Green Space Rehabilitation Project Underway in Bunia, Ituri
As part of the fight against urban insecurity and the promotion of unemployed youth, a project to rehabilitate green spaces along the main arteries of the city of Bunia, in Ituri, is currently underway. Initiated and funded by the European Union as part of the Police Reform Support Program, this project aims to provide a concrete response to the challenges facing the city.
The NGO Ville propre is responsible for implementing this innovative project. Indeed, it employs young people commonly known as “shegués” to actively participate in the beautification of the city, by decorating the asphalt roads with lawns and flowers. Beyond the aesthetic aspect, this initiative aims to reduce urban banditry and delinquency by offering young people a constructive and rewarding occupation.
The coordinator of the NGO Ville propre underlines the importance of this supervision of young people to ensure the success of the project: “The European Union has understood that it is essential to provide young people with concrete opportunities to turn away from delinquency. By engaging them in this process, they acquire new skills and prepare themselves for their future professional life.”
The inhabitants of Bunia welcome this initiative and applaud the gradual beautification of their city. However, they express concerns about the sustainability of this project. Indeed, they emphasize the importance of regular maintenance of green spaces to prevent them from being invaded by wild vegetation or transformed into landfills. The preservation of these developments must be a priority to maintain a healthy and pleasant environment for all residents.
Faced with these legitimate concerns, the mayor of Bunia has committed to setting up an effective system to ensure the protection and regular maintenance of these green spaces. He considers it essential to guarantee the sustainability of this project and to ensure that the efforts made are not reduced to nothing by a lack of monitoring and vigilance.
In conclusion, the project to rehabilitate green spaces in Bunia illustrates the desire of local authorities and international partners to positively transform the urban reality and promote the social inclusion of disadvantaged young people. By focusing on the beautification of the city and the involvement of citizens, this initiative contributes to strengthening social ties and promoting a safer and more attractive urban environment for all.