Opportunities for education, employment and micro-enterprise are offered to struggling women and orphaned/underprivileged teenage girls. Tailoring classes, agricultural farming, start-up capital for small businesses, ante- and post-natal education, and job skills training are among some of the support options assisting and empowering women in rural Kinshasa. (See Espoir Congo Presentation Video–Part 2)

Much has been written about the mass rapes of Eastern Congo, mutilations and other inhuman violence women are being subjected to by rebels and armed forces. However peaceful the province of Kinshasa may be, women here still struggle to receive an education and to make a living, being too often abandoned by the men who gave them children, through rape or otherwise. To help bring life-long solutions to the problem, Espoir Congo offers struggling women and orphaned/underprivileged teenage girls and unwed mothers opportunities for education, employment and micro-enterprise.

Tailoring classes are offered to unwed teenage mothers, as well as to teenage orphaned girls. Espoir Congo sponsors training for 15 of them.

Agriculture is also made available to single mothers.

The medical center is being run by Florence, a registered nurse and midwife.

Ante and post-natal care and training are given to expecting and new mothers.

Other women are employed at the school and the medical center.

Several women are benefitting from the micro-enterprise program, which is enabling them for example to send their children to school and cover the tuition fees, or to pay for their own university studies.

Students are receiving secretarial training.

 

The Story of Olga

My name is Olga MVUEDI. I was born in Kikwit, a city in the province of Bandundu in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where I lost my father when I was barely 3 years old. I stayed alone with my mother, because my dad’s family abandoned us. My mom started selling various items to feed and clothe me and to pay the rent. We left Kikwit for the capital of Kinshasa where lived my mom’s family. At first it was difficult for us to get adjusted to life in the capital, but my mom managed to find a job as a cleaning lady for our survival.

When I turned six I started going to school. Life was hard, but we kept fighting. Many times we went to bed hungry; we had no one to help us, neither my father’s family, nor my mother’s. She would always tell me to hold on to hope and it is this hope that made me into the girl I am today.

When I was in my last year of high school, I was forced to stop my studies for lack of finances to cover the school fees. It was like a wall had erected before me and I was so desperate because my mom didn’t have the means to cover all the expenses required to take the final high school exams. I would cry night and day and there was no one to answer my plea, except my mom who kept encouraging me. That’s when a miracle happened, and I was able to pass the exam and obtain a diploma in tailoring. Then I did 6 months of practical training in a tailoring shop.

Difficulties we always have with us, but we never lose hope. My mom lost her job, so since we had nothing to pay the rent, we went to live with one of her friends.

I still managed to complete my training, so I now have the qualifications needed to start my career as a seamstress, but I lacked the tools to start my own workshop.

That is when I met Gerse Munduku, who started giving me classes following a character building course from Espoir Congo. Without my knowledge, a big blessing was waiting for me: the overseers Gino and Clotilde offered me a sewing machine with most of the needed tools to start a micro-enterprise. Thanks to this gift, today I am able to take care of myself and to support my mom as well.

I am so grateful to you for this great act of love. I tell you thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I am planning to use this equipment in the best possible way, and if possible, I would like to eventually study fashion in university.

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