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A Goma, the members of RFI Club have been ensuring, for almost 2 years, the followed by training for 30 young orphans particularly vulnerable, with the support of the association CoopTerre. This project marks the beginning of a transformation in the lives of the new apprentices and their peers.
There are cities around the world that make you wonder how they managed to develop in such challenging geographical areas. The example of El Alto, Bolivia's second-largest city with nearly 1 million inhabitants and located at an altitude of over 4,000 meters, is quite telling, as is that of Yanjing in China, which houses 400,000 inhabitants in a space only 30 meters wide between the Nanxi River and the steep cliffs characteristic of this region. Goma, to the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda is one of those major questions of geographical location.
Located in the menacing shadow of the Nyiragongo, a hyperactive volcano Since the end of the 19th century, it has been on constant alert due to the numerous eruptions that frequently cascade down its slopes. A pavilion bears witness to this heightened vigilance., the May 2021 eruption had led to the evacuation of several residential neighborhoods in the city, resulting in the destruction of numerous homes. This volcanic risk must be coupled with in the vicinity of Lake Kivu, meromictic lake containing large quantities of toxic gases which could also erupt and threaten Goma.
Geologically threatened, it is also the site of a conflict situation inherited from the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Caught in regular armed conflicts since the 1990s between different military groups, the situation has become particularly tense. in January 2025 with the capture of the city by the armed forces of the M23 and the Rwandan Defence Forces. This invasion continues to deepen a profound humanitarian crisis, marked by the dismantling of refugee camps around the city. A year later, the consequences are severe, with a population struggling to access essential services despite the establishment of a parallel administration by the invading forces.
Faced with this situation, a question arises: How can we build a future in a city threatened by nature and by human conflict? How can a development process be initiated in such a threatened area? These are the questions that two partner organizations, the RFI Goma Club and the French association CoopTerre, tried to answer. Together, they carried out the micro-project «"Give me a chance too"», winner of the call for projects Autumn 2023, who wanted to do’professional integration of 30 young orphans, the heart of their intervention in this city.
THE July 7, 2024 will have marked the launch of this ambitious project. A day bringing together the partner orphanages, the National Institute for Vocational Training and the Don Bosco Training Center, as well as the State services for youth and social affairs, it will have served as a fixed course to affirm strong commitments, making in particular the psychosocial support of young people an important focus.
This is how three groups of 10 young people were formed from July 2024 to March 2025. The targeted sectors were the plumbing, mechanics, masonry, welding, sewing and beauty/hairdressing. Once the courses were completed, exams were held to certify the students' achievements before they were placed in different professional settings for an internship. At the end of their internship, the young people received support in finding employment or professional opportunities.
It should be noted that this project was severely impacted in January 2025 by the capture of the city of Goma by the M23 forces mentioned earlier. Beyond the disruption of activities, the mental state of the young people was deeply affected by the clashes. Several of them wanted to drop out of the training programs. The psychosocial assistance offered by the RFI Goma Club and the support offered by the Don Bosco Centre will have enabled all graduating classes to complete their studies. This highlights the importance of a system supporting mental health in contexts where trauma is frequent for those receiving care. Despite these difficulties, The employers of young people noted their rigora foolproof method during the various phases of learning.
Empowering young girls was also one of the important issues of this project. Several have entered traditionally male-dominated fields. like plumbing and mechanics. They achieved the best results in their final exams. Here's what one of them said to the project's closing event :
I often say it, I've always wanted to make a difference. If I chose plumbing, it was to show women that we too can do what we do. we have a hidden strength behind what people think we are. I dream. to become a great plumbing engineer and develop other optional technical skills like most men, but also show women what they are capable of. The "Give Me a Chance Too" project transformed us. This project gave us a chance to change our perspective on the future, to dream big and to become useful in our community.
The impact of this project on these young people's self-esteem is clear. The discussion focuses on the future, on autonomy, dignity and the will to pass on knowledge and skills shared with other children in their orphanages. As CoopTerre, the French association behind the project, explains:
The project enabled a way out of exclusion and a renewed sense of self-esteem through professional success. Some have returned to their families who had rejected them. They become inspiring figures for young people in orphanages inspiring vocations and strengthening social cohesion.
Beyond training, it is also important to look at the dynamics of professional integration. 27 % young people now have stable employment. 56 % have a more precarious form of employment or are still in professional training. Of these young people still in professional internships, half already have a job offer.. Finally, 17,130 young people are still looking for work. The most common job search sector remains dressmaking, in a highly competitive field. These figures must be considered in light of the very complex economic context where informal jobs do not necessarily meet our professional integration standards. Thus, through this project, 83 % young people have a professional occupation and can therefore derive some income from their activity, a rather impressive statistic in this objective of youth empowerment.
For many of the children and young people in the orphanages targeted by the project, these training programs have provided pathways to a brighter future. To continue these activities, the two partners are considering the deployment of a group workshop used by graduates whose production would help finance the training costs of new young people. It would be equipped with professional equipment dedicated to apprenticeship programs (sewing machine, toolbox, hair dryer, computer, welding station, oven, etc.). Other options are also being considered for to encourage self-employment young people benefit from services such as assistance with government documents for business creation or help with the first month's rent to start their business. The two partners also wish to... create a digital service platform where they will be able to offer their skills to the population to further and continue to promote this objective of professional integration.
