The Bilingual School of Leadership of Kikwit

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A $100,000 Challenge Grant Opportunity 

The Bilingual School of Leadership of Kikwit (BSL) has secured a $100,000 Challenge Grant from theHubbard Broadcasting Foundation, creating a powerful opportunity for partners

to double their impact at a decisive moment in the project’s development. Contributions made toward Phase 1 will help unlock this matching grant and accelerate the launch of a transformative educationalinstitution dedicated to leadership, ethical formation, bilingual education, and innovation in theDemocratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Project Name:  Bilingual School of Leadership of Kikwit (BSL)

Location: Kikwit Region, Kwilu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Land Area: 78 acres

Proximity: 8 miles from the City of Kikwit; 320 miles southeast of Kinshasa

Local Partner:  Catholic Diocese of Kikwit

Legal Status: Officially recognized by the Ministry of Primary, Secondary, and Vocational Education of the DRC (Ministerial Order No. MINEPOSP/4463, December 3, 2018)

Current Funding Priority: Phase 1 – Construction and Academic Launch

ADDRESSING AN URGENT EDUCATIONAL AND LEADERSHIP GAP

The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces a critical shortage of high-quality secondary education capable of preparing young people

for leadership roles in a rapidly changing global economy. In the Kikwit region, educational standards have declined due to prolonged economic instability, limited infrastructure, and teaching methods that emphasize rote memorization over critical thinking and innovation.

While the region benefits from a large network

of schools, very few institutions provide bilingual instruction, leadership development, or advanced technological training. As a result, students with talent and potential lack access to education that equips them with the skills needed to become ethical leaders, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers in their communities and beyond.

BSL responds directly to this gap by offering a new educational model that combines academic

excellence, leadership training, bilingual fluency, and social responsibility.

MISSION AND EDUCATIONAL VISION

The mission of the Bilingual School of Leadership of Kikwit is to educate bilingual, ethical leaders of tomorrow, students fluent in French and English, skilled in critical thinking, grounded in ethical responsibility, and prepared to become change- makers and entrepreneurs at the local, national, and global levels.

BSL’s educational approach emphasizes:

  • Early and sustained English-language proficiency
  • Leadership taught as a formal academic discipline
  • Integration of ethics, technology, and civic responsibility across the curriculum

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION

BSL will operate as a primary and secondary school aligned with national education standards while exceeding them through innovation and rigor.

Key features include:

  • Fully bilingual secondary education (French–English)
  • Five academic tracks, including a specialized Computer Science cycle
  • Weekly leadership and ethics courses for all students
  • Modern learning infrastructure, including a library, smart boards, laptops, and digital tools
  • Strategic partnerships with U.S. academic institutions, creating pathways toward a U.S.- homologated GED diploma

The school will gradually enroll up to 864 students, admitting 216 students annually over four years. To ensure equitable access, 10%

of students will be fully sponsored from the poorest families and orphaned children through a structured scholarship program.

THREE-PHASE DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Phase 1 – Immediate Impact (Challenge Grant Focus)

  • Administrative building
  • 24 classrooms organized in four blocks
  • Water borehole for sustainable access
  • Library, classroom, and office equipment

This phase enables the school to open and begin serving students immediately.

Phase 2 – Residential and Community Infrastructure

  • 16 teacher residences
  • 8 student dormitories
  • Refectory (dining hall)
  • Sports and recreation facilities

Phase 3 – Higher Education and Leadership Training

  • Undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurship and Ethical Leadership
  • Expanded leadership training programs for educators, community leaders, and professionals

LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY

BSL is designed to become financially self-sustaining through diversified revenue streams, including:

  1. Tuition and leadership training fees
  2. Boarding fees
  3. Rental income from teacher housing
  4. Agricultural and market-garden production
  5. A 5-acre eucalyptus plantation for reforestation, construction, and income generation
  6. Production and sale of locally manufactured bricks used in campus development

This model strengthens local economic participation while reducing long-term operating risk.

LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE

The project is founded and led by Fr. Jean-Pierre Bongila, an educator and development leader with deep local roots and international academic experience. Fr. Bongila is a Full Professor of Educational

Leadership at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota)

and brings expertise in leadership development, institutional governance, and educational innovation. His leadership ensures transparency, accountability, and strong local ownership.

INVITATION TO PARTNERSHIP

The $100,000 Hubbard Broadcasting Foundation Challenge Grant marks a pivotal moment for the Bilingual School of Leadership of Kikwit. We invite foundations, corporations, educational institutions, and individual donors to partner in unlocking this grant and launching a school that will equip future leaders with the skills, values, and vision needed to drive sustainable change.

An investment in BSL is an investment in people, leadership, and long-term

impact. Together, we can help shape a new generation of leaders for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and beyond.