Kinshasa, the vibrant capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was recently the scene of a major citizen mobilization. Indeed, young people from various municipalities in the city gathered to raise awareness about plastic waste management, with the crucial goal of preserving the environment. Organized by the Dynamique des Jeunes pour l’Environnement et le Développement Durable (DYJEDD), this march highlighted the crucial importance of everyone’s involvement in preserving our planet.
This event, marked by pedagogy and determination, was a real platform to remind people that gutters are not dumps and that plastic waste management is everyone’s business. Samy Ilunga, coordinator of the DYJEDD, stressed the urgency of this awareness-raising ahead of the 4th Youth Climate Forum (FOJEC), thus highlighting the concrete and positive impact that young people can have in the fight against climate change.
Guy Kajemba, coordinator of the renovated REDD climate working group (GTCRR+), also highlighted the essential role of young people as key players in the environmental fight. In particular, he highlighted the mobilizing potential of Congolese youth, the majority within the population, for concrete actions such as the elimination of plastic bottles in the city.
The active participation of young people in this march was welcomed by many participants, such as Mr. Consolation Landu, who stressed the importance of environmental education from a young age, particularly within families. This collective awareness is an essential first step towards a society that is more respectful of its environment.
In this surge of mobilization and awareness, Adam Mukendi, a student at the University of Kinshasa, called on young people to adopt eco-responsible behavior and take concrete actions to protect our fragile ecosystem. Being an eco-citizen means actively engaging in the preservation of the environment, and this march was a great catalyst for this collective awareness.
In short, the awareness march on plastic waste management in Kinshasa was much more than a one-off event; it was a demonstration of the commitment and determination of Congolese youth to take an active part in the preservation of our beautiful planet. It is by joining forces, our knowledge and our actions that we will be able to preserve our environment for future generations.