** Youth empowerment: a call for change in Matadi, Kongo Central **
On May 18, 2025, the city of Matadi, chief town of the central Kongo in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), welcomed a marking conference dedicated to the challenges and opportunities that arise for the youth of this province. Organized under the high patronage of the provincial governor, thanks to Nkuanga Masuangi Bilolo, this meeting highlighted largely recognized but often neglected problems: parasitism, the absence of supervision, and the lack of professional opportunities for young people.
The Rector of Kongo University, Germain Kuna Maba, spoke to stimulate reflection around the crucial importance of this group of the population. By stressing that 61% of the 126 million inhabitants of the DRC are young people, he then formulated an urgent appeal for individual and collective action. The concept that young people must stop being passive and positioning themselves as actors of change particularly resonates in a context where expectations can often be directed towards political authorities rather than on personal initiative.
The issues mentioned by Mr. Kuna include a range of structural challenges: the inadequacy of training systems, the lack of recreational centers, and social ailments such as alcoholism and drug addiction. These elements underline an urgent need for a youth policy that is both inclusive and proactive. The intervention of the President of the Provincial Assembly, Mr. Papy Mantezolo Diatezua, strengthened this idea, by encouraging young people to develop a business spirit and to rise above the practices that can harm the image and development of their province.
The proposal to generate policies for supervising and promoting youth is of strategic importance. By nourishing an ecosystem favorable to innovation and personal expression, the authorities can potentially reduce the feeling of helplessness and isolation that some young people feel. Continuous training and the creation of spaces dedicated to the exchange of ideas could also strengthen the ability of youth to consider creative and lasting solutions to their challenges.
However, responsibility is not only based on young people or rulers. Civil society, families, and the cultural environment in the broad sense play a decisive role. The construction of a strong identity and a work culture is essential, as well as support for those who venture into entrepreneurship or social activism.
It is also necessary to question the acceleration of the commitment of young people in social and economic initiatives. How to integrate young people’s experiences in political decisions that concern them directly? How to ensure that their voices are heard and that their concerns are taken into account in decision -making structures? These questions deserve serious attention, because they touch the very heart of participatory democracy.
The Matadi conference, while being a starting point, also calls for collective mobilization. How long will it take for these beautiful words to translate into concrete actions? The positive examples of valued youth projects, exchange and learning programs could serve as models to follow.
In conclusion, Matadi’s event managed to set milestones for an in -depth reflection on the state of youth of the Central Kongo. Local authorities and young people now have a golden opportunity to collaborate to build solutions that not only promote personal development, but also the collective dynamics of the province. It is in unity and mutual commitment that the potential force lies for a better future, both for individuals and for the community as a whole.