Förderverein Uni-Kinshasa e.V.

The world is increasingly interconnected, with shared challenges that cross borders and demand collective solutions. Through partnerships with the Global North, the Global South can benefit from sustainable skills transfer to empower local communities in finding their own solutions to critical issues such as epidemics, climate change, democracy, peace, and gender equity.

In the DRC—a post-conflict nation still grappling with insecurity and widespread violence against women—education often falls short of its mission to empower future leaders. Instead, it reinforces the dominance of influential families and tribal groups who concentrate power, create self-serving laws, suppress political opposition, and limit freedom of speech – ultimately hindering equitable access to education for all.

To address these challenges, the NGO Foerderverein Uni-Kinshasa e.V. has established the BEBUC Excellence Scholarship Program (Bourse d’Excellence Bringmann aux Universités Congolaises) in 14 Congolese universities and 11 schools since 2008. This holistic program aims to nurture the next generation of leaders, with a strong focus on women’s participation across social and economic sectors. The BEBUC model emphasizes character-building, intellectual growth, and the development of interpersonal relationships, alongside resource-sharing and reciprocal responsibilities. This approach serves as a gateway to social development in the Congolese nation, harnessing the potential of the country’s youth—75% of the population—and empowering them to build fulfilling lives locally rather than aspiring solely to leave the country.