Jane Goodall Institute

Published purpose

The project improves access to basic education, health and livelihoods for 200,000 individuals living in 10 villages in the territories of Walikale and Lubutu located East of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The project also supports good governance in the communities and their understanding of environmental issues. To improve children’s access to basic education, particularly for girls, the project includes building or renovating eight schools and provides equipment as well as training on good teaching techniques to 80 teachers. The project also involves youth in development projects to build their awareness about environmental and development issues. In addition, the project aims to achieve better access to public health services by building or renovating and providing equipment to seven health centres in six villages, as well as latrines in seven villages. The project also provides health training on illness prevention, reproductive and early childhood health services to 35 community health workers, and provides training in illness prevention and children's health to 200 volunteers in the target communities. Other activities include protecting six natural water springs, creating and training village committees to protect these springs, and ensuring that at least 40% of committee participants are women. Finally, the project aims to ensure improved livelihoods and access to sufficient healthy nutritious foods by increasing agricultural production. Activities include: distribution of equipment to farmers; training in animal husbandry for 150 women farmers; training in agroforestry for communities to improve soil quality and crop yields; establishing seven tree nurseries in the villages and ensuring that at least 40% of participants in the newly-established village development committees are women. The project emphasises in particular gender equality so that women can gain access to positions of greater influence and of greater responsibility within their community. The local Partner is Union of Associations for Gorilla Conservation and Community Development in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (UGADEC).