DR Congo: Julie, 10, Returns to School and Dreams of Becoming a Teacher Thanks to the Axe Fille Project

In the Ilebo territory, in Kasai Province, poverty remains one of the leading causes of school dropout among children. Like many others, 10-year-old Julie saw her education abruptly interrupted due to her family’s limited financial means.

For a long time, she stayed at home, not because she lacked the desire to learn, but because her parents could not afford the costs associated with schooling.

“I wasn’t studying because my parents didn’t have the means to send me to school. They couldn’t buy uniforms, exercise books, and other school supplies,” she explains.

Each day away from school increased the risk of permanent dropout. But Julie’s life took a decisive turn thanks to the intervention of the Axe Fille project.

A Life-Changing Intervention

The turning point came when World Vision teams visited her community, an encounter that marked a new beginning.
“World Vision staff came to our home. They went inside and gave me a school bag and uniforms. That’s how I was able to go back to school,” Julie recalls.

With support from the Axe Fille project, implemented by WORM and funded by UKAID, Julie received a complete school kit and was enrolled back to school. The school, built and equipped under the project, provides a safe and supportive learning environment, particularly for girls.

A Dream Turned into a Mission

Now back in the classroom, Julie is not only learning, she is also driven by a strong sense of purpose shaped by her own experience.

“When I grow up, I want to become a teacher to teach children, so that no child ever drops out of school again,” she says with determination.

For Julie, education is more than a right, it is a mission.

“I want children to go to school because a child’s place is at school, not at home,” she insists.

A Message of Gratitude and Hope

Aware of how far she has come, Julie expresses her heartfelt gratitude to those who made her return to school possible:

“I would like to thank UKAID, World Vision DRC, and the Axe Fille project. Thank you for helping me and my classmates. I sincerely thank you,” she concludes.

Julie’s story powerfully illustrates the tangible impact of the Axe Fille project in tackling school dropout in Kasai Province. By removing financial barriers and improving access to quality education, the project not only restores children’s right to learn but also gives them the chance to dream, take action, and build a better future.