DR Congo: At 12, Bernadette Becomes a Mentor and a Beacon of Hope for a Generation of Girls
In the Ilebo territory, within the Kasaï 2 education province, a 12-year-old pupil is already emerging as a powerful voice in Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). Bernadette is no ordinary child: shaped by a deeply personal family story, she has chosen to turn pain into strength and knowledge into a force for change. Today, she educates, advises, and inspires other girls, both at school and in her community.
A childhood shaped by challenges she refused to repeat
The youngest of three sisters, Bernadette grew up witnessing a pattern she was determined not to follow. Her two elder sisters were forced to abandon their education due to early and unintended pregnancies, dreams cut short far too soon, in a context where many adolescent girls face the same reality.
Confronted with this situation, Bernadette made a courageous decision: to understand to protect herself.
“I did not want to go through the same experience. I had to learn, understand, and protect myself,” she explains, with remarkable maturity for her age.
Axe-Fille: a project transforming lives
It was in this context that Bernadette discovered the Sexual and Reproductive Health activities implemented under the Axe-Fille project, led by World Vision DRC with support from UKAID.
In the Kasaï 2 education province, the project has already reached over 60,000 adolescents, the majority of them girls, through learning sessions, awareness-raising initiatives, and life skills development.
For Bernadette, the programme marked a turning point. She gained not only vital knowledge on preventing early pregnancies, but also a renewed sense of confidence and the belief that she could shape her own future.
“I am proud of the young girl my daughter has become. The club has opened her eyes, as well as those of many other girls in our community,” says her mother, Mado.
From participant to mentor: the rise of a young leader
Armed with this knowledge, Bernadette chose not to keep it to herself. At just 12 years old, she has become a true ambassador for sexual and reproductive health.
She speaks with her peers, raises awareness among girls in her neighbourhood, and actively participates in youth discussions. At school, she is seen as a role model. At home, she guides her younger cousins. In her community, she is already recognised as a responsible and committed young girl.
A promising future built on knowledge and hope
Now in form 7, Bernadette continues her education with determination. Her ambition is clear: to become a nurse and help other girls avoid the challenges that disrupted her sisters’ lives.
Her story goes beyond personal transformation. It reflects a broader shift within her community, where education, prevention, and collective engagement are opening new pathways for girls.
Bernadette is no longer just a diligent pupil. She has become a mentor, a role model, a source of inspiration, and perhaps tomorrow, a leader capable of creating lasting change in her community.