### The youth of Bandalungwa: a hope for a better future
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, and in particular the City-Province of Kinshasa, is currently experiencing significant societal challenges. Among these, juvenile delinquency, exacerbated by unemployment and the lack of opportunities, represents a real scourge, especially in regions such as the municipality of Bandalungwa. In this context, local initiatives, such as those of the municipal youth council, are highlighted. They seek not only to supervise young people, but also to initiate a change of mentality likely to respond to this crisis.
** An ambitious and inclusive program **
Mrs. AMIVI BOLA, President of the Council, underlines the importance of providing concrete solutions for young people from Bandalungwa. The promotion of supervision programs and training in entrepreneurship is essential to anchor a feeling of utility and responsibility in this group of the population. By deploying sports and cultural infrastructure, such as a football field and an accessible music studio, the advice chooses an inclusion model, thus affecting a diversity of young people, including those with reduced mobility.
This holistic approach is reflected in a multifaceted care of young people: education, professional reintegration and promotion of positive values. These initiatives aim to redirect young people to constructive activities, thus contributing to their economic autonomy. This vision is all the more relevant in a context where the phenomenon of gangs, locally designated under the term “kuluna”, constitutes a threat both for public security and for social cohesion.
** A challenge of change of mentality **
The real challenge, as also points to Madame Bola, lies in the change of mentality. This transformation is often difficult to achieve, especially in environments where values are sometimes perceived as frozen or disconnected from the realities of youth. The anti -equity control program that the Council highlights itself positions itself as an attempt to reassess behaviors and beliefs conveyed within the community.
This process of change must be accompanied by an inclusive dialogue with the young people themselves, so that they feel co-authors of this transformation and not only recipient of an authority. It would be relevant to examine how these training programs can initiate young people in a participative and active manner.
** The importance of collective memory **
The reflection on the place of memory in this context is also crucial. The words of Ms. Bola, who evokes a community without memory as being without future, call on the importance of anchoring new generations in a collective history. It is an invitation to revisit the cultural and historical roots of the country, thus allowing young people to build a solid and resilient identity in the face of contemporary challenges.
** Partnerships as a change lever **
The fact that the municipal youth council collaborates with the Congolese diaspora of Canada for the “inspiring leadership” program testifies to the relevance of establishing bridges between the communities, both local and foreign. This raises questions about how diaspora’s experiences and resources can be used to support such initiatives. This partnership also illustrates an innovative approach, by bringing together a range of expertise which, hopefully, will benefit the youth of Bandalungwa.
** Conclusion and perspectives **
The youth of Bandalungwa is found at a crucial crossroads, where change can only be collective. The actions undertaken by the Municipal Youth Council deserve to be followed closely, as they could provide a model for other municipalities or regions facing similar challenges. Faced with the scale of the issues related to juvenile delinquency, it is essential that support for these initiatives is strengthened, both by local actors and by national and international entities. The future of these young people, and by extension that of Congolese society, will largely depend on the capacity to transform this youth, not only economic, but also cultural and social, by making it actor of his own destiny, carrying positive and constructive values.