Economic Growth Congo, Democratic Republic of the Project #57652

Support small busness to 250 refugee women in DRC

by Collective of Youth Organizations for Solidarity in DRCongo (COJESKI/DRC, Coordination of North Kivu

Project Report | Sep 27, 2024
Holding on despite the challenges being faced

By Kulihoshi M | Provincial Coordinator of North Kivu

These are refugee women making these bags in Goma

Refugee women still struggling and resilient in this income generating activity

Goma is facing a humanitarian crisis because of the current war which has totally affected the economy, life is difficult for host community and in this process it is much worse to refugees, Internally Displaced Persons and asylum seekers. In this situation of the crisis UNHCR forgot about refugees completely and is much preoccupied about IDPs, for the last 3 years now, the attention of relief agencies and UNHCR is on IDPs.

As we implement this project, we observed a very close relationship between poverty and vulnerability and marginalization. We have observed the poor are generally those in difficult situations in camps, on the streets and exposed to all forms of risks including Gender Based Violence and Sexual Exploitation. On the other side we also observed that those who have some income generating activities are in one way or the other trying to overcome these challenges.

This led us to a conclusion that more attention should be put on reduction of poverty among people through livelihood activities, and skill development which will help people to become more resilient to the current humanitarian crisis. We continue to advocate for this approach and the time we have already put activities in place.

The 28 women we supported with capital for their Income Generating Activities are still holding on and this gives us hope

We recently visited all these women in their various working places and found them still active and doing the same income generating activities, with one purpose to respond the urgent basic needs at home mainly food and house rent. The little money they are earning in profit helps them exactly to respond to their urgent needs but also get food and pay the house rent.

With the economic situation in Goma, that is only what they can do but what is important is that at least these ones are still struggling and they are far different from others, we are proud for the courage and resilience of these women who have kept on the fire burning. On top of that they also shared with us how they also help others in need mainly other refugee women and the neighbors.

However they are facing so many challenges connected to the capital, the best among them has now a capital of 300$ and the last has 60$. We expected them to progress from what we invested in them but we also understand the situation.

This project is also suffering from the lack of funding and that is the major challenge we are struggling with, we still have hope that we shall the necessary fund to make this project a reality as we have planned. Please consider to support us so that we can achieve our dream towards these women.

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Jun 11, 2024
Shewing machines bringing solutions to IDPs

By Kulihoshi M | Provincial Coordinator of North Kivu

Making plastic to cover the roof of the shelter

The tailoring project has been extended to Internally Displaced Persons in Bulengo Camp in Goma

Due to lack of funding, we have stopped the training to new people who want to acquire new skills in tailoring, and this has affected so much refugee young girls who have benefited from this services in order to get a living.

Generally with the few machines we have, we have opted to support those in camps to get involved in shewing activities in order to solve problems in camps. So far the camp is affected by serious problems, people have no shelter and many did not benefit from relief aid.

In order to respond to problems affecting people those who know shewing have come up with innovative ways to make clothes for those who have no money to buy expensive clothes. They go to markets and collect the rest over from clothes which are sold in markets, they bring them to camps and with the machines they do fabricate clothes for vulnerable communities which are sold at a small price. With the problem of shelter you will see people using Mosquito Net as cover but this does not help when it rains and when there is sunshine. With the tailoring machines people are collecting plastics sheets which are thrown away, they put them together and shew them and come up with a roof cover of a shelter, these are sold at a small price for vulnerable communities.

And lastly these machines have created income generating activity for people involved and has become a whole chain of business for vulnerable people, and all those involved highly depend on the shewing machines which give values to what they are collecting.

Because we have few machines, this actuvity is not able to solve the needs in the whole camp, and because of the lack of funds we are only based in Bulengo IDP Camp, however our idea is extend services to all camps.

These collected from the cement to make a roof

The machine helps him to earn a living in camp

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May 24, 2024
Support this resilience of refugee women in Goma

By Kulihoshi M | Provincial Coordinator of North Kivu

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