**Congolese Youth, Between Challenges and Rebirth: A Football Match to Initiate Hope**
Sunday, February 2, 2025 could mark not only a sports day but also a new era for the youth of Kinshasa. The Youth Association for Development (AJD) has decided to open the ball of the year’s activities with a recreational football match against the HEWA BORA team at the Albert de la Gombe stadium. This match is more than just a sports competition: it is the symbol of renewed hope for a youth who faces many challenges in an uncertain socio-economic environment.
**Contemporary Challenges: A Youth Challenged by Instability**
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and particularly the eastern region, is suffering the consequences of historical tensions that are causing humanitarian and economic crises. In this climate, the role of local organizations, such as the AJD, is crucial. Their commitment to creating spaces of solidarity and development for young people is imperative not only for social cohesion but also for strengthening the community fabric.
By launching this initiative, the AJD is not just organizing a sporting event. It is sending a strong message to the population, particularly to those in Goma who are enduring the collateral effects of tensions with Rwanda. Young people, exposed daily to anxiety and precariousness, find in this action a glimmer of hope, a call for solidarity that transcends difficulties.
**A symbolic match for personal development**
The president of the AJD, Jean Baptiste, stressed the need for such events to promote intergenerational exchanges and strengthen the sense of community belonging. Beyond sports activities, the AJD offers skills development programs. The importance of such personal development is accentuated in a country where youth unemployment is reaching alarming levels, around 40% according to World Bank data. The AJD initiative could thus be part of a proactive approach to reduce this rate through training and apprenticeship.
Training and entrepreneurship support strategies, combined with leisure activities, create an environment conducive to the development of essential skills. The importance of these initiatives is crucial not only to improve the living conditions of young people, but also to contribute to the socio-economic stability of the country.
**Statistics and impact: Youth at the crossroads**
Studies on the impact of youth development initiatives show that programs involving socio-cultural and sports activities can reduce risky behaviors among adolescents. In a country like the DRC, where young people represent about 60% of the population, such programs could make a significant difference.
Increasing the employment and empowerment rate of young people also requires their inclusion in awareness-raising programs. Indeed, recent statistics indicate that only 2.4% of young Congolese are engaged in vocational training programs, a figure far from the recommended standards to promote employability.
**A Call to Collective Action: Building a Future Together**
The AJD’s call to join its initiatives is a rallying message for young people determined to act. The rebirth of community spirit among young Congolese could serve as a springboard for lasting change. The palpable enthusiasm around this event could inspire other organizations and individuals to take part in similar projects, to jointly address the crises weighing on the DRC.
In short, the match of February 2 is not just a sports competition, it is an important step in the journey of a resilient youth, who dreams of a better future. With ambitious projects for 2025, the AJD wishes not only to encourage collective commitment but also to offer young people the tools necessary to transform challenges into opportunities. The history of the DRC is also that of its youth; it is up to us to listen to them, support them and contribute to their development.
**Désiré Rex Owamba / Fatshimetrie.org**