Empower a Girl in the Congo

Vocational training has been a key component of International Medical Corps’ Care, Access, Safety and Empowerment (CASE) program in Eastern Congo. The goal of the program is: “to protect vulnerable populations from physical violence and abuse to assist the Congo in its stabilization and gradual transition from a post conflict country to a developing one.” The program aims to increase access to and quality of medical, psychosocial, social, legal and economic services for survivors of sexual and gender based violence, and build community capacities to reduce vulnerability to future acts of violence and was designed to respond to widespread sexual violence in Eastern Congo which was greatly attributed to civil strife and presence of numerous armed groups who use rape as a weapon of war. As a critical component of this response, vocational training empowers women and reinforces their place in society. This is a crucial step in giving the women of Eastern Congo their dignity back and to begin empowering future generations of women in the country for years to come.

The following is just one success story from a participant at a vocational training center supported by International Medical Corps.

“My husband could never let me make a decision or even state my opinion regarding the management of the home. This is especially on decisions regarding financial management of the household. Since he is the only one who earned money, he could do whatever he wanted with it. He decided when me and the children could and could not eat and what we ate. Sometimes he would punish me by not buying food. This caused a lot of suffering to the children.

I attended a training of several activities that were organized by International Medical Corps at the community center. The people in charge of the community centers talked about vocation training but I never had any interest. I had a belief that women should only concentrate on making baskets and knitting children’s cloths. Skills such as tailoring, masonry and carpentry seemed out of reach for me.  I continued to participate in the “women’s” activities but I was not happy. I was referred to the Rambo vocational center which had started operating with assistance from International Medical Corps after it was looted by armed groups almost 3 years ago.  I saw other women enrolled in tailoring who were making very beautiful dresses. I took a keen interest and started to learn. After eight months, I graduated and started making dresses for my neighbors. It took 12 months for me to save enough money to buy a machine with which I was able to start a tailoring shop at my house. I now have a small business and with the dress making, I earn at least 4500 Congolese Francs ($5) each day.  I apply the business principles I learned during the business skills and entrepreneurship training I got from International Medical Corps of innovation and ensuring customer satisfaction by delivering what the customer wants on time. This has helped me build confidence with my clients in the community.

I am now able to make sure my children have food to eat, clothes to wear and that they can access health care when they are sick.  I am happy that the vocational center is functional again and that it will continue to help other women who are in a similar situation as I was in.”

With the generous support of Global Giving and other donors International Medical Corps is able to empower women in the Congo, restoring their dignity and place in their communities.