Anglo Congolese Association

The Anglo Congolese Association (ACA) is a non-profit organisation that was established in 2015 and is based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was founded with the aim of connecting with both developed and emerging English-speaking communities. That year, there was a notable increase in the number of young Congolese people in the east of the country who were eager to learn English in order to improve their social, economic, and professional interactions with English speakers around the world, particularly in the Great Lakes region. A decade later, the organisation continued its efforts in collaboration with public and private educational institutions to promote English as a vital communication tool and empower young people through English clubs, thereby fostering positive transformations within communities. These initiatives provide young Congolese people with the means to effect positive change through English club activities, while equipping schools with the resources necessary to enhance English learning and practice both in and out of the classroom via English club competitions. Thanks to both support from the US Embassy in Kinshasa and one ononymous American citizen, the ACA has successfully established a network of over 70 English clubs comprising around 5,000 secondary school students who participate in English club competitions in Bukavu. Through these clubs, the ACA addresses a variety of public concerns, focusing particularly on understanding students' motivations for learning English and the challenges they face. The organisation also encourages educators to find solutions.