Children from poor or disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to grow up in poverty, which leaves them stuck in an intergenerational trap. They often lack the financial resources and support to go to school and thus have a slim chance of moving ahead. They are also at a greater risk of exploitation, forced labor and are on track for a much lower income once they grow up. This unstoppable cycle limits their future and offers them no opportunities to advance themselves.
In Kolwezi, DRC, the majority of the population lives below the poverty line, despite the country being rich in natural resources. Here, poverty makes children work out of necessity: education is viewed as a waste of money and opportunity, since children can help support their families by getting immediate earnings, no matter how meagers, as street vendors or in the mines. Yet, education remains the most powerful tool to break the cycle of poverty and uplift young girls and boys from disadvantaged contexts: it drives sustainable development and economically empowers individuals with dignified work, enabling them to reach their full potential.
The story of Nathan, 24 years old, speaks for itself: from a disadvantaged home, he had to quit school and was forced to work in the mines at the age of 7, when his mother died, and his father’s income was too small to provide for the family’s needs. He spent months working in the cobalt mines, earning meagre wages and endangering his health, safety and development. But Nathan never gave up on his dream of returning to school. He was 14 when he met Mr Pierre, who works for our local partner Bon Pasteur (BP), and was removed from work to enroll in Bon Pasteur school. This non-formal education enabled him to later reintegrate into the formal school system, where he decided to study pedagogy:
Throughout his studies, Bon Pasteur continued to support Nathan and monitor his progress. After graduating from secondary school, Nathan took a qualifying test to become a teacher at BP school in Kolwezi and joined the teaching staff. He learned how to supervise students and earns today a decent living. Not content to stop there, Nathan decided to start evening courses at university to further his education. His journey has inspired his siblings: Nathan accompanied one of his sisters., who shares his passion for learning, and helped her enroll in a training center where she can improve her French and gain new knowledge and skills essential to leading a decent life.
Education is the only way out of poverty: it provides individuals with skills and knowledge essential for economic independence and by fostering critical thinking and building confidence and self-esteem, empowers them to participate actively in the life of their community. Nathan understood the potential of education to change lives and that’s why he decided to study pedagogy, willing to harness the power of education to improve the living conditions of the children of his community.
