ABSTRACT
Eastern Congo has suffered from over 25 years of war. According to Books for Congo, ‘children and youth in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo grow up with limited access to books. Books for Congo have 18 partners in the city of Goma, and also partners in Beni, Kanyabayonga, Bukavu, Uvira and Rugari. The work of Books for Congo is so important because it responds to a real and tangible need that Congolese people have prioritised. Many people drop out of school because they are unable to pay school fees. Literacy is both letters as well as numbers, and many rural Congolese sell their products in small markets, and the more literate they are, the better they can handle transactions. Books for Congo also supported the libraries in fact-checking rumours that circulated on social media, and accurate information was shared by the libraries on social media and via text/WhatsApp with their patrons.
