UJUZI: AIP school that support children born from sexual Abuse

Uvira is a city and a sub-provincial administrative entity in the South Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It also doubles as the chief town of the chiefdom of the Bavira people. Like many other areas of eastern DRC, Uvira had also had its fair share of war consequences, including destruction of basic social infrastructures like water points, schools, markets, places of worship, disbanded families, child soldiers, orphans, etc. Besides, pre-war structural poverty which was deepened by two successive civil wars (1996 -1997, and 1998-

2001) led to a very high school dropout in the entire affected area. Many children, born out of rape, unwanted pregnancies or simply from highly vulnerable families, ended up in the streets.

In response, the UJUZI project was set up to help support the education of the war-affected children. Thus, Ujuzi school was created in since (1987) but was handed to AIP in 2018 in Uvira. In 2019, the School had 349 students enrolled, with the majority (65%) hailing from poor and underprivileged social categories described above. The community around the school, not so better off as well, is also benefiting by sending their children to this school. About 20 % of students in these schools are orphans whose parents were killed during the different conflicts that have affected the country. However, the school facility happens to be in deplorable conditions: lack of school furniture and other basic equipment, lack of proper toilet facilities, shattered fixture and fittings, etc. There is therefore a need to rehabilitate and renovate the school to create conducive learning conditions for children who already have a difficult past.

After a needs assessment conducted at end of the year 2019 it was evident that the school has a great number of needs:

Books, desks, and other school materials. When handed to AIP in 2019, the school was in a bad condition thus for the full rehabilitation of the school an amount of 20000 USD is required.

At the end of 2019, AIP managed to raises 2000 dollars, from the contributions of well wishers, to renovate some of the facilities of the school.

AIP intends to continue with the rehabilitation as soon as necessary funds are secured.