Fatshimetrie, July 14, 2024. A laudable initiative is underway in Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where free training in leatherwork and beading is being offered to 24 vulnerable young girls from a humanitarian association. This program is part of an approach aimed at promoting the financial autonomy of young disadvantaged women and integrating them positively into society.
The Young People’s Christian Association-Women’s Christian Association (YMCA-YWCA) of Kinshasa, under the direction of Dieudonné Lomboto, set up this training session as part of income-generating activities. The objective is to enable vulnerable young girls, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, to develop useful skills for their professional and personal future.
The initiative aims to counter the rise in violence among young people from poor families, who often find themselves forced to resort to acts of vandalism to meet their basic needs. By offering modules in leatherwork, beading and loincloth sewing, the organizers of this training hope to encourage learners to consider a new, more fulfilling lifestyle.
Dieudonné Lomboto underlines the importance of raising awareness among young participants of the harmful consequences of life on the street, exposing them to the risk of delinquency and illness. By providing professional training and encouraging community engagement, the aim is to help them empower themselves and become positive actors in society.
Participating girls are also encouraged to put the skills learned during the training into practice by contributing to community projects aimed at improving the local environment. This approach aims to make them aware of the importance of collective work to fight against unsanitary conditions and improve the quality of life in their respective neighborhoods.
Furthermore, the announcement of the installation of the new provincial executive secretary of the YMCA-YWCA, Valentin-Michel Modwell, is a testimony to the association’s continued commitment to supporting young people in their professional and social journey. This change of direction underlines the desire to strengthen support and supervision actions for local youth.
In short, this leatherwork and beadwork training initiative for vulnerable young girls represents a valuable opportunity for these young women to train, develop professionally and engage constructively in their community. It embodies a concrete example of the positive impact of social and educational actions on the lives of individuals and on the development of society as a whole.