DRC: Equip a vocational training center for girls

1. Background and Rationale

The Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly South Kivu Province, faces rapid population growth, persistent poverty, and deep gender inequalities. Despite free primary education, many girls leave school early. Families under economic pressure often prioritize boys’ education, while girls are exposed to early labor, economic dependence, and various forms of violence.

In rural areas, out-of-school girls and young women experience profound marginalization. The lack of vocational skills limits their access to decent income and slows local development. This reality sustains a vicious cycle of poverty passed from one generation to the next.

2. Project Objective

Through this project, OGDH-RDC ASBL aims to strengthen the economic and social empowerment of out-of-school girls and young women in South Kivu. The main objective is to enable 60 women per year to acquire practical vocational skills so they can meet their own needs, support their families, and become active contributors to community development.

3. Project Description

The project involves equipping a vocational training center dedicated to vulnerable girls and young women. Training will be aligned with local realities and market opportunities, including:

• tailoring and garment making,
• soap production,
• food processing,
• masonry and related trades.

In addition, participants will receive training in leadership, gender equality, and small business management. The approach goes beyond skills acquisition; it aims to foster lasting changes in attitudes and practices.

Participants will be organized into cooperatives, promoting solidarity, collective entrepreneurship, and sustainability. Community awareness activities will accompany the project to highlight the role of women as key drivers of local development.

4. Beneficiaries

• 60 girls and young women per year, primarily aged 16–35
• Families and local communities as indirect beneficiaries
• Rural communities in South Kivu
• Total planned budget: USD 35,000
• Funds raised to date: USD 1, thanks to collaboration with GlobalGiving
• The project is currently in the identification phase for trainers and trainees
• Project start date: November 2025

5. Project Status

The partnership with GlobalGiving strengthens the project’s visibility and credibility. It is a key lever for mobilizing additional resources and reaching the funding goal.

6. Expected Results and Impact

• Sustainable economic empowerment of trained women
• Reduced financial dependence and vulnerability to exploitation
• Stronger gender equality and women’s leadership
• Creation of small local income-generating activities
• Improved household living conditions and children’s education
• A cooperative model that builds community resilience

7. Project Sustainability

Sustainability will be ensured through:

• practical skills acquired by beneficiaries,
• income-generating cooperatives,
• strong community ownership of the training center,
• continuous local capacity building.

8. Acknowledgements

We extend our sincere thanks to all donors and partners who have already contributed—no matter the size of the contribution—to this initiative. Every gesture matters and brings us closer to dignity and self-reliance for girls and women in South Kivu. Our special gratitude goes to GlobalGiving, whose support and collaboration give us real confidence that we will reach our goal.

9. Call to Donors

We issue a solidarity call to individuals, institutions, foundations, and partners of goodwill: support this high-impact project. By contributing, you offer more than training—you provide opportunity, hope, and a future to girls and women who have long been left behind.

Together, with your commitment and the collaboration with GlobalGiving, we will achieve our objective and lay the foundations for lasting change in the heart of South Kivu communities.