Support small busness to 250 refugee women in DRC

Two groups of 25 refugee women resist to the current humanitarian crisis in Goma, North Kivu the Democratic Republic of Congo. We need to do better and maximan availlable opportunities for more others to benefit. This project should reach at least 300 refugee women in Goma this year

First of all, we humbly thank our dear donors for their generous contributions towards this cause, and we wish them a very happy and wonderful year 2025. We shall be happy to journey with you this year also and it is for us a privilege that you choose to donate to us.

Last year our projects suffered for the lack of funding, generally we received one donation per month and the amount was between10-50$, generally from our previous donors. Our aim to reach at least 100 donors was not achieved. However the work could not stop, money will get us on the way.  

Each group has 25 refugee women, they were given starting cash and they are involved in various economic activities. They meet once a week and in the meetings a lot things happen which were not before. They save some money in their group and this money saved helps them to resist to economic problems especially in terms of loss, this money helps them to recover and move forward. They also contribute little money for social assistance among themselves this money helps in case one is sick, is facing problems with house rent, has lost a relative, and for social functions.

As a result so far much as they are struggling however these women are not a burden neither to the humanitarian actors nor to the communities. They are economically independent and far different from others. Each morning they know they will hustle the whole day and earn a living. The most important thing current is to get food at home, pay the house, and then the care for the body, these remain the top priorities.

Generally because of the current war in North Kivu and the influx of Internally Displaced Persons which has caused a humanitarian disaster that has effected many parts of Goma, the objectives of this project which aimed at refugee women economic empowerment in order to reduce poverty has now reduced to surviving mechanisms. So currently these women are working in order to live today and not to save for the future, this is more realistic, safe and keeps them together.

Beyond that the mere fact of meeting every week helps these women to get information, share experiences among themselves, explore opportunities and a strong relationship together. These meetings have helped them to explore big ideas in which they can get involved in once the war is over.

We are so glad that at least this objective of helping these women to aim high, to discover potential in them and to look at opportunities around them is being achieved, this is the begging to reduce poverty.

Challenges

What we have missed during this period of war and which we should have done should have been Adult Education Programme and yet this is the favorable time because these women are not so much busy with moving and traveling in different parts. Adult education for them means to learn how to read, write, calculate, plan, access to SmartPhone and look for information through internet, learn French and some English and get trainings in business management among other skills they need.

This has not been becaus