According to the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), every child is guaranteed a free, public education. However, due to rampant political corruption and regional violence, this promise has not been fulfilled.
When the Lumumba Children’s Library and Learning Center (LCL) opens its doors to the youth of Goma—the provincial capital of one of the poorest and most underdeveloped countries in the world—it will offer a host of resources and activities designed to enhance the literacy and language of a new generation of DR Congolese youth while at the same time teaching them the tenets of critical thinking.
Ultimately, the LCL will employ cutting edge educational technology to increase literacy and enhance the learning experience for the children of Goma, many of whom cannot afford to attend a formal school on a regular basis. It will also include a traditional lending library of thousands of books, including e-books. The LCL is meant to complement, not replace, traditional schools, but it will encourage the sharing of information and foster critical thinking for all the children who have access to its many resources. The LCL will increase language and technological literacy through language and computer classes, reading groups, and book clubs, as well as community events such as open mics, poetry slams, movie screenings, and more.
Fidel Bafilemba, our founder, in Goma with some of the children who will eventually benefit from the LCL programs. Read more about Fidel HERE.
Imagine a child who has never held a book in her hands.
- Fidel Bafilemba
