<< Article title: Launch of the civic and electoral education program in the DRC >>
Introduction :
The official launch ceremony of the civic and electoral education program in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) took place recently, marking the start of an initiative aimed at promoting youth participation in the electoral process and building their confidence in this last. Under the leadership of the United States Embassy in the DRC, this program aims to inform and raise awareness among young people about the importance of their voice and their civic engagement in democratic decision-making.
Build confidence in the electoral process:
This ceremony brought together many political figures, university representatives, activists from youth citizen movements in the city of Kinshasa, as well as implementation partners. The main objective of this program is to eradicate speeches of distrust towards the electoral process and to raise awareness of the usefulness and decisive nature of each vote in the democratic process.
Training of facilitators:
As part of this program, fifteen facilitators and moderators were trained to transmit knowledge to young participants. These facilitators come from the Protestant University of Congo as well as other education access programs. They are responsible for leading discussion sessions and citizen cafés in order to create spaces for dialogue, promote civic education and strengthen the responsibility of young people in the electoral process.
The United States’ commitment:
The United States Ambassador to the DRC, Lucy Tamlyn, presented the project and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting the DRC in the upcoming elections. She stressed that young people must take ownership of the electoral process and understand the importance of their right to vote. She also mentioned that these elections provide a crucial opportunity for the country to build a more prosperous future for the Congolese people.
The involvement of young people in the decision-making process:
In his speech, Kalonji Bilolo Trésor, coordinator of the Yali program, recalled that citizen action is not limited to voting, but also consists of being actively involved in the decision-making process by interacting with elected officials and sharing opinions and points of view.
Conclusion :
This civic and electoral education program in the DRC marks an important step in promoting youth participation in the country’s democratic process. By strengthening their confidence and understanding of the electoral process, we hope to see greater participation of young people in future elections. The commitment of the United States and the partners involved demonstrates the desire to create an inclusive and transparent democratic environment in the DRC.