In the face of the ongoing conflict and instability in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), CIYOTA remains committed to providing education in emergencies as a tool for child protection in humanitarian crises. For over three decades, persistent wars have disrupted access to education for countless children and youth in Eastern DRC, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, recruitment by armed groups, and a future filled with uncertainty. The recent escalation of violence in the Eastern DRC has deepened the crisis, with thousands more children becoming orphans, women widowed, and essential institutions like schools, hospitals, and churches destroyed. Livelihoods have been shattered, displacing families and dismantling communities. Despite these challenges, CIYOTA offers a safe learning environment where hope is restored, and young people can envision a better future. We provide education in emergencies to protect the most vulnerable, build resilience, and empower children and youth to become change-makers in their communities. In these challenging times, education is not just a right—it's a lifeline.
Primary and Secondary Education
CIYOTA partners with state-owned and private primary and secondary school institutions in Eastern DRC to provide educational access to internally displaced children and host communities. Since 2009, CIYOTA has supported 821 primary students through scholarships, psychosocial support, and the provision of scholastic and sanitary materials. In addition, 50 teachers from 15 primary schools have been trained in instructional leadership, focusing on transforming teachers into facilitators of learning rather than traditional centres of knowledge. Since 2021, CIYOTA has expanded its support to 5 secondary schools, benefiting over 1,500 students and 70 teachers. Secondary students receive scholarships covering tuition fees, scholastic materials, sanitary kits, and psychosocial support to teachers, while teachers benefit from pedagogical resources. Through CIYOTA's innovative programs, students form secondary school student clubs aligned with their interests. These clubs receive tailored skill training, and after presenting well-rounded pitches, they can access asset financing to advance their projects. This holistic approach enhances academic performance and nurtures entrepreneurship and leadership skills among the students.
CIYOTA operates through a community-driven model where youth leaders identify local challenges and co-create solutions with the organisation’s support. Our programs are implemented with the active involvement of the communities we serve, ensuring that they meet the specific needs of those most affected. Our leadership training programs adopt a hands-on, experiential approach that encourages practical learning. We provide resources, mentoring, and access to networks that allow young leaders to take immediate action in their communities.
University Access Program
For over 28 years, the people of Eastern DRC have endured ongoing internal displacement, which has devastated their livelihoods and made access to higher education nearly impossible. CIYOTA is bridging this gap through a two-year intensive university access program to empower academically talented but economically disadvantaged students. Most participants graduate from French-language secondary schools and join the program to gain essential skills in English, entrepreneurship, leadership, computer literacy, and conflict resolution. This comprehensive training equips them for university education and future career success. So far, 59 have secured university scholarships, with 20% launching their own enterprises. For students who do not secure scholarships, CIYOTA helps them establish income-generating projects while they await other opportunities. Graduates are encouraged to give back to their communities, creating a transformation and growth cycle.
Community Engagement in DRC
Following unending wars, which have led to both internal and external displacement in Eastern DRC, 7.2 million people have been internally displaced and suffered from poverty. The country still has a big problem with food security despite DRC being one of the countries with the most arable land in Africa. Young people, especially women, do not have job opportunities yet need to feed their children and pay school fees where education is not free. CIYOTA introduced a skilling program focused on financial literacy, social leadership, and social entrepreneurship to address challenges such as poor governance and unemployment. To achieve sustainability, we equip conflict-affected youth and families with essential skills for transformative impact. The following programs enable CIYOTA to empower the youth and families affected by conflict to seek employment and participate in economic processes.
Farming Cooperatives
CIYOTA supports cooperatives of displaced farmers in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo through a recovery program. Due to over two decades of constant massive displacement in the DRC, farmers' activities have been severely disrupted, negatively impacting the food supply for people living in towns and smaller villages, including internally displaced individuals who rely heavily on subsistence farming. CIYOTA’s recovery programs aimed to benefit agricultural cooperatives and vulnerable households in the provinces of Eastern DRC to access farming equipment, seeds, and basic training to grow crops to care for their families and live in harmony.
Our empowerment model includes: Identification of potential family heads (90% females and 10 % men) to form farming associations/cooperatives; Training them in financial literacy, essential agribusiness, and the importance of peaceful coexistence and education for their children; Asset financing (Buy for them farm tools, fertilizers, and seeds) needed to grow food; Linking them to market opportunities through regular mentorship services for two years. Over 400 farmers in eight farmer groups have been supported. Each group comprised 50 persons (40 females and 10 males in each group, making a total of 400 family heads).
Humanitarian Crisis Assistance
Eastern DRC is home to over 7.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) due to ongoing conflicts. These displaced populations, along with their host communities, face severe hunger as farming and small-scale business activities have been disrupted. The persistent insecurity further worsens the crisis, with women and children suffering the most. In response to the resurgence of conflict in North Kivu province in 2021, CIYOTA launched an emergency relief initiative to support war-affected families. Through generous contributions from well-wishers and donors, CIYOTA provides life-saving assistance by distributing food to returnees, vulnerable individuals, and IDPs. Additionally, dignity and sanitary kits are supplied to mothers and young girls to safeguard their health and well-being. CIYOTA collaborates closely with local community leaders and hospitals to ensure aid reaches those most in need. Since the onset of the recent war in 2021, CIYOTA has supported 3,461 households, bringing hope and relief to families struggling to rebuild their lives.
Family Business for Education (FBE)
In conflict-affected regions, many men are either forced or choose to join militia groups due to a lack of economic opportunities, leaving behind widowed women and vulnerable families. As a result, most returnees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are women-led households with little to no income. CIYOTA provides holistic support to these women, helping them establish and grow small businesses so they can meet their basic needs, pay school fees for their children, and put food on the table. Empowering women economically creates a ripple effect of hope and stability for their families and communities.