At 12 years old, C’est Prévu was facing a major challenge. A pupil in Kisantu, in the Kongo Central province, he went to school every day, fearing that the teacher might ask him to read. Unable to read or write, he felt ashamed in front of his classmates. At home, he expressed his sadness and discouragement. His mother still remembers those difficult moments. “He came home with tears in his eyes. He told me he wanted to learn, that he wanted to succeed, but he didn’t know how,” shares Herette, his mother, still moved by the memory.
One afternoon, while he was playing in the street, C’est Prévu saw a group of boys his age walking together toward the RUTH Reading Club. Curious, he asked them where they were going. The boys told him about a learning space that was different, fun, engaging, and open to everyone. “They told me that children there learn to read through games, pictures, and materials made in our own community. They encouraged me to join,” explains C’est Prévu gratefully. Touched by their words, he asked his mother to enrol him. She agreed immediately.
From his very first session, C’est Prévu was impressed by the atmosphere. The facilitators welcomed him warmly, children laughed, worked in groups, read aloud, and used simple materials made by the community. “Here, every child progresses at their own pace. No one is mocked. We encourage and celebrate every achievement,” testifies one of the club facilitators.
Game-based learning, active listening, and participatory methods helped him learn quickly. In just a few weeks, C’est Prévu managed to read his first words, then sentences, and soon small texts. “The day I read in front of the whole group, I felt my life was changing. I knew I was capable,” he says proudly. Today, he reads fluently, writes without difficulty, and his school results have significantly improved. He has even developed a new passion: mathematics. “When I finish school, I want to become an electrical engineer. Now, I believe in my future,” he says confidently.
To understand the real impact of this transformation, Herditte, a Child Wellbeing Facilitator in the Kisantu Area Programme, explains the principle behind the Reading Clubs. “Reading Clubs are a World Vision approach that allows children to learn to read and write in a safe, playful, and emotionally supportive environment. We use locally made learning materials, which makes the process accessible and sustainable. The goal is to strengthen basic skills, but also self-esteem,” explains Herditté with conviction. He continues: “What we see in C’est Prévu is exactly the impact we aim for: a child who regains confidence, who looks ahead, who dreams. This impact is also possible thanks to the commitment of facilitators, sponsors, and the involvement of the entire community."
Today, C’est Prévu never stops thanking all those who contributed to his journey. “I thank my facilitators who give us love and encourage us. I also thank the sponsors and World Vision for caring about our well-being. Thanks to you, many children like me have learned to read and write,” he says with a bright smile.