Youth Economic Empowerment
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a vast, under-developed Central African country of over 78M people. Political instability, extreme poverty, gender inequity, and human rights violations limit the health, wellbeing, and opportunities for adolescents and future generations to break the cycle. The youth economic empowerment program grew out of parents in rural villages expressing a need to create opportunities for young people, who often tend to their family’s animals and participate in agricultural activities while juggling school and other interests.
Engaging Youth in Poverty Alleviation
PFP is a Congolese-led livestock asset transfer program serving poor rural families in the South Kivu province in Eastern DRC. As part of the broader strategy to promote income generating activities with adults (e.g., livestock rearing), the program also has a youth-focused initiative that engages motivated adolescents of participating PFP communities in raising animals for profit too.
Positive Impact
When asked about their experience in the program, one youth explained “It helps me with a lot of things— not going to bed hungry, being able to return to school, purchase clothes, and not wandering in the streets because I don’t have anything else to do.” These findings reinforce the value of engaging youth in community-led sustainable development initiatives. Adolescents that participate learn new skills, gain confidence, and develop capacities that will positively contribute to sustained health, economic and social impact for themselves, but also benefits their families and communities over time.
