Unlocking Potential through Education in the heart of the Congo
Your support helps provide life-changing educational opportunities for students at the Denis Mukwege Centre for Excellence (CEDM) in Bukavu, DRC, empowering them to shape their future.
Education is more than a right, it is a gateway to dignity, purpose and transformation.
Education Congo Canada is a project of
Registered Canadian Charity BN: 816817829RR0001
This scholarship is more than money—it’s the foundation for my life’s work. Without ECC, I may have had to abandon my studies.
Help us reach our goal of supporting 20 students in 2025. That will enable other students like Ngoka to complete their studies, and participate in creating a more just and peaceful Congo!
When I was rector of the Evangelical University in Africa, I saw how difficult it was for students to pay their tuition fees; I, along with other professors, was forced to pay their tuition fees with $100 to $200 of my salary. Seeing how this modest sum enabled students to complete their studies and fulfil their dreams encouraged me to set up a scholarship program within the Dénis Mukwege Centre of Excellence, of which I am President. Like me and others, you can make a difference with $100, $200 or more to support a student at the Université Evangélique en Afrique.
Real Stories, Real Impact
How ECC Scholarships Are Changing Lives in the Democratic Republic of CongoAt Education Congo Canada (ECC), we believe that education is more than a right, it's a gateway to dignity,purpose, and transformation. Every scholarship awarded is a promise made to a young person: that their dreamsare valid and their future is worth investing in. Meet the students turning that promise into action by transformingtheir communities with your support.
Ngoka Rajabu Mwenebatu: A Future in Public Health
Ngoka is studying Public Health after losing his father and being raised by his mother.He aspires to specialize in epidemiology and biostatistics to improve healthcareaccess in the DRC. As one of five siblings, the financial strain on his mother wasimmense.
“This scholarship is more than money, it’s the foundation for my life’s work. WithoutECC, I may have had to abandon my studies.”
Thanks to ECC, Ngoka is now advancing confidently in his academic journey and isdetermined to serve communities across Congo with data-driven health solutions.
Esther Senga: Cultivating Food Security
Raised by a single mother and one of four children, Esther is pursuing a degree inAgricultural Sciences. With the DRC’s abundant but underused agriculturalpotential, her dream is to develop food transformation systems in rural areas toreduce hunger.
“This bursary gave me the stability to focus on my education, and it even helpedease the burden on my mother’s health.”
Esther’s commitment to community-centered solutions for food preservation isinspiring a new generation of sustainable thinkers.
Joëlle Elianas: Building a Future in Medicine
Joëlle is one of nine children in a household where her father is a small business owner and her mother is unemployed. Despite these challenges, Joëlle is studying biomedical sciences and is set on becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon.
“Studying medicine is demanding. With this scholarship, I’m no longer distracted by fees, I’m focused on becoming the best I can be.”
Joëlle represents the next generation of medical professionals, driven not by prestige but by a desire to give back to communities in need.
Be the Reason Someone Believes in Their Future
Donate to ECC and help fund the next generation of changemakers.
Our Partners
The Denis Mukwege Centre for Excellence in UEA is oriented towards Research-Action to provide answers to the problem of sexual and gender-based violence and more broadly to gender-related inequalities and discrimination in the Congo.
Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA) is a university located in Bukavu, South Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It has faculties of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Economics, Medicine and Community Health, Social Sciences, and Theology.
UEA has about 3,000 students, 45% of whom are females and 55% males. Its overall vision is to promote competent human resources trained in moral integrity and professional principles appropriate to the environment of the African Great Lakes region.
Scholarships available to UEA students in all academic sectors (male and female) are focused on supporting students with limited financial resources. They will cover or subsidize tuition costs between Cdn $1-2000 per year depending on the field of study.
About Us
Vision and Mission
Education Congo Canada (ECC) emerged out of a passion to help strengthen higher education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo so that Congolese would have the educational resources to respond effectively to the challenges they face.
Vision Statement:
"To strengthen higher education in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through partnership with Congolese universities, empowering students to tackle the nation’s challenges and drive positive change."
Mission statement:
"Education Congo Canada (ECC) is dedicated to strengthening higher education in the DRC by providing transformative scholarships, resources, and opportunities that enable Congolese students to become leaders who can address the nation’s most pressing challenges."
Beginnings
The original members of ECC came from a sister organization in the US with comparable goals. In order to encourage and facilitate Canadian supporters they created a Canada based nonprofit in 2020. In order to maximize available resources ECC operates within the framework of Accountable Development Works, a Canadian based charitable non-profit, with headquarters in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Education Congo Canada currently partners with the Denis Mukwege Centre for Excellence, part of the Université Evangélique en Afrique (UEA) in Bukavu, DRC to provide post-secondary educational opportunities through a dynamic scholarship program. The program will expand as appropriate and in conversation with other partners in the DRC.
Board and Management
ECC board members bring strong connections to the Congo, international experience and/or training and skill sets that enhance our capacity to work at effective partnerships with universities in the DRC. Many have direct ties to Congo, having grown up or worked there. Current board members are:
Bruno Baerg
Doug Cardwell
Juliet Lev
Margaret Loewen
Mulanda Juma
Noah McMillan
ECC has a joint ‘Scholarship Committee’ made up of one board member along with the Director and President of the Denis Mukwege Centre for Excellence. This ensures we work in close collaboration with our partners on the ground. Their scholarship recommendations are presented to the ECC Board. The ECC Board (within the Accountable Development Works structure) subsequently makes all final decisions regarding funding allocation, so as to comply with CRA expectations in Canada.
Education Congo Canada understands that its partner universities are sovereign entities, with their own history and purpose, defining their own trajectory of development. Together we engage in a collaborative approach to complex and dynamic issues based on mutually defined expectations and goals.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
Donations to Education Congo Canada can be made in a variety of ways
Your donation helps to provide scholarships and education to students in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Thank you for your support!
Credit Card
Via the Accountable Development Works donation page.
Choose Education Congo Canada (DR Congo) under Project Fund
Click Here to Donate
Interac e-transfer
As you set up your Interac e-transfer with your bank, please note the following information:
Recipient: Education Congo Canada
Email: ecc@accountabledevelopment.org
In order to receive proper acknowledgement for your gift and to receive your charitable tax receipt, please send your name, mailing address and phone number to ecc@accountabledevelopment.org.
Cheque
Write out your cheque to: Accountable Development Works.
In the memo line write Attn Education Congo Canada
Send the cheque to 45 - 425 Bayfield Crescent, Saskatoon, SK S7V 1E6, Canada
Pre-Authorized Debit
Monthly support pledge – print and complete this form and mail to Education Congo Canada, 45-425 Bayfield Crescent, Saskatoon, SK S7V 1E6, Canada.
Wire Transfer
If you wish to wire funds to Education Congo Canada please send an email request to ecc@accountabledevelopment.org and we will provide you with the necessary bank information.