Learning Center, Kinshasa

The cultural center “Mokili na Poche” (Lingala for “The world in your pocket”) is located in a district of Kinshasa where many children live on the streets from an early age. Many of the children have never attended school and are forced to beg or steal. Their living situation is characterized by a constant struggle for survival, which means they hardly have the opportunity to go to school. With every week they miss, their chances of a better future diminish. The streets of Kinshasa are a dangerous place where violence, drugs and criminal gangs dominate everyday life. These circumstances leave deep scars on the children, who are often traumatized and distraught.

The aim of the project is to help the children and offer them a safe space in the cultural center, where they can not only meet their basic needs, but also receive support for their personal and educational development.

Central to the program is a strict zero-drug policy at the center. This measure ensures that the children are provided with a safe place where they can stay away from the dangerous influences of the street and drugs. They receive a regular meal, which not only gives them energy, but serves as an incentive for them to visit the center and actively engage in the programs offered.

Another important aspect of the project is an art therapy-based art program. Many of the children have very low self-esteem and are severely limited in their ability to concentrate and cooperate with others. Through creative forms of expression such as painting, drawing or music, they can process their feelings, get to know themselves better and discover their inner resources. Participation in this program helps to improve their ability to cooperate and concentrate and to strengthen their personality. It enables them to follow and actively participate in school lessons. Both are crucial to give them a chance for a better future in the long term and to enable their integration into the education system.

Our measures promote the expansion of a digital education lab for children, where they have access to learning materials in the local language Lingala and learn how to use digital resources. To this end, we are providing tablets, computers and interactive learning programs.