$25 - the cost of a girl's education and future

Quite apart from the well-publicised risks of sexual violence, girls in the Democratic Republic of the Congo face many other problems in a society that does not regard men and women as equal. One of the problems they face is inequality in educational opportunities.

At 13 all children should take the school leaving exam after 6 years of primary education. To take the exam costs $25. Over 50% of girls do not take the exam – but if the exam is not taken, the girl will leave school without qualifications, which will mean that higher education is an impossibility and, also, that she will be unable to apply for many kinds of work.

The families of many girls are unable to pay the $25 cost, or believe that there is little point because they think the primary school diploma is of no importance to their daughter's future, which they see as an early marriage. There are other families who, when faced with the choice of paying for their son's exam fees or their daughter's, will pay for their son's.

Butoke is running a project which is aimed at paying the fees of 150 girls this summer. Butoke hopes this will create new opportunities for the girls and get the girls’ parents to think more carefully about what kind of future they want for their daughters. The Friends of Butoke Charity has promised to raise the money needed.

If more funds than necessary are raised the surplus will be used to pay school fees, especially for girls who pass the exam with 60% or more and  who want to go to secondary school, but who cannot pay the school fees.

Finally, we've included a few pictures of the 3 Peaks - if you can't tell us which peak each of them is, we think you should double your donation, or join us on the walk (Friday 24 May, rendez vous Horton-in-Ribblesdale Car Park at 6am).

Thanks,

Paul and Par