Our skilled and experienced "Girl Ambassadors for Peace" travel to the village of Rwenena in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo to teach leadership, reproductive health and literacy skills to teen girls and women, and present, through participatory theater, gender sensitization and peace building for the entire community.
The overlooked and remote village of Rwenena has been left out of development projects, with no government services. Some 90% of women are illiterate, largely because educating girls in school has not been a priority. Good health and hygiene practices are mostly unknown, and more than 70% of children under 5 suffer from malnutrition. Gender equality is an unknown subject. Men do not recognize the value of women and girls, and women are unaware of their rights and opportunities.
Our internationally recognized Girl Ambassadors - young Congolese women - will serve Rwenena to provide leadership training for 20 teen girls, gender sensitization training for 300 men and women; and, for 100 women - including teen mothers - literacy training and health and hygiene instruction to caretakers of children under 5.
By training an entire village community, there will be increased acceptance of the value and potential [or ability] of women to build capacity and success in the community. Our literacy and health and hygiene training will provide new opportunities for women to live more sustainably and to save children from malnutrition. Today's leadership training for girls will pave the way for the next generation of more women leaders.
