ActionAid DRC Trains 52 Teachers to Strengthen Education and Child Protection in Conflict-Affected Ituri
Teachers in Mandima receive training on child-centered pedagogy, psychosocial support, and prevention of gender-based violence to rebuild learning in crisis-affected communities.
In a region where years of conflict have disrupted children’s access to education, ActionAid DRC is working to restore hope and strengthen the resilience of local schools. From 20 to 21 September 2025, the organization held a two-day training for 52 teachers from seven partner schools in the Mandima Health Zone, Mambasa Territory, Ituri Province. The training, conducted under the Multisectoral Emergency Response in Education, Protection, and GBV Prevention Project funded by the Humanitarian Fund in the DRC, aimed to enhance teachers’ skills in child-centered teaching, psychosocial support, and prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) in schools. By empowering teachers with the right tools and approaches, ActionAid DRC seeks to promote a safer, more inclusive, and supportive learning environment for children affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ituri.
Building Teachers’ Capacity Amid Crisis
The two-day training brought together 52 teachers—38 men and 14 women—from seven partner schools in the Mandima Health Zone of Mambasa Territory, Ituri Province. Participants strengthened their knowledge and skills around three essential themes: child-centered pedagogy, psychosocial support for learners, and the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) in schools.
The initiative was designed to respond to the urgent need for quality, protective education in an area deeply affected by recurrent conflict and mass displacement. Over the past two years, Ituri Province has faced severe insecurity, leading to the deaths of more than 7,000 people and the displacement of over one million residents. This instability has disrupted the functioning of schools, depriving tens of thousands of children—especially girls—of regular access to education.
Restoring Confidence in Learning and Child Protection
Through interactive sessions and group discussions, teachers learned new approaches to make classrooms more inclusive, supportive, and sensitive to the trauma experienced by children living in crisis contexts. The training also emphasized teachers’ critical role in identifying, reporting, and referring cases of violence and abuse in school settings.
By promoting child-centered teaching and psychosocial care, ActionAid DRC seeks to restore trust between educators and learners and rebuild a sense of normalcy in schools. The strengthened capacity of teachers will enable them to provide emotional support, encourage attendance, and create safer learning spaces for all children, regardless of their background or displacement status.
Empowered Teachers for Resilient Communities
At the end of the training, participants expressed their commitment to applying the knowledge and tools acquired to improve the quality of teaching and ensure that schools become spaces of protection and peace. The activity also served as a platform to encourage collaboration among schools and community leaders to promote child protection and gender equality.
This initiative is part of ActionAid DRC’s broader humanitarian response that integrates Education, Protection, and GBV prevention to address the interconnected needs of communities affected by crisis. By investing in teachers, the organization contributes to strengthening community resilience, safeguarding children’s rights, and promoting equitable access to education—particularly for girls—in fragile contexts like Ituri.
Voices of Hope from the Classroom
For many participants, the training marked a turning point in how they approach teaching in emergency settings. “Before this training, we struggled to support children who had experienced violence or displacement,” shared a teacher from one of the partner schools. “Now, I understand how to create a classroom that listens to children, supports their healing, and gives them confidence to learn again.”
According to Victor Mugomoka, ActionAid DRC’s Education Specialist in Ituri, “Strengthening teachers’ capacity is key to restoring education in conflict-affected areas. When teachers are equipped to care for children’s psychosocial needs and prevent violence in schools, learning becomes a tool for protection and peace.”
Through this initiative, ActionAid DRC reaffirms its commitment to placing teachers and children at the heart of recovery efforts, ensuring that education remains a source of stability, safety, and hope in Ituri and beyond.