From Displacement to Determination: Neema Rebuilds Her Life Through Savings
In the Mabalako village, in the Beni territory, North Kivu province, the Empower project, implemented by World Vision with funding from the Irish government's development cooperation program, Irish Aid, is breathing a wind of hope. At the heart of this dynamic is Mrs. Neema, a mother displaced by war, who has found in a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) the keys to rebuilding her home and looking to the future with serenity.
Having arrived in Mabalako with her husband and their five daughters (aged 1 to 6), survival was a daily struggle.
"I didn't have a job. I had difficulties living and providing for our children's needs," she recounts.
To make ends meet, the couple survived on small daily labor, hiring out their strength in neighbors' fields for a pittance.
Mabalako, located about 45 km west of the city of Beni in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is an accessible and relatively stable locality. It is here that Mrs. Neema, 28 years old, found refuge a year ago. Like thousands of others, she fled the violence and killings perpetrated by the ADF (Allied Democratic Forces) from her village of Masau. The ADF is a rebel group active and responsible for more than 17,000 deaths since 2014 in the region. During her displacement, Neema left behind all her belongings and her fields and was forced to start her life over from scratch.
The Spark of Change
The turning point came when she attended an awareness-raising session on savings and credit groups organized by a local partner of the Empower project. Funded by Irish Aid, the development cooperation program of the Irish government, and implemented by World Vision, this project aims to strengthen the economic resilience of vulnerable communities.
Convinced by the message, Neema joined the savings group "Umoja ni Nguvu" (meaning "Unity is Strength") in October 2024. From then on, her life began to change. With the other members, she learned to save, even very small amounts. But the real lever for her development was access to credit. "I started taking out credits: 50,000 Congolese francs, then 100,000, and finally 150,000," she explains. In total, a cumulative sum of 300,000 FC (about 105 US dollars) was invested in her business.
From Vegetable Seller to Businesswoman
Today, Neema is a smiling and generous figure at the central market of Mabalako, where she sells vegetables and tomatoes. This small business, flourishing thanks to successive loans, has transformed her daily life. "Thanks to this work, I have managed to repay the credits and meet the basic needs of our children: schooling, food, health," she confides with pride.
The impact goes beyond mere subsistence. Neema's household now has a new life project.
"My husband and I are working hard to build our own house, because renting is expensive."
In addition to the financial contribution, the Empower project has strengthened her capacities through training on managing Income Generating Activities (IGAs).
A Model of Self-Reliance in a Fragile Context
Neema's story is a shining example of resilience. In a region marked by insecurity and widespread poverty, she was able to seize the opportunity offered by the project to take back control of her destiny. "I am proud to be a member of the VSLA. This group has brought about economic change in my household. We live in a difficult environment, but this initiative allows us to strengthen our income and become self-reliant," she testifies.
Her success is also that of a community. Thanks to the Empower project, implemented by World Vision with support from Irish Aid, 608 women and 108 men are currently being supported through these savings and credit groups in Mabalako.
"May God protect those who made this possible. Without these loans, I don't know what would have become of my family and me, because we had no hope of survival," concludes Neema.
Her gaze is now turned toward the future and toward the house she is building, stone by stone, credit by credit.