United Business Media (UBM)

UBM, a leading international business media company has partnered with Oxfam GB for many years to support an Oxfam primary school education programme in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

UBM clearly sees the promotion of education and literacy as key issues for their business’ charitable giving and identified Oxfam as a natural choice of partner based on Oxfam’s reputation and experience in education in this region of Africa.

UBM’s support has helped re-build and refurbish schools so children can learn in safer classrooms; provide training and better resources for primary school teachers in the national curriculum so they are better equipped; increase awareness in the community for the need for girls to attend school; and provide support to parent committees who use their collective voice to lobby local and national authorities to support their schools.

Janceline Bosombo, is 12 years old, and studying in the fourth grade at Mompepe primary school in Mbandaka. He is enjoying the improvements to his school.

“Our school’s environment has really improved since the renovation. We can now read what is written on the blackboard, we can breathe better in our classrooms, as they now have proper windows and doors. Even the bad smell has gone as the roof was infected with bats.”

UBM receive ongoing updates and reports about the work Oxfam is achieving with their support, all of which are uploaded onto their specially created microsite, which all staff can access.