North Kivu, in eastern DRC, has been devastated by decades of conflict, displacing millions and leaving children without safety, stability, or education. The country hosts over 5.5 million internally displaced people, alongside 527,000 refugees from neighbouring countries. Schools have been attacked or abandoned, and many children face malnutrition, exploitation, or recruitment by armed groups.
Amid this crisis, Street Child’s RESPECT programme is providing a lifeline. Launched in July 2023 across ten conflict-affected areas in Rutshuru and Lubero, it has supported 33,000 vulnerable children and their families—ensuring access to education, clean water, and mental health support.
Safe spaces for children
In the midst of conflict, stability is everything. One of this programmes core achievements has been the creation of ten Child Friendly Spaces—safe, supportive environments where children can regain a sense of normalcy. These spaces are strategically located near schools and water points, ensuring easy access to essential resources. Here, children can learn, play, and receive psychosocial support to help them cope with the trauma they have experienced.
Restoring education
For many children in North Kivu, education is a distant dream. Schools are often destroyed, occupied by armed groups, or simply too unsafe to attend. Street Child’s programme is helping to change that.
The programme is supporting ten schools, ensuring they have clean water facilities and safe learning environments. Over 200 teachers have been trained to deliver quality education, helping children get back on track. School kits—simple yet vital items like notebooks and pens—are also being distributed, easing the financial burden on families who struggle to afford basic supplies.
Beyond infrastructure and materials, this is restoring hope. These schools are not just places of learning; they are spaces where children can focus on their future without fear.
Clean water and hygiene
Access to clean water is life-changing, particularly in conflict zones where disease can be prevalent. The programme has built water points, latrines, and handwashing stations at schools and child friendly spaces, reducing the spread of waterborne illnesses and ensuring children can stay healthy and attend school regularly.
Families no longer have to walk long distances to fetch water, and children are learning essential hygiene practices through engaging, interactive activities—equipping them with knowledge that will protect them for years to come.
Protecting the environment
In addition to its focus on children’s safety and education, the programme is making progress in environmental protection. Street Child and their local partners have planted over 2,500 fruit trees across the region, creating green spaces that benefit both the environment and the community.
These trees provide much-needed shade, enhance safety by shielding schools from nearby roads, and even generate income by producing fruit that supports school sustainability. Through greening brigades, children and their families are learning about reforestation and environmental stewardship, helping to rebuild their communities in a way that safeguards the future.
A brighter future for North Kivu’s children
By addressing urgent needs while investing in long-term solutions, Street Child is helping to restore hope, dignity, and opportunity for thousands of vulnerable children.
But there is still so much to do. With ongoing support, we can reach even more children and families, ensuring that every child—no matter their circumstances—has the chance to learn, play, and grow in safety.
Join us in making a difference. A donation today can help transform lives in North Kivu and beyond. Every contribution matters.