Université Protestante au Congo graduates like Celeste are essential contributors to Congo’s development from within

“Education is to me one of the pillars of the development of my country,” declares Celeste Mujinga Musasa, a 2017 graduate of Université Protestante au Congo's Medical School. A native of Kinshasa, Celeste had imagined becoming a doctor since she was a child.

Due to childhood illnesses, she spent quite a lot of time in hospitals and quickly saw the ‘superpowers’ the doctors possessed and wanted to develop the same skills to help others.  

Université Protestante au Congo's Medical School’s 8-year program is very comprehensive and requires dedication. Midway through, when the curriculum became focused on medical studies, Celeste was inspired by her professors, particularly Dr. François Lepira, who made the world of medicine come alive. Her decision to study medicine was reaffirmed.

Celeste spent her internship year at the rural hospital in Vanga where she found her calling. Witnessing so many children dying of malaria in Vanga had a tremendous impact on her. Influenced by her professor Dr. Thierry Bobanga, she decided to pursue parasitology to participate actively in the eradication of malaria.

After completing her Master’s degree in medical microbiology, Celeste continued to plan for the future. She located a Ph.D. advisor and program at Keele University in England that would champion her research in malaria. Early in her medical studies, she realized that despite her ability to treat an ailment, a true advancement in medical interventions in the DRC can only come with years of advanced biomedical research. Celeste strives for a healthy Congo as she continues the fight against malaria. 

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56% of the 9,658 students at Université Protestante au Congo were women in 2024 

If you would like to support scholarships for women at UPC, consider donating to one of Education Congo's named funds designated for women:

• Sue Cardwell Fund—designated for women students from Bolenge Province or Equateur Province who are preparing for careers in teaching

• Jain-Goel Fund—designated for women medical school students at UPC

• Sanichas IT Fund—designated for women computer science students at UPC

• Sanichas Law Fund—designated for women law school students at UPC

• Jack & Linda Spencer Fund—designated for women medical school students at UPC

To donate to a named fund, click the donate button above, choose "Named funds" to go to our secure donation site, then scroll to choose your preferred named fund.

To donate by check, write the name of the fund on the memo line of the check and mail to Education Congo, 2216 Elgin Road, Winston-Salem, NC  27103.

If you are taking distributions from your IRA, you might consider making a direct donation from your account to Education Congo. The distribution amount that is paid directly to Education Congo would not be taxable to you and could save you some income tax dollars. Please talk to your financial and/or tax advisors on how to best make this kind of donation. (If you go this route, be sure to notify us with details.)