Fund Will Help Congo Girls Obtain Coveted Diploma

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.

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