Between October 27th and 31st, Peter Moilanen (WFAD Secretary and Board Member) and Cressida de Witte (Project Coordinator) visited the WFAD DRC Office in Kinshasa. The study-visit was within the framework of the “Sober Life – Healthier Communities” Project. The purpose of the visit was to meet with the beneficiaries and partners and learn more about the positive results of the project. The project launched in 2020 and has, over the years, supported 1179 young men and women through mental and psychosocial support, family-reunification, vocational training, income-generating activities, and entrepreneurship. Read the Full Result Report Here

The delegation was warmly welcomed by the WFAD DRC Office after which they met with SYFES and conducted field visits. On the first day, they visited the various shops at Kabinda Avenue and met with the beneficiaries. The visited shops include cutting and sewing, hairdressing, printing, and bakery. Overall, a total of 12 business units have become fully operational in the past year – with 1 premise for printing activities, 1 for hairdressing, 7 for sewing and cutting, and 2 for pastries. They also visited the showroom which presents all the products and will be transformed into an outlet store. The youth were proud to share their work, such as the sewn dresses, bags, and printed purses and cards. They personally shared their thanks for the support over the years but also reiterated that there are more peers that would require such support to transform their lives. The team, on the other hand, expressed their admiration for the youth having gone through the project and the responsibility they have taken by becoming entrepreneurs.

After having visited the shops, the team continued to visit the plastic transformation unit. Here, plastic waste is collected and transformed into tiles. These tiles can be used to build, for example, streets. The unit is also currently exploring the possiblity to transform the waste into fuel and has started the first tests.

During the afternoon, the team visited the Swedish Embassy to discuss the results of the project and express their gratitude for the support provided by the Embassy over the years.

On the second day, the team, joined by Charlotte Mukadi, Programme Manager at the Swedish Embassy, to Selembao and Bumbu Communes to visit the Waterboreholes that were created by the beneficiaries with the support of our partner DASOD. The waterboreholes are available to the community, some of which did not have access to clean water for a decade before the project build theirs. Due to unregular powershuts, the project partners have added solarpanels to the boreholes to ensure that water can be accessed anytime – even when the power is off. Some of the beneficiaries have build their own additional boreholes after having gone through the training with DASOD, being able to earn individually.

During the afternoon, the delegation visited the agriculture and fish school farm in Kimwenza. Before joining the farm, the youth received theoretical training in agricultural and fish farming techniques. Duringt the visit, they showed their techniques in harvesting eggplants, cassava and cassava leaves, and fishing. The pond includes catfish and tilapia. The products harvested and fishes caught will be sold in the city, which income will be earned by the youth.

On October 30th, the final event of the project was held. Here, beneficiaries gathered and shared their experiences and accomplishments while the partners shared their appreciation to the youth and the outcomes of the project. Read more about the final event here.