07/03/2026
Our program in collaboration with the structure aimed to raise children's awareness, particularly young girls, about combating stereotypes that persist in culture and devalue certain activities like dance or acrobatics.
It also aimed to remind the authorities and relevant offices that for children living on the edge of a world treasure like National Park , access to fundamental rights should not be a request, but a guaranteed reality.
If these children can benefit from free training in dance, acrobatics, reading, or painting as we already do, why not extend this initiative to other disciplines to offer them a more complete future?
It is also essential to educate them about conservation education and ecotourism, as they live near the park. Learning about biodiversity, an introduction to tourist guiding, or raising awareness about the protection of natural resources present in the park, particularly mountain gorillas, a strong symbol of the park's identity, could transform these children into future guardians of this heritage.
Our guidance through entertainment activities such as acrobatics, dance, and singing also aligns with Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which guarantees the right to rest, leisure, and cultural activities. For these children, these activities are not just distractions, but genuine tools for psychological resilience.
Virunga National Park Virunga Alliance Environment and Climate Change MinistĂšre de la Culture, Arts et Patrimoine RDC Pan African Climate Justice Alliance Plan International World Health Organization (WHO) MinistĂšre de la Communication, de la Culture, des Arts et du Tourisme Programme des Nations Unies pour l'environnement UNICEF