Hope Worn Proudly: A School Uniform and Bag’s Impact on a Young Girl
A child's gratitude reveals the powerful impact of education and support amidst crisis.
During a recent visit to a school in South Kivu, I met a young girl who proudly walked up to me, her face beaming with pride as she wore her crisp school uniform and clutched her new school bag. With a shy smile, she looked up and said, “Merci pour mon cartable et mon uniforme” which literally means “Thank you for my uniform and school bag”. In that moment, I saw the power of something as simple as a school uniform to provide a child with more than just clothing or supplies, it was a symbol of belonging, hope, and the confidence to walk proudly through her school gates.
As the MEAL Specialist on this project, I was there to meet with the school’s headmaster as part of our routine monitoring. Our conversation touched on the school’s progress, and the impact of the resources provided under ActionAid’s Improving Access to Education and Community Protection in Emergencies project, a project funded by ECHO, which aims to support displaced, refugee, and host community children in building a safe learning environment and strengthening community protection.
The Impact of a School Bag and Uniform
This simple interaction with a child underscored the significance of the project’s support to students. For many children, the opportunity to attend school comes with numerous challenges, from access to basic supplies to safety and stability in their everyday lives. By providing uniforms, school bags, and other essential learning materials like books, pens, pencils etc, the project helps make education accessible and dignified, allowing students to focus on their learning and feel a true sense of belonging.
About the Project
Since June 2023, with funding support from ECHO, ActionAid DRC has been working in 65 communities across South Kivu and neighboring Maniema, providing educational support, community protection, and safe spaces for children and vulnerable community members. Alongside rebuilding and rehabilitating schools, the project also supplies students with essential learning kits, equips teachers, and trains community-led groups to protect and promote child safety. Through this comprehensive approach, ActionAid aims to foster resilience, safety, and educational empowerment for some of DRC’s most vulnerable populations.
A Lasting Impression
The young girl’s simple thank you resonates as a reminder of the real impact these efforts make. Every uniform, every school bag, and every day of support provided by this project represents a step closer to building a future where children feel secure, empowered, and able to embrace their right to education. Her smile, full of gratitude and hope, encapsulates what ActionAid’s work is all about.