. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l'Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).
Zawya
04-07-2025
- General
- Zawya
Democratic Republic of the Congo - Bunia: Peacekeepers train 35 youth in operating excavators
After three weeks of training on operating excavators, also known as mechanical shovels, thirty-five participants, including four young women, received their completion certificates on Friday, 4 July 2025, at the Ndoromo military camp located on the outskirts of Bunia. This marks the second cohort trained by MONUSCO's Bangladeshi contingent. In November last year, twenty-nine individuals completed a similar initiative aims to provide vocational skills to youth from Bunia and surrounding areas, helping improve their employment prospects in a province affected by insecurity and high unemployment, especially among the younger generation. It also offers an alternative for those at risk of recruitment by armed groups, which often target idle or marginalized youth. Proudly holding his certificate, Moïse Saukpa shared his motivation: ' I took part in the training on operating excavators organized by the Bangladeshis. This was a dream I was determined to pursue. I had already planned to enrol elsewhere before this opportunity came up, and I decided to make the most of it.' He sees the training as a turning point: ' It will benefit me greatly, not only by deepening my mechanical knowledge but also by helping us integrate into society and avoid negative influences. This kind of support raises awareness among young people and helps us steer away from harmful choices. ' He also delivered a message to his peers: ' To those who have joined armed groups, we say: stop engaging in actions that harm the country. Instead, take part in training like this and take control of your future". Desange Munguromo Unyera, one of the four women trained, encouraged other girls to break free from gender stereotypes in technical fields: ' The future may be uncertain, but my message to the girls of Bunia is to commit wholeheartedly. Work is a noble value. I encourage all girls to participate in this kind of training. It was completely free, and in return, we gained both knowledge and certificates. ' Since the beginning of the year, MONUSCO's military contingents have trained hundreds of young people in Ituri in various trades. These include operating heavy machinery, repairing mobile phones and electronics, working as electricians, and cultivating vegetables. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mission de l'Organisation des Nations unies en République démocratique du Congo (MONUSCO).
