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Income-generating training for young Congolese women in North Kivu

34774

Income-generating training for young Congolese women in North Kivu

Congo, Dem. Republic 165 Contributors Launched January 01, 2024 Funding ends:31-12-2024

Testimonial

"I was married when I was 15 years old, after I became pregnant. After having my child, it was difficult for me to find enough food to eat. My husband left me and my mother-in- law refused to take care of me. I had no medical care, either. After participating in an awareness- raising workshop organized by WEC-CONGO about child marriage and its consequences, I left my in-laws’ house. WEC-CONGO helped me set up an income-generating activity: I participated in a WEC-CONGO training course to learn how to weave, and now I weave baskets and mats. This enables me to earn enough money to support myself and take care of my child."
– Salama

THE CHALLENGE

In the words of award-winning gynecologist Dr. Denis Mukwege, women’s bodies have been a battleground for more than 20 years in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rape has been used as a weapon of war, on all sides, while child marriage has risen sharply, owing to the state of lawlessness and climate of impunity. 29.1% of women now aged 20 to 24 were married as children and as of 2023, it has been estimated that 39% of girls will be married before their 18th birthday. The DRC ranks 9th in the world among countries with the highest absolute number of child marriages.

 

As a result of ongoing conflict and corruption, those laws relating to child marriage that do exist are not enforced. While the conflict continues, it is extremely difficult to put an end to this widespread, harmful practice. Tragically, this means that countless girls are denied their right to childhood and face bleak futures.

The SOLUTIONS WE'RE PROPOSING

W4’s field partner Women for Equal Chances, based in Kamuronza in North Kivu (in the east of the DRC, bordering Uganda), works to raise awareness among the local population about the harms of child marriage and to mobilize the region’s community to end child marriage. Through radio programs, training workshops for community leaders, and the dissemination of informational leaflets about child marriage, the program aims to help local communities to gain a better understanding of the harms of child marriage and the means to prevent it.

 

The overall goal of the program is to encourage a community-wide commitment -- including a written community declaration -- to end child marriage, with a series of public meetings to be held throughout villages in the region in order to implement the community declaration.

 

In parallel, the program provides support and capacity-building services for young women who were married as children, notably through socio-economic reintegration training. A key component is income-generating activity training, such as artisanal basket weaving (using organic materials), enabling the women to develop their own small businesses and become financially autonomous. Thanks to livelihoods training, the women become better equipped to protect themselves and provide for their own and their children’s needs.

THE IMPACT OF GIVING

Your donation can have a life-changing impact for young women who were married as children, offering them the opportunity of livelihoods training. You can enable these women to earn vital revenues and better care for themselves and their children, protecting their own children from child marriage.

 

By donating to this program, you can make a real, lasting difference and help end child marriage in the Kamuronzo region in North Kivu. Through an array of training and educational services, the program has the potential to reach 25,000 people, enabling collective, community-wide action to end child marriage.

 

Together, we can end child marriage!

Contributors

Kimberly
United States

Srishti
United States

Srishti
United States

Meghan
United States

Shannon
United States

Jonathan
United States

Sarah
United States

Sarah
United States

Victor
United States

Chloe
France

Anonymous
United Kingdom

Vijay
United Kingdom

Anonymous
Germany

Wilma
Italy

re
Australia

Tarnish-Me-Not
United States

Nasreen
Canada

Melissa
United States

Our business loves supporting Girls Not Brides members! Thank you for all of the important work you are doing!

Nadzeya
United Kingdom

Ari
Australia

Keep up the great work

Anonymous
United States

Read Lisa Bloom's book, "Think". It inspired me to find and donate to "change"

Kendra
United States

Anonymous
United States

Anonymous
Australia

Hi my name is Lola, I'm 15. I designed 10 different cards and got them printed and sold them at markets promoting 'Girls not Brides' and this project. Goodluck <3

Agne
Germany

Elizaveta
United States

Kanika
United States

Jessica
Ireland

Marie
Netherlands

Alison
Netherlands

Leesa
Australia

Rita
United States

Jade
United States

Stephen
United States

Jade
United States

Anonymous
United States

Anonymous
Canada

Seth
United States

This donation is made in the name of Melissa Gordon

Angela
United States

Angela
United States

Angela
United States

Heidi
United States

Kelly
Canada

Anonymous
Canada

Anonymous
United States

Emilie
United Kingdom

Henry
United Kingdom

Best wishes from Henry :-)

Anonymous
United States

Hanna
United States

David
United States

Alexandra
Germany

Richard
United States

sheila
United Kingdom

Christian
Germany

Anonymous
United States

Tereza
Czech Republic

Anonymous
United Kingdom

Mitch
Turkey

Jarrett
United States

Ashley
United States

Samantha
United States

Vanessa
United States

Federica
Italy

sahar
United States

Lauren
United Kingdom

sahar
United States

Jess
Canada

Please do not send me any paper mail, i dont need it, it will just be wasted

Bernadette
United Kingdom

Joely
United Kingdom

Anonymous
United Kingdom

I was alerted to this wonderful charity and initiative by my mother. Such a good cause, I wish you all the best in seeing it to fruition.

sahar
United States

Anonymous
United States

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

Anonymous
United States

W
Netherlands

Jessica
United States

Martin
United States

Marijn
Netherlands

Wish you will be blessed!

Anonymous
Netherlands

Irma
Netherlands

Anonymous
United States

Sahar
United States

Allison
West Bank

Hans en Marielle
Netherlands

Anteo
Belgium

Jan
Netherlands

Sahar
United States

Ciara
United Kingdom

Austin
United States

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

Isa
Sweden

Anonymous
Finland

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

CAITLIN
United States

Sahar
United States

Kris
United States

Anonymous
United States

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

Jazmine
United States

Anonymous
United States

You’

Anonymous
United States

Sahar
United States

Daniela
Australia

Anonymous
United States

Marta
Italy

Olivia
United States

Sahar
United States

Anonymous
United States

Donnell
United States

Anonymous
United States

Annie
United Kingdom

Elyse
United States

Adrienne
United States

Anonymous
Belgium

Lauren
United States

Women helping women on the American Mothers Day. Lee up the good work ladies!

Trisha
United States

Jennifer
United States

Mariannie
United States

Richard
Australia

Amanda
United States

Sarah
United Kingdom

Depali
United Kingdom

Jessica
United Kingdom

Anita
United Kingdom

Sarah
United States

Evelyn and Maya
United States

Gabe
United States

Sending love and courage!

Jessie
West Bank

Love the cause!

Holly
United States

Cara
United States

Megan
United States

Kathryn
United Kingdom

Trevor
Australia

Jeni
United States

Donated in memory of Angeliki Barlas

Anonymous
Canada

Alexis
United States

Alexander
United States

Sophia
Canada

Anonymous
United Kingdom

Brad
West Bank

Please help if you can! Even thoughts count!

Klaudyne
United States

Paul
Switzerland

Janet
United States

Ericka
Mexico

Justin
United States

Liv
Sweden

Anonymous
Australia

Anonymous
Australia

Jill
United States

Anonymous
Canada

Adam
United States

Marianne
Canada

Gaby
France

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