FJU’s ‘University Project’ Benefits 200 Students in the Central African Republic

The UN and the Ministry of Education Participated in the Event. 80 Backpacks, 1000 Pens, and 3000 Notebooks Were Distributed

Between June and September 2024, students aged 14 to 25 from the Central African Republic were on vacation. Normally, it would be a period without events and commitments. But this year was different.

Thanks to the work of the Força Jovem Universal (FJU), also known as the Youth Power Group (YPG), a social program that operates in the country providing assistance to young people in this age group, they returned to the classroom, but this time with a new proposal: The University Project.

This outreach project consisted of a “competition” between students from different schools, involving questions from school subjects learned the previous year.

Questions related to chemical symbols, Roman numerals, and Planet Earth guided the dispute, which also aimed to motivate young people in their studies and prepare them for the following year.

The educational outreach took place over eight Saturdays between July 6th and August 31st, with the help of 50 FJU volunteers, benefiting 200 students. In total, 80 backpacks, 1000 pens, and 3000 notebooks were distributed.

The winners also received a trophy, and all participants received a symbolic certificate issued by the FJU and delivered by representatives of international organizations. Authorities from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and the Ministry of Education of the Central African Republic were present.

A Welcomed Initiative

According to Jean Firmin Selonkoue, representing the Minister of Education, “This FJU initiative must be sustained because it is a way of reestablishing students’ permanent contact with books and notebooks.”

But, despite all the effort, not everyone managed to stay until the end of the competition. Some gave up along the way.

The agricultural engineer and one of the FJU volunteers who contributed to the project, Leoncy July de Mon Nzoni, highlighted the persistence of the young people, “There were many at the beginning, and several were unable to finish, but the 200 who completed did their best until the end. The objective was to keep them focused on the education. This is important for us, and we will continue to strive to help them become responsible people with a promising future. It was a pleasure to see young people giving their all to their studies. We saw in them the desire to learn.”

Among those who participated, there remained a feeling of satisfaction and gratitude, as shared by Dogo Clement (father of one of the participants), “I am very proud and happy to see my daughter win the 1st place prize. My joy is immense, and I am grateful to FJU for organizing this event.”

Since arriving in the Central African Republic, the social program has benefited almost 8 thousand young people.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 2023 report on Global Education Monitoring (GEM), sub-Saharan Africa (where the Central African Republic is located) is one of the regions in the world where more than half of children do not attend school.