The province of North Kivu is embroiled in a complex and protracted armed conflict, mainly between the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel group and the Congolese army (FARDC), with a notable escalation since March 2022. The clashes, which intensified in January 2025 with the capture of Goma by M23, have caused massive displacement, destruction of infrastructure and widespread insecurity. According to UNHCR, more than 7.3 million people are internally displaced in the DRC, including approximately 4 million in the eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri. Since January, more than 1 million people, including approximately 400,000 children, have been displaced due to violence in the regions of Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu.

Children are particularly vulnerable, deprived of education and exposed to violence, malnutrition and recruitment by armed groups. UNICEF reports that cases of sexual violence have increased more than two and a half times, abductions have increased sixfold, killings and mutilations have increased sevenfold, and attacks on schools and hospitals have increased twelvefold.

Many schools have been damaged or destroyed, and conflicts often make it dangerous for children to attend classes. An estimated 2.7 million children in the DRC are in need of educational support, depriving them of the opportunity to learn and build a better future.

The city of Goma, a humanitarian and economic hub, has been severely affected: supply routes have been cut off, banks have closed, and essential infrastructure such as water and electricity has been disrupted, increasing the risk of diseases such as cholera (2,169 cases recorded between 16 and 31 March 2025). This situation has paralysed the local economy, complicating schooling and children's conditions, with school fees becoming unaffordable for many families. Since the beginning of the year, more than 2,500 schools and learning spaces in North and South Kivu, including camps for displaced persons, have been forced to close, increasing the risks for children.

In this context, Kivu International School (KIS), founded in 2017 to educate and engage young people, has been severely affected by the ongoing conflict:

Decline in enrolment: from 500 to 215 students, a drop of more than 60%, due to family displacement and economic hardship.

Financial crisis: parents are struggling to pay school fees due to insecurity and economic deterioration.

Emergency measures: 50% reduction in staff salaries, freeze on educational investments, closure of the canteen, reduction in hours (7 a.m. to 1 p.m.), and elimination of non-essential expenses (security, repairs, communication).