** Kikwit, a training initiative for young mennonites: entrepreneurship and online environment of sight **
On April 14, 2025, in Kikwit opened a three -day training session organized by the 4th community of Mennonites brothers in Congo (CFMC) on the theme “Young to the environment”. Initiated in a socio-economic context characterized by a youth often in search of benchmarks and opportunities, this training aims to stimulate a spirit of initiative and creativity among young participants.
This initiative raises several points which deserve to be examined. From the outset, the commitment of CFMC officials should be welcomed to support youth through concrete training. Mr. Kiesa Mukanu, community vice-president of young people, specifies that the objective is to ensure the care of young people while contributing to the development of the environment. It is essential to note that this approach is not only limited to an economic aspect, but also includes the ecological dimension, encouraging young people to adopt responsible behavior towards their environment.
Reagen Muke, speaker during this training, stressed the importance of learning to “protect, maintain, love and make the environment profitable in all its diversity”. This highlights a double problem: that of sustainable development and that of the empowerment of young people. In a country like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where economic and environmental crises overlap, the urgency of educating young people on these themes is indisputable.
However, a question arises: do these initiatives be enough to answer the larger challenges that affect Congolese youth? Although they represent a positive step, it is important to register them in a broader framework, in particular in terms of access to financial resources, institutional support and creation of an environment conducive to entrepreneurship. The challenge is to ensure that these young people, armed with knowledge and skills, can truly implement their projects in a context often marked by structural obstacles.
In addition, complementarity between initiatives like this and other development programs remains to be explored. Other workshops in Kikwit, intended for different social strata, underline a collective effort towards improving living conditions. However, a synergy between the various actors – both at community and institutional level – could strengthen the impact of these actions.
Thus, the CFMC puts a stone in the construction of a better future for young people in Kikwit. This also raises the question of the sustainability of such initiatives. How to ensure that the knowledge acquired during this training is reflected in concrete and sustainable actions that benefit the community as a whole? Monitoring and evaluating the long -term effects of such programs will be crucial.
In short, this training is a reflection of a commitment, certainly commendable, but which must be part of a more integrated dynamic. It is essential to consider training initiatives not as unique answers to complex issues, but as elements of an ecosystem that requires continuous attention and suitable support. The co-construction of solutions with youth, listening to their aspirations and taking into account their daily realities will be key factors to transform these intentions into beneficial and sustainable actions.