Revolutionary Education! How the Peace School / Congo Nest Preschool is Creating Fundamental Change

“You say you want a revolution… we all want to change the world.” – Paul McCartney and John Lennon

Does it sound hyperbolic to talk about peace education as revolutionary? We don’t think so, especially not when it comes to creating a safe and happy place for children to learn and practice nonviolence in the context of eastern Congo and its decades of armed violence and the world’s exploitation of DRC’s people.

Revolutionary: constituting or bringing about a major or fundamental change. (Merriam-Webster)

As our partners who support this community of agents of peace, you are part of this revolution! We are seeing major and fundamental changes in the students attending the Congo Peace School, and an exciting part of that is our unique preschool program founded and supported by Nest Global (formerly PILAGlobal in our outreach and posts).

In a region embedded in centuries of colonization and its roots of oppression have resulted in overcrowded classrooms in which children learn by recitation and are punished for asking questions, our pedagogy rooted in curiosity and equality between teachers and students, male and female make the Congo Peace School and the Nest Preschool truly revolutionary. Now that we’re in year six of the Peace School and year five of the preschool, we have the experiences and observations from teachers and students about the impact attending such a preschool makes for the Peace School students as they integrate into classes with students who did not have the opportunity to attend preschool.

From the Nest Global site: In partnership with Action Kivu and the Dillon Henry Foundation, Nest Global created Nest Congo, a preschool at the Congo Peace School serving 84 children ages 4 to 6 daily. Nest Congo provides foundational early education and a nutritious daily meal to local children who would otherwise not have access to education.

Nest Congo is comprised of three classrooms, each filled with engaged children and teachers, enticing materials, plants, books and light. Cozy corners and nooks invite children to gather and think, create and learn together. The inquiry-based program is driven by students’ natural curiosity – the banana trees, cassava plants, and paw paw trees that make up the school’s surrounding environment spark endless exploration, theories and discovery.

At Nest Congo, nurturing teachers prioritize play, storytelling, and artistic expression, helping each child to develop their own voice and positive sense of self. By creating an environment where children have choice, voice and agency, the Nest Congo empowers its students to become change-makers in their lives and in their community.

The students, teachers and staff just returned from their winter holiday to share these hope-giving reports of fundamental change in the lives of children in Congo. We also asked the former preschool students to share a memory from preschool, and what they like about their current grade.

CIKURU BIGABWA PHILÉMON - 2nd grade teacher: “The difference between the two categories of my students is like day and night. Those who came from the Congo Nest preschool program are positively free students who always want to speak their minds, they always want to share their opinions, they are not shy and speak fluently, they have an advanced stock of vocabulary, they think critically before answering. Those who did not get the chance to go to preschool are very shy, they think their answers must always be correct, their integration and adaptation to the learning norms are difficult as opposed to those who went through preschool. And when you look at the performance and learning outcomes, those from the preschool are more advanced. The number of words that those who went through the preschool program read per minute is higher than those who did not. … The self confidence among students who went through the preschool program is higher.”

AGISHA SADIKI - 9 years old and in 5th grade: “When I was at the Congo Nest Preschool, I remember the math activities and especially learning how to count from 0 to 10 for the first time in my life. The day I will never forget at preschool is when our school had visitors and they gave me a present, a toy car because I answered one of their questions very well. Now that I am in elementary school, I like history and our teacher teaches it very well. I live with my dad, mom, my two sisters and a younger brother.”

FITINA MASHEKA SALOME - 4th grade teacher: “I have 20 students who went through the preschool program out of a total of 40. Having several years’ experience as both a teacher and a mother, I know that fear is enemy number one of appropriate learning processes. Students who went through the Congo Nest preschool program quickly heal from fear and learn very quickly.”

NOURIA BUHERHWA 8 years old, in 4th grade: “From all the subjects [we learned] in the preschool program, I always remember one lesson about the main parts of the human body. My unforgettable experience during preschool was the day I recited a poem in the auditorium in front of all the parents and other community members, during publication of the [test] results at the end of the school year. Currently, I really like drama class. I like our teacher because she does not blame you if you don't know the answer to a question, she always asks you what you think. At home I live with my dad, mom, and younger sisters.”

BAHATI USHOSHERE - 5th grade teacher: “Every day I come in the classroom, I can easily tell the difference between those students who attended the Congo Peace School Nest preschool and those who did not. Those who did are very open to discussions, they ask questions. They will not let you move on if something remains unclear to them, their level of curiosity is very high, they are very used to group activities. During reading for better comprehension, those students who went through the preschool program do not struggle as much to learn, they actually read to learn, as opposed to those who did not go through the preschool program who struggle a lot: instead of reading to learn, they learn to read.”

BULONZA BARHALIBIRHU, 11 years old and in 4th grade: “My most unforgettable moment from preschool was the first day I came and one of our teachers gave me a hug in the morning. I also liked working in different places/zones in the preschool classes, I miss that so much and wonder if that's not possible in elementary and secondary school. At the moment, I like drama class.”

PASCALINE AGANZE BANYWESIZE - 3rd grade teacher: “Students who were part of the Congo Nest Preschool express themselves more freely without inferiority complexes. Their school outcomes and scores are always higher. They are very active and interact constantly, they are very good at problem solving, they ask open questions to their teachers, their level of imagination is higher... all these together show how the preschool program is so important and a very strong foundation being laid for a bright future of our children.”

AMPIRE TRIOPHE, 8 years old, in 3rd grade: “The language lessons were amazing in preschool. I made good friends at preschool and I am happy to have been in that program. As a 3rd grade student, I like math and computer classes. I live with my grandparents.”

CIRIMWAMI MABIKANE LYDIE - Preschool and Elementary School Principal: After speaking to both teachers and students, it is very clear that there is a big difference between the two groups of students. Critical thinking, public leadership, and performance in cross-cutting learning zones such math, science, reading, and taking initiative... are indications that show the marked difference between students who went through the Congo Peace School Nest preschool program and those who did not.

CIZA NTAKOKURHORHWA: 9 years old, in 3rd grade: “Learning about the family structure, immediate family and extended family, is a great memory from the Congo Nest Preschool. At the moment, I’m so happy being an elementary school student and I like the writing classes. I hate to fail exams, and I am always determined to work hard to get an education. I live with my aunt and uncle.”

We are so grateful to be in partnership with you on this journey of hope for our future through the power of healing and peace for children, and ourselves.