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Fund Will Help Congo Girls Obtain Coveted Diploma
By Don Meyer
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO (May 12, 2004) - Fifty dollars - the cost of
dinner in a major city - is all that prevents thousands of young
Congolese women from graduating from high school and securing a good job
or pursuing a college education that not only will enable them to make a
new life for themselves, but will position them to contribute to the
well-being of their country in the future.
The Congolese educational system follows the format of many European
countries that require students to successfully complete an examination
following 12 years of elementary and secondary school. The Congo
examination is administered by the government, which charges a $50 fee
to take the test at one of several testing centers throughout the
country. The fee helps offset costs of travel, food and lodging for
those who administer the test.
Failure to pass the examination is the equivalent of failing to complete
high school, which effectively denies those students the opportunity to
enter college or get a decent job. A big barrier is the $50 cost of the
examination – by comparison, the cost of an entire year of high school
for a student is only $20. If Congolese students cannot pay the jury
fee, they cannot graduate. Even though they may have completed the
senior year of high school, their record will only show having completed
the junior year. And, of course, they also would not be eligible to take
the state exam and earn the prized diploma that opens other doors of
opportunity.
The problem is exacerbated when considering a cultural preference that
favors males over females. "If a family has to choose which child to
educate, they invariably will choose first to invest in the future of
their sons," says Ruth Hill, executive minister of Covenant Women
Ministries (CWM) who with her husband, Brad, served as Congo
missionaries for many years. The son will receive preference, Hill
explains, "because the chances are better that the sons will advance in
that particular culture." The examination is critical to an individual's
future in Congo – without a high school diploma, a child's job future is
severely restricted.
"When we first went to Congo in 1973, there were 16 female students in
the entire high school," Hill recalls. "The cultural mindset was one of
'why educate girls?' Now, 30 years later, we see large numbers of girls
attending high school." Hill shared the insights of women she met during
a visit to Congo that ended in January. "We met women graduates of the
university and were delighted to see a woman teaching in one of our
Bible training schools.
"Compared to 30 years ago, there are more opportunities for women;
however, it still represents a very small number of women. Clearly, more
work needs to be done."
In response to this situation, the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM), the
Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) and CWM have partnered to help fund
the educational needs for girls in Congo. "We are asking people to help
remove that financial barrier and consider sponsoring at least one girl
to enable her to achieve that crucial step," says Hill. "I want to
challenge the women of our denomination to contribute $50 to help a girl
receive her diploma."
A prominent figure in the USAid program in Congo, when asked which of
all the social needs should be given priority, replied, "Educate the
little girls! The level of the country will rise accordingly."
Those interested in supporting the Congo girls education initiative may
earmark contributions to the Congo Girls Education Fund and send them in
care of the Covenant Business Office, 5101 N. Francisco Avenue, Chicago,
IL, 60625.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
