$500 Can Change the World!
Congo Education Partners (CEP) is a nonprofit that is making big change on a small
budget by sustaining a college deep in the Congo Basin rainforest that provides one of
the keys to saving the planet.
The Congo Basin rainforest, over half of which is in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
is one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. It stores more carbon than the
Amazon and Asian rainforests combined and affects rainfall patterns as far away as
the American Midwest.
We are losing rainforest to climate change, population growth, unsustainable
agriculture, logging, and mining. But we cannot save the rainforest without supporting
the people who live there, and they cannot save the rainforest without education.
budget by sustaining a college deep in the Congo Basin rainforest that provides one of
the keys to saving the planet.
The Congo Basin rainforest, over half of which is in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
is one of the world’s most biodiverse regions. It stores more carbon than the
Amazon and Asian rainforests combined and affects rainfall patterns as far away as
the American Midwest.
We are losing rainforest to climate change, population growth, unsustainable
agriculture, logging, and mining. But we cannot save the rainforest without supporting
the people who live there, and they cannot save the rainforest without education.
Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world".
The United Nations has recognized that education is key in making progress on all the sustainable development goals. It is key to reducing poverty
and gender inequality and is a critical tool in developing local leadership for sustainable solutions.
Local leadership is the key to saving the Congo Basin rainforest.
Congo Education Partners supports Djolu Technical College (DTC) – a higher education
institution founded and led by Congolese in the heart of the rainforest. The College
provides higher education and training so local students can become professionals,
leaders, and active stewards of the rainforest.
DTC is the only accredited rural development college in one of the most remote, heavily
forested and poorest regions of Congo, where only one out of every 500 people has any
college education. It is the only rural sciences college in a region that contains five
nature reserves. But “nature reserves” only exist on paper unless they have educated
and empowered stewards.
DTC develops local expertise for sustainable local solutions
Graduates of DTC – both men and women – are employed in nature reserves, local
government, NGOs, clinics, and secondary schools. They have become delegates in
the provincial government, managers and founders of local conservation and
development organizations, and leaders at DTC itself.
Graduates of DTC – both men and women – are employed in nature reserves, local
government, NGOs, clinics, and secondary schools. They have become delegates in
the provincial government, managers and founders of local conservation and
development organizations, and leaders at DTC itself.
The College provides:
- Higher education for about 100 students per year (400 once the new classroom building is completed)
- Degrees in rural sciences: Forests and Water, Environment and Sustainable Development, and Nursing/Public Health
- Outreach to local communities and training for local farmers in sustainable agriculture and forest conservation
CEP funds:
- women’s scholarships
- faculty salaries
- DTC’s computer center
- agricultural extension programs
- building maintenance and construction
Just $500 can fund a one-year scholarship for a young woman at Djolu Technical College!
What’s new at Djolu?
Click on the images below to read about DTC heroes and exciting initiatives
Congo Education Partners is DTC’s sole international partner, and this is a critical
moment for CEP. Like many nonprofits, our revenue has dropped due to the Covid
pandemic, which poses a challenge for maintaining the support DTC needs.
Almost all of CEP’s funds come from individual donors like you, and more than
95% of every dollar you donate goes to the College.
Your contribution to CEP educates young leaders and has the power to influence
rainforest carbon storage and preserve biodiversity. This affects all of us, including
generations to come.
One donor says: “I feel like I get a better payoff from my donations to CEP than from
any other nonprofit I contribute to.”
To hear more of what people are saying about CEP, click here.
Supporting Congo Education Partners means directly contributing to tangible change
that benefits both local communities and the rest of the planet. Join our CEP family –
our family of donors, volunteers and supporters – and be part of the solution.
moment for CEP. Like many nonprofits, our revenue has dropped due to the Covid
pandemic, which poses a challenge for maintaining the support DTC needs.
Almost all of CEP’s funds come from individual donors like you, and more than
95% of every dollar you donate goes to the College.
Your contribution to CEP educates young leaders and has the power to influence
rainforest carbon storage and preserve biodiversity. This affects all of us, including
generations to come.
One donor says: “I feel like I get a better payoff from my donations to CEP than from
any other nonprofit I contribute to.”
To hear more of what people are saying about CEP, click here.
Supporting Congo Education Partners means directly contributing to tangible change
that benefits both local communities and the rest of the planet. Join our CEP family –
our family of donors, volunteers and supporters – and be part of the solution.
