CONGO HOPE CENTER
CHC

Beni, North Kivu

As part of a baseline study aimed at developing a capacity building program for early childhood development practitioners, Congo Hope Center, in partnership with the Bilingual Christian University of Congo (UCBC), through its Faculty of Psychological Sciences and Education, organized a session of reflection and discussion on the challenges of early childhood development (ECD) in the city of Beni.

This activity brought together more than 20 participants from various sectors, including teachers, healthcare workers, child protection professionals, NGO representatives, parents, and other community stakeholders involved in early childhood development.

The overall objective of this study is to understand the experiences and challenges faced by early childhood practitioners in order to identify their capacity-building needs and guide the design of a training program adapted to the local context.

The meeting featured a presentation by Dr. Serge Kambale on the theme: « For the Development of Early Childhood in the Democratic Republic of Congo. » This presentation highlighted the concerning situation of many Congolese children regarding health, nutrition, early stimulation, protection, and access to preschool education. The speaker also emphasized that the first years of life are a crucial period for a child’s cognitive, emotional, and social development.

Participants then worked in focus groups to identify the main challenges they encountered in their daily practices. Several major concerns emerged from these discussions: the lack of specialized training for early childhood educators, insufficient educational resources and equipment, the limited consideration given to preschool education in public policies, and the socio-economic difficulties faced by families.

In the area of ​​health, participants specifically mentioned the low adherence to prenatal care, difficulties related to nutrition and breastfeeding, and the lack of adequately trained staff in early childhood development. Child protection workers also highlighted the challenges related to limited funding for child protection services, a lack of coordination between sectors, and certain family practices that can negatively impact children’s well-being.

Despite these challenges, participants shared several initiatives already implemented in their communities, including parental awareness activities, playful learning approaches, psychosocial activities for children, and family support programs in schools, health facilities, and community spaces.

The discussions also helped identify priority needs for a future training program. Proposed themes included: holistic child development, child psychology, nutrition, child protection, first aid, parental support, and integrated approaches to early childhood development. Participants recommended practical training adapted to the local context and accessible to the various stakeholders working with young children.

Through this initiative, Congo Hope Center and the Bilingual Christian University of Congo reaffirm their commitment to promoting an integrated approach to early childhood development in North Kivu province.

This activity constitutes a first step in a broader research process. In the coming weeks, individual interviews will be conducted with other early childhood stakeholders to gather more data and analysis. This information will inform the design of a tailored capacity-building program for early childhood development practitioners in the city of Beni and, eventually, throughout the North Kivu province.

“Investing in early childhood is building the future Congo.”